In this Exercise, we are ask to look at the Elliott Erwitt photograph shown below and asked to write some answers to the posited questions in the text.
Elliott Erwitt – New York City 1974
This image a taken from a series by Erwitt which was printed in the collection DogDogs (Elliott Erwitt (1998) London: Phaidon Press.) at first it is a comical image of a small dog being taken out for a walk, but then we start to look further at the image and analyse the layout and elements of the scene shown and start to interpret what we see,
How is the image Framed?
The image is framed within the rule of thirds, drawing the eye to the right and down to the intersection of the bottom and right lines which land on the dogs front leg. This allows us to be drawn up to the right to the dogs face. It can also be shown that if you were to overlay the Fibonacci golden ratio that the small dog would be standing on the "landing point" of the ratio.
Having the image framed from a log angle also takes the small dogs perspective into the foremost, after all, what we can see of the owner is a pair of boots and the legs of the companion dog.
How does the crop matter?
The crop matters in that we need to get close enough to the dog without too much distraction from the foreground, the background or the other elements within the scene. We are close enough that we can see all the elements but we are tightly focuses on the dog. If the image had not been framed and cropped correctly then the balance of the image would have fallen squarely on the small dog and that would have created an inherent imbalance, however the dogs gaze directly into the lens balances against the two sets of legs.
Position of the Elements.
The three foremost elements of the image are pushed to the front while the two out of focus elements in the background, the arch (right hand side of the image) and the tree trunk (left hand side of the image) these two elements create an artificial horizon on which the top horizontal line of the rule of thirds rest on. The main elements of the image is the small dog, staring directly out of the image challenging the viewer for attention.
What is it Saying?
For me, the image talks about power and position; as the saying attributed to Mark Twain states, "it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog" Here we are being sized up by the small dog to see if it wants to challenge and dominate me, the viewer. As for position, not only does the small dog think about changing the viewer, it wants to position itself in the hierarchy.
The owner is in the position of power, the anonymous boots tower over the dog, a tight leash holding it close. The leash means both slavery and dependence, after all the small dog is clothed to protect it from the cold, showing the owner cares about the health of the dog, but the small dog is tied to the owner for food, warmth and companionship. The owner themselves have taken time to wear a long heavy coat and the dark, thick heavy leather boots, which are a sign of both wealth but of dominance. The large dog is also in an anonymous position, we know nothing of this dog, its position in the scene is one of by standing companion, that of older child or husband.
Structure of the Image?
Having the small dog as the main element allows the viewer the opportunity to anthropomorphise not only the small dog, but the owner as well. It is structured almost as a family snapshot of a husband, wife and small child, only from the perspective of the small child.
References
Phaidon Press. 2017. Elliott Erwitts DogDogs. [ONLINE] Available at: http://uk.phaidon.com/store/photography/elliott-erwitt-dogdogs-9780714838052/. [Accessed 9 August 2017].
Magnum Photos. 2017. Book - Dog Dogs. [ONLINE] Available at: https://pro.magnumphotos.com/Package/2K7O3RZ7T9S. [Accessed 9 August 2017].
New York Times. 2011. Captured: A New York Minute, or One in Havana. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/arts/design/elliott-erwitts-photographs-review.html. [Accessed 9 August 2017].
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