Experiment Five: Perspective

“The picture, to be in harmony, should be the conception of one mind, and the perspective as much a part of the composition as the figures.” (Storey, 1910, p. 3)

My next area of exploration is perspective. Looking at the work of Augustus Leopold Egg, seen in Fig. 24, the viewpoint narrows as it flows into the distance under the bridge, framing and drawing attention to the centre right of the composition. I find this interesting as he combines the use of perspective to create the feeling that the viewer is looking out from the the bridge themselves, perhaps longing to be outside. He has then used framing of the bridge with dark shapes to also emphasis the focus point to the outside, furthering the idea of longing. The use of yellows and oranges deeply contrasts with the dark blacks and browns of the bridge, again conveying an importance on the outside and drawing the audience's viewpoint out to the distance.

Fig. 24 Augustus Leopold Egg, Past and Present, no. 3 (1858)

Furthermore, the photography of Berenice Abbott also employs perspective in capturing architecture and daily life. In Fig. 25, Berenice's composition has been positioned looking up, making the skyscrapper appear to be looming and towering over those beneath. The interesting direction of the building to the right also adds a heightened sense of the audience being small, as the contrast in directions appears to emphasise the business of the setting.

Fig. 25 Berenice Abbott, Murray Hill Hotel Spiral, New York (1935)

Furthermore, I found the photograph in Fig. 26 also extremely interesting in understanding the use of perspective.  The view is seen from above, as though spectating on what is unfolding from a window or birds eye view. It creates a very disconnected viewpoint, as the audience is placed far away from the involvement in the scene and creates a disjointed affect.

Fig. 26 Berenice Abbott, The El at Columbus Avenue and Broadway (1929)

To explore perspective further, I created two drawings to explore different ways I could incorporate this technique into my own theme of unusual animals. I chose to illustrate the Pangolin as it is quite diverse in its environment, being up high in trees.

Perspective Experiment 1

For the first drawing I tried to create the perspective as if looking upwards, with the tree getting bigger the further down the composition it is placed. I feel this was quite effective in creating a more diverse feel to the composition and it is not something I have done before. It certainly helps to create a more unusual viewpoint, which may suit my theme of unusual animals as usually if you could observe them in their natural habitat it would be from a distance.

Perspective Experiment 2

In my second experiment I chose to use a perspective of facing the Pangolin from the side, in the tree tops, creating different shapes in the composition whilst keeping the Pangolin to the bottom to create a focus on the creature. I feel this was quite effective in exploring different ways I could position an animal whilst also informing and educating the audience about it's natural habitat.