The Physical Appearance
The picture’s shape is square and measures 30 x 42 inches. The image’s tonality is dark, which may imply it was shot in low light or at night. Additionally, the focus and the direction of the light position the horse ride at the center of the picture. In regards to the composition, the photograph embodies monochromatic color, which has a limited range of shades, such as black, gray, and navy blue. This provides a contrast between the horse ride and its shadow and helps create clarity.
My Shadow has a smooth texture and no noticeable roughness on its surface. The smoothness is integral because it enhances the overall clarity and sharpness of the image. Although the photograph does not employ line principles, the lighter background helps guide the viewer’s eye toward the horse ride. Soria uses spatial depth techniques to give the viewer an illusion or perception of the relative distance of the image. There is a significant space between the foreground and background, with the former dominated by the figure of the horse-ride and the latter cast shadow against a lighter landscape, creating a sense of three-dimensionality.
Why the Photograph Was Chosen
Photography enables people to express themselves, including their opinions and beliefs. In this case, photographers choose what they shoot and how they represent it. For this reason, My Shadow was picked for its evocative title, which elicits various emotions and provides a means for diverse interpretations. In this case, the horse ride, which blocks the light’s path, forming a dark area behind it or a shadow in the background, may symbolize gloom and uncertainty. This enhances the feeling of the unknown and even fear.
Similarly, it may represent the dark side of human nature or hidden aspects of one’s personality that are not clearly understood. This element adds to the intrigue of the title and the photograph. The universal statement derived from this photograph is the emphasis on the evocative nature of darkness as an artistic element in photography. The darkness portrayed in the shadowy landscape can awaken deep emotions and inspire the audience to explore their hidden selves as well as make meaningful connections with the obscured aspects of existence. Therefore, the viewers are invited to embark on an introspection, self-discovery, and contemplation journey to grasp life’s mysteries and complexities.
The Subject of the Photograph
The primary subject of the photograph is a horse ride or saddle and its shadow. The horse ride appears to be abandoned in a vast and open landscape. It is placed on bare and dry ground, presumably a desert with no vegetation in the vicinity. The horse-ride is the focal point of the image, and it occupies the foreground, dominating the photograph’s composition. It casts an elongated shadow that resembles a composed lone horse that stands still. Nevertheless, the light source used to cast the shadow is invisible in the image. The dry and bare surroundings within the frame highlight the sense of emptiness and loneliness depicted in the photograph’s title.
The Subject Matter of the Photograph
The photograph’s subject matter is centered on the themes of solitude and desolation, as portrayed in its title, “My Shadow is Associated with the Emptiness of this Horse-ride.” The presence of a horse ride in an area almost devoid of life owing to the lack of human figures, animals, or vegetation evokes a feeling of abandonment and isolation. This may symbolize a transition or the beginning of a new era where things that no longer serve a purpose are left behind. The loneliness of the horse ride triggers a contemplative and introspective mood among the viewers. It prompts the audience to reflect on the impermanence of human activities in the vast natural world and what becomes of the remnants of the past in a harsh and endless desert. In addition, the dry and barren desert landscape further highlights the theme of emptiness due to its inability to support any life form.
The interplay between light and shadow motivates the viewers to think about the duality of darkness and light. It enables the audience to explore the underlying meanings conveyed via the juxtaposition of the horse-ride, its shadow, and the surrounding empty landscape. The horse-ride’s shadow creates a sense of mystery due to its resemblance to a horse, suggesting the presence of life in the vast and empty desert. This could symbolize a memory of the past while highlighting the solitude and desolation of the present. The overall mood of emptiness is also enhanced by the absence of vibrant colors.
Medium and Background of the Photograph
The photograph’s medium is a Digital C-print which is mounted on a gator board. This medium is widespread in modern photography since it generates high-quality prints with superb reproduction of colors. Regarding the history of the picture, it was taken by Pablo Soria in 2013. It has a rectangular shape and measures 76.2 x106.7 centimeters. The photograph’s original title was “Mi sombra está asociada al vacío de esta cabalgata,” which is in Spanish, representing the author’s Argentinian background.
Loading...
