Critique Exercise

Sandy Skoglund - Revenge of the Goldfish

Descriptive Critique 

The image is of a bedroom that has many goldfish. The bedroom itself is entirely blue. Some of the drawers of the dressers are open, the bed is messy, and one of the pillows is on the floor. The goldfish around the room are in different places such as the floor, suspended from the ceiling, laying on the dresser, and coming out of the drawers. They are not all the same goldfish because I see some in different positions as well as different sizes. Also, on the bed, there are two people who have their eyes closed. One person is laying down while the other person is sitting up.

Joel Witkin - Portrait of Nan

Interpretive Critique 

Overall, this is a very confusing image to me. The grungy feeling achieved in this photo makes it look really frightening. The woman is so calm that it simply doesn't make sense for her hair to be that way. The way it is nailed to the wall in different pieces looks painful, yet she sits there perfectly content. The only item of clothing she is wearing is her gloves, which says to me that she doesn't want to get her hands dirty. It is almost like she is living in sinful place but refuses to be a part of it. The arbitrary appearance of the curtain on the wall could be interpreted like there was once a window, but it has long since been boarded up. The tiny skeleton could be death lurking in the background. I find it interesting that this skeleton is turned away as if death has turned its back on this woman. A few things I can't possibly place are the dots on her chest, the "T" looking form overlapping her, and the small animal she is holding.

Alfred Eisenstaedt - The V-J Day Kiss

Is this a good photo?

I believe this is a good photo because it captures the spontaneity of the kiss. The two frontal figures are in focus like they should be. There are people in the background looking at the couple as well. Smiles are everywhere giving the photo a lighthearted, happy feel. Distance in achieved as well through the perspective of the buildings receding in the distance. The figures are also conveniently located at the center of that receding focus. The only thing that makes the composition a bit awkward is how there is half of a man on the right side. There is no reason for him to be there. I would crop him out.