For the third assignment we were asked to to create 4 photographs, each one based on one of these words: safe, danger, anger and joy.
Each photograph portrays a visual message that was developed from these words, by the use of visual rhetoric. Visual rhetoric is a visual means of persuasion. You can persuade someone’s interpretation of a visual by the use of colour, shape, layout, typography, nature and architecture elements and how you arrange them. Visual rhetoric also involves analysing the meaning of an image, although we can all interpret visuals differently. This is why the photographer has to communication their interpretation effectively so that they can persuade us to interpret the image in the same way. It also depends on the context, for example a comedy about a funeral would be funny to some, but could be offensive to someone who has lost a loved one.
The theme of the four images that I captured is based around the pandemic and the effects COVID-19 and the year 2020 has had on us all emotionally, mentally and physically. Many people have experienced bereavement, illness, losing their jobs and negative impacts on their mental health. No single person’s experience of hardship and trauma is the same. We can all feel things differently and react individually to the problems one can face, especially in times of crisis and the uncertainly of it all. The aim of this assignment is to show my interpretation of safe, danger, anger and joy during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, I don’t own a camera, so I captured these images on my iPhone 7 camera. I applied the knowledge and skills that I learnt in class to enable me to take the best possible images I could on my not so up to date iPhone camera. I used the grids on my smart phone camera which helped me to layout the subject in my photographs.
The first image is a reminder that we’re not stuck at home, we’re safe at home. A cup of tea can be a comfort to many and can associate safety with the familiarity of having a cup of this Irish favourite beverage in the sanctuary of your home.
This photograph was taken on Henry Street in Dublin City Centre. Something that use to be as innocent and festive as doing your Christmas shopping has now become a risk, the possibility of exposing yourself to the danger of coming into contact with someone who has COVID-19 is very real.
This photograph was taken at night, the subjects black coat blends into the background and the backdoor was left open for lighting to hit the subjects face. He is wearing a mask to show the times we live in and the expression on his face frowning shows anger in his eyes. Fed up and angry with the pandemic and the negative impact and suffering it has caused.
The aim of the final image is so capture the joy of two friend’s seeing each other for the first time since lockdown ended. They are situated in a park, meeting safely outdoors, with the bare trees and clothing such as a scarf setting what season it is. Smiling, elbow ‘hugging’ with joy and happiness on their face.