Formalism

Formalism by t.crowley

When in a photography class, everything becomes grist for the mill.  We have recently been studying Formalism.    Formalism, in a nut shell, is when a photograph reveals balance and classic composition.  Formalism doesn't tell a story, it is the story.  However, there are many instances where a so-called documentary photograph which tells a story is also deeply formalistic, certainly in the case of Walker Evans' work.  Much of the history of art is about transforming the mundane into something of importance.  Think of cave paintings of the animal hunt.  Think of Vermeer's work.  Look at this scene.

Pretty mundane stuff transformed by an artist.  After all, what is there around us but the mundane?  It is the stuff of life.  We have a need to observe and elevate, to see the sublime in shape, form, color, light, arrangement of the subject.

Now, my photos above, are arguably pretty normal, even ugly in their depiction of my kitchen sink on a Sunday morning.  But something about the arrangement caught my imagination.  In the color version, the blue of the spoon is particularly satisfying.  I think I like the color version better, but the black and white version has it's own elements arguing for it.  Blurring the edges also brings the focus to the shapes in the middle of the frame.

This is where my mind goes.

Oh, and our class is going to publish a book at the end of next semester.  I'm thrilled.  Problem is I have to select only 2 photos to be included.  That's going to be the trick.  I don't think this sink photo is going to make the cut.