Art of the Day RACHEL SCHLUSSELBERG MS. TANAKA HONORS ENGLISH PERIOD 2

Untitled photograph by Jerry Uelsmann Jerry Uelsmann is a photographer who combines many techniques to create surreal images. This image depicting a sinking boat was photographed in 2004.

Character:  No people visible  Unusual to have no one steering a boat  People=control, boat lacks control over it’s current situation

Color Only white near boat is the water Lighter colors leaving, only dark colors will remain

Color Only white near boat is the water Lighter colors leaving, only dark colors will remain Light sky, only darker colors where boat is facing

Light  Source of light is the sun  Sun is in the middle of clouds, very visible

Light  Source of light is the sun  Sun is in the middle of clouds, very visible  Boat is facing towards the sun while sinking

Angle  Taken so that the horizon is between the boat and sky

Angle  Taken so that the horizon is between the boat and sky  Only the tip of the boat is past this line

Proportion  Sinking boat is significantly larger than other boats in the back

Proportion  Sinking boat is significantly larger than other boats in the back  Calm waters are very small and distant

Placement  Boat is directly under the sun

Placement  Boat is directly under the sun  Sinking boat is closer to the sun than the ones that are sailing calmly

Setting  Houses far off in the distance

Setting  Houses far off in the distance  Set in a calm harbor

Setting  Houses far off in the distance  Set in a calm harbor  Cloudy day, sun very visible

 Character: No characters are visible in this image, although boats need a person to steer them. The lack of people demonstrates the absence of control the boat has regarding its situation. The boat, full of water and sinking, has no one to steer it and cannot continue forward without the stability provided by a person. Without someone or something coming to its assistance, the boat will be stuck in its current position, sinking.  Color: This is a black and white image, though the boat itself and the majority of the water are grey. There is very little white remaining in the water where the boat is, and it is about to flow out of the sinking boat. This portrays hope leaving when an difficult situation seems inescapable. The sky contains a lot of white, although there are grey patches where the boat is facing, which shows how lack of control can ruin something that appears to be doing very well, as seen in the perfectly white sky right next to grey areas. The contrast of the white sky and black water illustrates the drastic difference between what we hope to achieve and our current situation. The bright white colors in this image are found in the sky, which is hovering far out of reach of where the boat is. Goals seem unattainable when one feels trapped where they are.  Light: The source of light in this image is the sun in the middle of the clouds, directly where the boat is pointing. Even though the boat is halfway underwater with seemingly no chance of getting out, it still faces the sun. Uelsmann chooses to have the boat facing towards the source of light to convey that it important to try and see the good of a situation rather than give up. The sun in the midst of the bright clouds represents the prospect of better times that provide motivation to persevere through difficult situations.  Angle: This photo was taken in a position that makes the horizon appear between the boat and sky; this line illustrates the barrier between what we hope to achieve and current situation. Only the tip of the boat is past this line to show how even small amounts of progress can serve as motivation to continue forward, as the boat is still facing up at the sky. When in a powerless position, steps, no matter how miniscule, toward reaching dreams serve as a reason to continue forward.  Proportion: The sinking boat is significantly larger than the other boats sailing calmly in the harbor. This demonstrates how, when someone is faced with difficult times, others may seem to focus on their own petty, small problems, leaving the person to struggle on their own. The calm waters seem to fade away when compared to the sinking boat, which portrays how one may become so engulfed in their struggles that it prevents them from seeing the good around them. The sky takes up nearly half of this image, showing how the hope of attaining goals is stronger than the sorrow felt during hard times.  Placement: The boat is directly below the sun to show how close it is to better times, yet it is being held back by its situation. The sinking boat is, in this image, closer to the sun than the boats sailing calmly, which portrays that one puts more effort and has a greater desire to attain dreams when faced with a situation to overcome than those who are more fortunate. When one feels powerless in their situation, the motivation to regain power drives them to work harder in achieving goals.  Setting: This image is set in a calm harbor on a cloudy day with houses far off in the distance. The boat is very far from the houses to show that feelings of control may feel very distant when not in complete control during hard times. Uelsmann chooses to show the sinking boat in a calm harbor rather than a harsh storm to show that misfortune may strike even in seemingly nice conditions. Even if someone is well off in life, they may lose control in an instant, and have to struggle to progress forward. Furthermore, the sun, representative of someone's goals, is very visible on the cloudy day to illustrate that one’s aspirations become very evident when they are struggling to reach them.