Exercise: Making figures Anonymous

This exercise is all about making the surroundings the most important part of the photograph.  sometimes it is necessary to show a person or persons in a photograph but not as the main subject, they are useful for instance to show a sense of scale in a landscape picture.


The three photographs I have chosen to use are all very different, the first one a row of beach huts shows a person on the right hand side walking along and out of the photograph.  Having them in the photograph gives some idea of the size of the huts, but also shows that the area is used.

The second photograph was taken of HMS Dragon on her homecoming,  Although the decks are lined with sailors they fail to take away the image of the ship as she slowly makes her way along side and the crew disembark to greet their loved ones after nearly eight months away. Having the sailors in the photograph add the human touch to the picture.

The final photograph was taken of a fairground ride, It shows a girl on the chair as the ride goes round, although you can't see her face, the photograph needs some one in it to make it live.

So what have I learnt from this exercise?

I have learnt that sometimes it is neccesary to add at least one person to a picture, however you don't always need to make them either a prominate part or show theri face to make an impact.  Would the photographs I have used work without the people in them? the beach huts becomes just a set of beach huts, I would have loved to have had someone sitting outside their hut but alas that wans't to be.  The ship would work in its on right, but by having the sailors you start to ask questions, like I wonder where they have been and how long they were away from.  This photograph is important to me on a personal level as my son was on that ship. The final photograph would not work at all with out a person  in it.