The picture of the horse represents elements of the sublime. This horse is not humble or quiet. Every muscle is taunt, its neck stretches forward, reaching for freedom. Its nostrils are flared, sucking in the air, its tail streams behind it like a victory banner. It is an epitome of youth, strength and power. Its mane is free to whip in the wind and its hooves free to leave the ground to greet the air. Each muscle of the horse’s neck, legs, flank, is defined; this horse is not a pet, or plough animal, but an athlete. Like a knight’s white courser, the horse is charging forward, eating up the ground. Its coat is smooth and sleek, and covered in dapples. Behind the horse, light blazes in the back corner, as if the horse is running from the light into the darkness. Fierce and strong, the photo captures a majestic moment of movement and strength.
After examining the work, there are several elements in this photo that make it closer to the sublime than the picturesque or the beautiful. In examining these elements it is easier to see the differences of the picturesque and sublime. Edmund Burke writes,
“let us look at [the horse], in the two distinct lights in which we may consider him. The horse in the light of an useful beast, fit for the plough, the road, the draft; in every social useful light, the horse has nothing sublime; but is it thus that we are affected with him, whose neck is clothed with thunder, the glory of whose nostrils is terrible, who swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage, neither believeth that it is the sound of the trumpet? In this description, the useful character of the horse entirely disappears, and the terrible and sublime blaze out together” (16).
One subject, presented in two different lights, presents a viewer with two completely different images. This image is full of life, and movement and power. The horse is in full flight, and is almost idealized in the power it is able to portray. It is this power, this movement, this contrast of light and dark, that separates it from the picturesque and allows it to reach for the sublime.
The picture above was taken at dusk; the shutter speed was slow, since the adjustments of the aperture and f-stop were set to capture the blue tinge. The darkening sky meant less sunlight was able to enter the lens, which made the shutter speed slow. This produced the blurry effect of the bee’s wings, and the macro focus gave the background the blurry appearance. The flower is a wild columbine, with one open flower, and two closed buds. The blurry background draws attention directly to the flower, as it is the only thing in focus. When taking the picture, I followed the rule of thirds, and placed the subject to the side instead of the center. In order to make the picture more appealing, I waited for the bee to come to give a little more life to the picture. I also paid a lot of attention to lighting in this picture. I loved the blue color and had to take multiple pictures before capturing it. It was not edited in Photoshop, but some contrast was added to make the flower appear more sharp and crisp.
These above two images fall under the category of modern. The unique perspective on the photos is different than any of the others. In these photos, the background scenery plays almost no role except for its color or hues and to draw attention to the foreground. While the other pictures are focused on the whole, these pictures seek to draw attention to a unique perspective a single object. In society today, it is these types of works that many are drawn to.
-Elyssa
