Reframed Image
Original Image
I was drawn to this image by Sally Mann mainly because of the Visual Intensity of the photo. Even though we are not sure what the context on the photo is it is easy to assume that it is representing a melancholy and intense situation. I chose to reframe the image by focusing on what I thought was the most visually intense aspect of the photo and that is the boy's faces, specifically their eyes and the direction in which they are looking. The direction of both focal points (each boy's eyes) have affinity in their direction. They are both fixed on the camera. I wanted to magnetize the visual intensity by reframing the image around the boys faces and eyes to take away from the distraction of the contrast in direction between the direction the boys are looking and the direction the lines on their shirts are going. When you minimize the presence of the other lines on the photo the lines are perceived a bit differently and there is more focus on the virtual lines (eyes to camera) vs. the actual lines(striped shirt) which is what I was going for when reframing. The shape of the boys heads may look similar but I believe they are different. The boy on the left has more of a circular shaped head and the boy on the right a square. Because Sally Mann included more of a presence of the boy on the right's hair, that added to the shape of his head as a square. I do not believe this was done by accident especially when you consider the element of blood on the boy on the right. Clearly, the boy on the right is meant to be the dominant figure between the two boys. When reframing I also decided to manipulate the shot type and change the photo from a medium shot to a close up. I feel that closing in the space and focusing on where the visual intensity lies in the photo (the boys faces) would increase that intensity.
I believe Sally Mann had similar thoughts when framing this photo. She did not want to do a very wide shot because that would minimize the intensity of the photo as well as distract the viewer from her focal points. But I definitely see a reason that she did a medium shot vs. a close up and I believe that has a lot to do with the shirts the boys are wearing. I want to point out the difference in the striped shirts of the boys. I find this very interesting that she did this. Like I said earlier, I do believe the boy on the right has a square shape and the boy on the left a circle but at the same time the boy on the left has more defined, solid, stripes on his shirt vs. the boy on the right who has thick and thin stripes and his shirt is a bit wrinkled. I found this contrast very interesting. The head shapes give the impression that the boy on the left is less dominant than the right, that may very well be the reason the boy on the right is the one with blood on his face. The boy on the right is wearing a wrinkled shirt, with contrasting stripes, and a white under shirt with blood on the color. The boy of the left is wearing a unwrinkled shirt with solid stripes and no undershirt showing, his hair also looks less of a mess. If this picture was depicting for example, a terrible case of domestic abuse, by costume choice, line and shape, and space in the photo you can put all of the elements together and assume that the boy on the right is the more dominant personality therefore, presumably, the most likely of the two to be beaten. Many of Sally Mann's photos seem to have a dark melancholy concept behind them and by manipulating the aspects of framing, lines and shape, visual intensity, and space in her photo's she is able to get across some very intense situations and feelings in her photos.
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