Max Dupain vs. Anne Zahalka free essay sample

The composition is in two halves; the man’s body is filling up most of the upper section and the empty area of sand in the lower half. The male figure is the focal point and the main subject of the photo. Dupain’s image ‘Sunbaker’ reflects an architectural style through visual elements shown in this image. The architectural style seen in the image ‘Sunbaker’ is very symbolic and modern. Its simple and plain but has great meaning behind it. The body shape of the man creates form and shape. The shape made from his arms looks like a large rock, reflecting what Australia’s scenery is like. This shape of the rock similarly looks like one of Australia’s iconic landscapes ‘Uluru’. Dupain’s use of the low angle shot transforms the simple shapes of the man’s oval head and triangular torso into a mountain-like shape set against the horizon. We will write a custom essay sample on Max Dupain vs. Anne Zahalka or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The similar tones in the image create large open space; the lack of detail and the slight blurring of the background make you focus more on the main subject, the man. The close cropping and foreshortening of the figure creates flat space. The sky and the ground being almost inseparable also force your attention more towards the man. The shadows created by the man’s body create form and help contrast the man against the background. The lack of background detail also hides all reference to a specific location making the image more peaceful and relaxed. Dupain’s use of photographic techniques such as a wide aperture creates space, by making the background appear further away. The background is blurred and the foreground is sharp. The lack of detail in the background drags attention away causing you to focus more on the man. The low unusual angle creates a relaxed mood reflecting Australia’s laid-back culture. The close up shows clearly the water drops on the man and his wet hair which may mean he has just come out of the water and is now relaxing in the sun. The long shutter speed used has allowed the image to be as bright as it is, creating a long exposure that has decreased the depth of field in the image. A film camera was used to take this image. The orientation of the image is landscape; you can see this because the image is wide and close. By using the very tanned male it has helped with contrasting the figure against the very brightly lit scenery. The image being black and white gives it simplicity and elegance. It prevents the image from being over detailed by all the colours, but it also stops the image from being plain. It makes it different from other beach photos. Dupain’s photograph of the tanned male lying on the sand after he has been for a swim titled ‘Sunbaker’ shares many differences and similarities to Anne Zahalka’s photograph ‘The Sunbather #2’, which is of a red headed male laying on his stomach on sand. Zahalka has made a very similar copy of Dupain’s famous photograph but has portrayed a different meaning behind her image. The appropriation ironically plays on Max Dupains original, ‘Sunbaker’. Dupain aimed his image at being an architectural representation of Australia, reflecting Australian lifestyle and culture. While Zahalka has shown her way of looking at Australian people, she has deliberately photographed a very pale red haired male â€Å"sunbathing† at the beach. Normally this is something red haired people shouldn’t do because they are very easily burnt due to their pale white skin. Her photograph is also in colour unlike Dupain’s black and white image and you can easily see the sky from the ground dividing the image into sections. The image doesn’t so much look like it is on the beach where as Dupain has used evidence such as the wave on the left hand side of the image, and the male having wet hair and water droplets all over his arms. The male in Zahalka’s image appears dry and his hair does not appear to be wet. The male in ‘The Sunbather’ has very long hair making it hard for you to tell whether the figure is male or female, as if Zahalka aimed at trying to confuse the observer. Zahalka has tried to show what the men in Australia apparently look like. She is suggesting that they are slim, white and fair headed unlike in Dupain’s image which is almost opposite having a bulky, tanned, dark haired male. Zahalka has used a standard lens while Dupain photographed using a wide lens shown through the image being a close up of the figure. Zahalka has photographed further away from the subject making the figure smaller, and having much more background. Dupain has cropped most of the background focusing mainly on the male figure making it clearly the focal point of the image. The slimness of the male in Zahalka’s image makes it hard for the body structure to portray any shape or form. You cannot clearly notice any relation to architectural style at all. There are no clear visible shadows being made from the frame of the figure in ‘The Sunbather’ and this doesn’t show where the light is coming from. A few similarities between the two images are the way only one hand is clearly seen, out in front and the empty area of sand in the lower half. Zahalka’s photograph does not clearly evoke any moods or emotions. The paleness of the skin in the sun does not create any form of relaxation just a feeling of caution as they may get burnt. Where as Dupain’s image being in black and white and the male being so darkly tanned you cannot see the very brightness of the sun and therefore creates a relaxed vibe.