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.