Thursday, April 12, 2012

Postcards from a better day: part 3

A view from the escalator
Another camera sketch from my afternoon at the Tate. Like the previous two pictures, I took this photograph as I descended the escalators and stairs as I made my way to the exit as the gallery was closing. I was moving sort of diagonally downwards, slowly but not with enough time to compose. But sketches are often quick—and they do sharpen the eye.  I'd usually dismiss a photograph like this because the main subject—the woman bending down— is a bit far away and there is a lot of space where nothing seems to be really happening.

That's what I would have thought at first but now that I'm reviewing this collection I'm beginning to see that there are a lot of interesting lines and subtle diagonals in the negative space whilst the woman in black creates a very strong and graphic shape. I also like the other shoppers lost in their retail meditations, unaware that they are playing a supporting role to someone they have probably no awareness of.

No comments: