Contrast, Balance, Harmony

  This is the Lone Cypress Tree located on 17 mile drive in Monterey, California. First, the contrast of this photograph is slight but still noticeable. There is a real contrast between the figure and the background. The tree seems to sit perfectly on the rock with the ocean behind it.  We get dark colors at the bottom of the rock and with the shadows that cover the cypress tree in the bottom right. That mixes well with the lite blue of the ocean, And the light reflecting off the top of the rock. 

  

  Second, there is a pleasing balance that comes with this photo. Seeing how the Lone Cypress Tree is the subject of the picture the other cypress trees create a shot of picture frame around it. Even the rock that the tree sits upon provides some balance. The photo was taken at such an angle where the far right side of the rock seems to be supporting the lower right side of the tree.  

   Lastly, the unity/harmony that I notice in this photograph is amazing. The tree sits in the perfect spot of the frame. The fact that you can see Carmel to the east and nothing but ocean to the west lets me know exactly where I am. The man made stone wall fits well with the natural structure of the rock. And the colors I believe are perfect. This is exactly what central California looks like when the sun sets on a beautiful day. 

Visceral Response

  This is a photo of Tiger Woods on the 18th hole of Augusta National in the 2006 Masters tournament. It seems every year that one lucky photographer captures Woods on the 18th, and this is one of my favorites. First, I notice where everything is pointing. Every line seems to be leading down into the narrow strip of Georgia pine trees and out to the fairway. 
   
Second, I understand what this photo symbolizes. This is the final hole, of the final day, of greatest golf tournament in the world, and here is the greatest golfer of our time finishing with his final tee shot. 

   Lastly, my favorite part of this photo is the patrons lining the tee box, all watching where the ball ends up. I have been fortunate enough to see Tiger Woods twice in person. The feeling you get when you seem him is indescribable. He has an aura about him that you feel and it makes it impossible to take your eyes off of him.  And when he tees it up and launches a drive 300 yards down the fairway you get the feeling that you've seen something great, that is what every person in this photo is feeling and that is what I relate to the most.