Contrast, Harmony, Balance

This is a photo I took last time I was in Huntington Beach, California. For this photo the figure aspect is the incoming wave and the first few sets of columns that are in sharp focus. However, all the lines in this photo draw your eye to the background where that amazing emerald green color comes out. The further back into the picture your eye goes the more out of focus it becomes. Which acts as the ground aspect of the photo because the out of focus portion of the photo brings your eye back to the foreground where everything is in sharp focus.

There is a lot of contrast within this picture from the colors of the columns, the colors of the water, or even contrast in the sense of the textures that are received from this photo. The hard and rough pillars against the soft and fluid sea water.

The balance comes from the overall symmetry of the structure of the pier. All of the columns are lined up perfectly and they are even on each half of the photo. Even the wave coming in is almost symmetrical.

These all create a harmony because everything is balance out. The bright greens of the water contrast with the muted tones in the foreground. The depth of field as the photo goes back and keeps the eye moving  towards the vanishing point and then backtracking to the foreground gives harmony to the photo.

The psychological context of this photo comes out more in the feelings that are triggered. For me I see a lot of pleasing lines and beautiful colors through the water. Which give me feeling of being carefree and happy. For some the ocean and this pier might trigger feelings of adventure and fun. While I was attempting to capture this photo there were about thirty kids running all around, splashing in the sea and having the time of their lives.

The social context of this photo might be more apparent from behind the camera. While I was trying to take this photo there were all the kids running around and trying to line up a shot was hard.  I had to time it with the waves coming in and get all the kids out of the frame. After about twenty minutes the kids realized that I was still there trying to take the photo so they all kind of subconsciously moved out of the center of the pier and played in the periphery for about five minutes. They noticed that there was a photo trying to be taken and the rules of our society are generally that if you're not meant to be in the picture you move out of the way. The kids did just that and there was this kind of relationship in the mutual understanding that we shared.