Elspeth Diederix: "dashboard still life"

Blogpost by: Hannah Zimmerman 

For my 12th week blogpost I have decided to write about Elspeth Diederix's photo titled "dashboard still life." I chose to write about this photograph because I was drawn to the red and orange colors present within the picture. This photo was taken at night and the messy, but staged, dashboard is dimly lit from the car light above it. Things like small oranges, a paper coke cup, a CD and other food packaging can be seen. Not much else is going on in this picture.

I think what interested me most about this picture was its simple use of color to add interest. It almost seems minimalist to me because of the dark environment around the warm colors of the still life. I am approaching the end of my last semester in art school and for my final photography project the ideas I have are also minimal in visual content. While my own work for this last project is going to be heavy in meaning, unlike this photograph, it will be down to a few colors and what is happening within it, is also minimal. 

I wanted to write about a photograph that was different from others I have chosen this semester because it helps me come up with alternative ideas for my own work. 

I do think this picture has a warm tone in this well-used car, that someone uses on a daily basis. I think the objects in the car also can narrate the things the person who drives it likes and uses. I also think the feeling that this picture evokes is that late at night-peaceful feeling that people can experience in a quiet car. 

I really like the simplicity of this picture and Elspeth's continued interest in objects. 

Her photograph can be seen here: http://www.elspethdiederix.com/ 

My photo of the week: