Hopes & Dreams

Sets & Situations

Andy Goldsworthy's River

Andy Goldsworthy created this set by collecting leaves of a similar yellow hue. He wet and stuck the colored leaves to a rock in the middle of a stream or creek. Goldsworthy chose to use the large, angular rock as the main focus of his project due to its spatial relationship with the other rocks and forest growth surrounding the river. The composition seamlessly incorporated the reality of natural elements, such as the forest and river, and Goldsworthy’s construction of the leaf-laden rock.

The forested top half of the photo balances well with the water that takes up the bottom portion of the picture. The rock is centered well with nearly equal ground shown on either of its sides. The rock itself is also centralized within what can be seen of the river. When the trees are disregarded, the water in the foreground and background in relation to the rock is given comparable space. The water encircling the rock creates a box around the rock like a frame.

Goldsworthy also framed the shot with composition flow in mind. The rocks on the bottom left of the photograph lead the viewers eyes to the leaf-covered rock in the middle of the river, while the rocks behind the central yellow rock move the viewer’s focus on to the trees in the background. Some trees in the background have branches that reach in towards one another and droop down, in a way pointing to the rock down below.

When focusing on the trees in the background, certain leaf areas are ideally turning yellow or gold. Such areas are also visible through pockets in the greenery. The trees are not all entirely changing color; the autumnal stage is early which means only the extreme limbs and leaves of various trees are affected. The addition of these golden spots heightens the appeal of the centralized gold-laden rock. If the surrounding forestry had been strictly shades of green, the only interest in the photo would be the golden rock; however, the smattering of yellow in the trees and the bit of red and yellow on nearby rocks give the photograph variety. The random touches of gold seem purposeful and engineered or controlled by Goldsworthy specifically for the intent of this photo. In these splashes of color, the gold of the rock is mimicked and echoed and therefore pops in accordance with nature’s blessing. It is at once at odds and at peace with its surroundings; the adorned feature is both outlandish and natural.

Andy Goldsworthy's Pebble Circle

Andy Goldsworthy created this set by collecting pebbles in various shades of white and grey. He placed the lightest shades in the center, creating a black circle in the middle which symbolizes looking within the earth from the surface. As the viewer withdraws from the black hole, the pebbles gradually change from a clean white to a sooty grey with milky and mid-tone greys in between.

The black hole in the center of the pebble circle appears deeper; it recedes into the dirt below offering a gaze into the world beneath. Goldsworthy is an open environmentalist who incorporates nature into this work through manipulation of her collective wonders. The hole in the center of this circle is a frequent theme used by Goldsworthy which recurs within leaf circles, branches, and flowers. Personally, the hole seems to indicate the circular life of nature. Goldsworthy wants the viewer the fall into this black hole with him for the purpose of environmental awareness and activism.

The circle of pebbles is situated in the center of the photograph; however, the pebbles near the top of the photo appear larger than those close to the bottom of the frame. Since Goldsworthy was always careful in his composition and placement of items, the reason for this weight issue cannot be that he ran out of rocks. Rather, Goldsworthy wished for the top rocks to be larger in size and darker in shade. One possible explanation for this might be connected with nature’s imbalance and the idea of survival of the fittest – the rich get richer while the poor remain weak. The animals at the top of the food chain are usually given more attention and weight of importance. Another feasible reason for this uneven top-bottom balance could be Goldsworthy’s desire to leave the swirls in the dirt uncovered.

These swirls add interest to the picture by introducing change to the stock gradation of the pebbles. The earthy tan and beige colors contrast with the whites and greys of the pebbles, while the ground seems to have shades of grey mixed into it as well, complimenting the rocks and adding a depth to the photo. There is equal space and mud surrounding the pebble circle’s edges, but Goldsworthy chose to leave some wet sticks on the dirt in the top left hand corner of the set. These pieces of bark increase the diversity of the photo, contrasting with the swirls of dust and moist soil.

Portrait Pop Critique

Histories of Things

24 hr observation - Bullseye

This picture was obviously taken at Target. Everyone knows the Target symbol, but I enjoy capturing only part of a shape knowing the viewer will be able to connect the lines with their minds.