describing photographs

"IMPACT" by Erik Johansson

The photo was taken by Erik Johansson in 2016. It's an image of a man on a kayak on the shores of a lake. The man has his oar placed in the sands if the shore. He has one foot in the kayak and the other on the ground. The water of the lake is cracked as if it were a mirror, like its shattering into pieces. In the background of the piece you can see trees stretching from each end of the picture. In the midground of the piece the man is standing in the center with his kayak at his feet. In the foreground of the picture the lake is shattering or cracking almost like glass would or a mirror.

The man in the picture looks almost as if he's confused by why the water is shattering. My attention is pulled to the water because it is the most abnormal part of the piece. The photo is bright and it makes me feel curious because its really out of the box. The photographer uses mostly blues and greens to give it a cool fell to it. He probably wants to express that reality is fragile.

"FISHY ISLAND" by Erik Johansson

The photo was taken by Erik Johansson in 2009. It's an image of a city built on top of a giant fish in the middle of a large body of water. The city on top of the big fish is made up of red buildings with trees on either side of the water. There's a Swedish flag flying in the middle of the city. In the upper left and right corners there are trees before the water. In the midground it is the smaller looking city that's on top of the fish. In the foreground it is the fish that is submerged in the water, its holding up the city on it's back.

The objects in the picture look as if they are disproportionate in size because of the abnormally large fish. Obviously your attention is drawn to the center of the picture because of the fish. The photo is very interesting because of the sizes of everything. The picture makes me think about why the artist chose to make the fish so big in the first place. The photographer mainly uses muted neutrals to keep it grounded. 

"FRESH FROZEN FISH" by Erik Johansson

The photo was taken by Erik Johansson in 2011. It is an image of a man dragging a sled with blocks of frozen fish while carrying a chainsaw in his hands. It is night time, after the sun set so the sky is filled with pretty colors. There's a hole in the ground and a block of frozen ice next to it. The man looks as if he is walking on top of a frozen lake while dragging his sled. In the background there are trees and the sun setting causing the sky to be multicolored. In the foreground of the picture is the man with the chainsaw dragging the sled. In the midground is the sled of frozen fish that's on top of the lake. 

The man in the picture looks tired as if he had been dragging all of his things for a long time. My focus goes to the man and then what he's dragging because it is attached to the string. The photo is dark because of the atmosphere and look on the mans face. The photo makes me feel a little sad because I feel bad for the man because he looks exhausted. It makes me think about where he is going or where he came from. The photographer mainly uses moody colors to express the emotion of the piece. He obviously wants to express how down the man is feeling.

“DREAMWALKING” by Erik Johansson

The photo was taken by Erik Johansson in 2014. It is an image of a man walking while he’s asleep inbetween a room that’s been divided in half. He is wearing a bath robe and holding a glass of water. The man is walking between two doorways in what looks to be like a field in the middle of the night. The field has flowers and there’s a small lamp at the bottom of the right doorway. In the background it looks like there are small fields that stretch all the way back, also you see the darkening sky. In the foreground, you see the sleepwalking man in the blue bathrobe carrying a glass of water. In the right corner of the picture you see what looks to be as if a bedroom door. 

The guy in the pictures appears to be sleepwalkong because he’s wearing a bathrobe and slippers while walking with his eyes closed. Your attention focuses on the man because you want to find out what he is doing. The photo is visually dark because it’s at night and most of the colors are darker shades. Honestly it makes me feel tired because he is sleepwalking. The photo expresses that the man is most likely unaware of his unconscious travels because of how the photographer placed he doorways on an open and wide field.

“WALK A WAY” by Erik Johansson

The photo was taken by Erik Joahansson in 2014. It’s an image of a woman inside of large pair of boots, using the laces almsot as if they were reins to a horse. She’s dressed like she’s ready for horseback riding but she’s actually inside a rather large boot. They’re in the motion of walking and behind the are their many footsteps. It looks like they’re on a dirt field while the sun is beginning to rise. In the background are trees, a sunrise and many footsteps that belong to the boots. In the foreground is the very large pair of brown, leather boots. In the left hand corner is the woman who is standing in one of the boots using the laces as a way to control them. 

The woman looks as if she’s happy that she is embarking on this journey with these boots. It’s almost as if she’s looking out into the horizon at all the many things she might do. You want to focus in on the huge pair of humors because they’re the center of the image and naturally that is just what your eyes get drawn to first. The image is rather bright as it’s a blend of warm and neutral tones giving the picture an upbeat and playful tone. It makes you think why she is doing this and what she hopes to achieve from it. It probably expresses the fact that she’s starting fresh and beginning a new chapter in her life.

THE MAN LOOKING DOWN THE CLIFF by Erik Johansson

The photo was taken by Erik Johansson. It’s an image of a man with his bicycle looking down at the ‘cliff, that appears to be the road he was but if it dropped 90 degrees or so. The man is wearing a muscle tee and jean shorts. He parked his white bike behind him as he stopped to crouch down and look down at the cliff. He is on an average dirt road surrounded only by wildlife and nothing else. In the background all you can see is trees and the field that surrounds the dirt road. In the foreground you see the man crouched down in front of his bike looking at the road in possible confusion. In the left hand corner of the picture you see the road and how it has been turned into a rather hefty drop.

The man looks as if he’s confused by the road because up until this pint it had been a winding yet flat road. He looks like he’s trying to guess how far the drop is and whether or not he could make it. Your attention immediately pulls to the cliff that maintains most of the left hand side of the picture. The picture is light because of the soft neutral colors and the almost comedic look on the man’s face as he looks down at the cliff. It makes me want to laugh because he was probably quite surprised about how fast the road he was on changed. It makes us think about how he’s going to maneuver himself around the mess he’s found himself in. He probably wants to express how life can be unexpected at the drop of a hat. 

“SELF ACTUALIZATION” by Erik Johansson

The photo was taken by Erik Johansson in 2011. It’s an image of a man being painted while he’s painting what he’s looking at. He’s painting a lake with a tree in the middle of it while he works on his easel. He has his kit of oils on the ground next to him as he paints what he sees. All while the top of his head is traced in pencil but left blank as if someone weren’t done painting him while he paints. In the background you see what he is actually looking at which is what he’s painting. Then in the midground you see him working on his own piece while using his paints. Then you notice he’s actually being painted as well because he’s not finished yet, a little paint-ception if you will. 

He appears to be focusing on the sight in front of him making sure his painting accurately represents what he’s looking at. You focus on he man at first because he’s the centerpiece then you notice how not only he’s painting but being painted as well. It’s rather expressive because it makes you think about what you’re actually looking at. The tone is a kind of calm because of all the cool and earthy tones in the photo, it makes everything seem more relaxed. It makes me feel inquisitive because I want to understand what he was thinking while creating the piece. The photographer was probably trying to express that many different aspects can shape you into the person you become.