Seminars

 

Exhausting a place in Lincoln

During week 9 we were given the task of sitting somewhere outside and taking in our surroundings, what we could see, hear, smell and feel. For this task, I took a seat in the Swan and noted down what was going on around me.

Firstly, I went with the most obvious sense, which was sight. There was a lot to take in, a lot of the staff running around hastily, delivering food to all the tables. It was quite busy at the time, many groups of students laughing and chatting away, some on their laptops, most likely doing independent research, or typing up notes. The wooden table had small scratches in it, looking a slightly old, yet it only adds to its overall character. The bar staff are rushing about also, pouring drink after drink for all the customers. The sun shines through the windows, creating small beams of light, making the area look and even feel warmer.

There were many smells within the Swan, the most prominent was that of food, the smell fried food was the most prominent, one that I was able to detect as soon as I entered the Swan. Something else that caught my nose’s attention was the faint smell of liquor. While it wasn’t very strong, the mere traces of it was enough for me to be able to recognise it. Aside from that, the only other smell I found myself experiencing could only be described as old oak that had been burnt or was in the process of being burnt.

Next, I will talk about what I was able to feel. Due to the table, I was sat at, I was unable to really get a feel for too much. The main thing that I came into contact with was the table that I sat at. It was smooth and pleasant to touch. The surface was cold, not to the point where it was freezing, but actually quite refreshing. Something else that I felt was the window behind the seat that I had chosen. Like the table, it was quite cold to the touch, smooth also.

Finally, there was what I could hear. There was a mixture of idle conversation and excited chattering and laughter. Something else that filled my ears was the sound of glasses clanging together. Something else that I was able to hear was customers ordering their drinks and food, heavy footsteps too as the staff rushed around, attempting to serve everyone.

Image 9 analysis

Analysing an image without context can sometimes be difficult and the message that the photographer is often something that the viewer themselves cannot find or the message that they get is completely different to the one that the photographer had in mind when they took the image.

 

When was the image taken?

The first thing I want to try and determine is when the image was taken. I like to think that this picture was taken in the early 2000s, perhaps between 2000 and 2005. While the setting looks quite modern, the computers in the background look quite old, ones that we do not use today. Her clothing is quite old-fashioned as well, just like the previously mentioned computers. Aside from that, there aren’t that many hints as to when the picture was taken.

Where was the image taken?

As for where in the world this photograph was taken, it is quite hard to determine, due to it being shot inside a building. It does, however, look like a waiting room, I mostly come to this solution, due to the look on her face. She looks like she is waiting for something, the book in her hands also adds to this, it could be something she brought along to read while she waits. However, it also looks like an office building, I think this because of the two computers in the background. These look like workstations, which are quite prominent in offices. It is hard to pick which one I believe is more plausible, as both are highly possible.

What are the key visual elements?

There are a few key visual elements that can be noted in this image. The first thing that comes to mind, is obviously the woman sitting in the middle of the room. She has a specific posture, slightly relaxed yet ready to move at a moment’s notice. Another key visual element is all the chairs scattered around. The computers also, these can help the viewer determined what kind of room it is that she is in. The window to the left is also very eye-catching, it looks like there is some sort of plant behind it.

How are the human subjects in the photo interacting with the camera?

The main and only human subject in this photo is obviously, the woman. Overall, she doesn’t seem to be interacting with the camera at all, instead of looking away from it. She looks like she has seen something out of shot and is quietly examining it. I get this impression thanks to the slightly judgemental glare she possesses. From her expression, the only way I can see her interacting with the camera is that she may have noticed it and is pretending to ignore it.

Has the photographer given the subject any directions?

As for what the photographer asked them to do for the photograph, it looks like they asked the woman to look uninterested, or as if she is examining something out of shot. For all we know, there may not actually be anything outside of the frame and she has just been told to pretend there is. Or the photographer may have taken this picture of the woman without her consent, but the overall image looks as if it had been planned from the start.

What does the photographer want the viewer to take from the image?

To finish this analysis off, I am going to be talking about the overall message that I think the photographer is trying to get across with this image. Firstly, I want to talk about the colours. The most prominent colour in this image is, of course, different shades of green. This colour often represents envy, jealousy and greed. Perhaps the photographer is trying to tell us that the woman in the image is hiding some form of jealousy. As mentioned earlier, she looks to be checking something out, this could be the photographer trying to show us how we subconsciously like to analyze everything around us. This is what I get from her facial expression at least.