Elspeth Diederix: "Hand"
Blog by Hannah Zimmerman
For my fourth blog post I chose another photograph by
Elspeth Diederix. When thinking about what photograph of hers that I wanted to
choose, I allowed the current class assignment to impact my decision. For the
next two weeks we are supposed to take photographs reflecting the photography
movement of the “metaphor.” This type of photography reflects the main
definition of the word metaphor. It uses imagery with objects, places, people,
actions etc that are paired together to create a meaning or a narrative that
isn’t normally seen together. It requires a deeper thinking process instead of
just focusing on technique or creating a certain effect, there is more of a storytelling
element to this type of photography.
I chose a photograph of hers that exemplified these elements
of a metaphor because it is helpful to me and creates a place of inspiration
for me to take my own photographs. I also draw inspiration from how she uses
objects and things within her body of work but I have talked about that before
within my past blog posts.
The photograph of hers that I have chosen to write about this
week is titled “Hand”. This is a
picture of a hand in shadowed outdoor lighting with five dandelion seeds, each
resting on the top of each finger of what appears to be a male hand. There is
also a direct ray of light that touches the very top of the dandelion seeds and
fingertips, which helps to draw the eye right to these areas. The center frame composition also keeps the
focus on this imagery without over complicating the information in the photo.
To me, this photograph reads as metaphorical because
normally when people pick up dandelions they are blowing the seeds away into
the wind or releasing them. It isn’t naturally possible to balance a dandelion
seed on each finder without them blowing away. In regards to the possible
meaning of this image, blowing dandelions away into the wind is normally
associated with having fun, making wishes or releasing things away into the
world. However, in this image the dandelion seeds are unnaturally stagnant on
each fingertip. This photo doesn’t read as negative to me because of how the
light is touching the fingers. Instead it feels more neutral in tone to me. It
could possibly be about the beauty in the stillness of a moment, when viewing
this situation that can’t actually occur in real life. However, it feels like a
commentary on how we as humans don’t pause enough on these moments in life and
we loose them because they are so temporary. It feels like the photographer is
almost asking the viewer to stop and think when viewing this image.
Because Elspeth is able to do this in a single photograph,
it is one of my favorite pieces. It generates a lot of inspiration when moving
forward into thinking about my current assignment with metaphor.
Her photograph can be viewed here:
My photo of the week:
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