Photography critique Assignment
Liliana Hernandez
3/5/14
Robert Doisneau
Doisneau’s work is very unique; he captured the streets of Paris in the 1930’s. The picture I have chosen to critique is Doisneau’s most well recognized work Kiss by the Town Hall. This picture is of two lovers in the busy streets of Paris in an embrace kissing, this is not a staged photography, and there is movement in the background. The photograph is in black and white, there are textures in the foreground and there is a focused person on the left that has glasses, which can take the attention away from the two lovers. The couple seems to be going to work; it seems like an “I’ll see you later” kind of motion. Because the picture is in black and white, the man’s hand seems to contrast against the woman’s coat.
This photograph seems a little ill organized, there is a busy foreground for example there is a chair in front of the man’s hand making it appear that he is holding a briefcase, which might give the judgment that he is headed off to work, or to some type of business. Another thing that could have been better is if there were not any clear people in the background, there is a man, with glasses and a hat on the left and there is half of women on the right near his shoulder as he is kissing the woman in his embrace. I however think that Doisneau worked with what he had, and made the best of the technology, the emphasis on the couple could have been better. The picture of Doisneau’s subjects is centered, but the attention goes from foreground to the lovers to what surrounds them. Proportion is even, there is also repetition of where some background is blurred and some foreground is blurred.
The mood that this picture “The famous kiss” gives the viewers some anxiety, the picture is too busy. I think that Doisneau wanted to capture intimate young lovers in Paris, which the concept is still there, but I think it couldn't have been any better.The photograph seems realistic, there is movement, texture, and most importantly mistakes.
Liliana Hernandez
3/5/14
Robert Doisneau
Doisneau’s work is very unique; he captured the streets of Paris in the 1930’s. The picture I have chosen to critique is Doisneau’s most well recognized work Kiss by the Town Hall. This picture is of two lovers in the busy streets of Paris in an embrace kissing, this is not a staged photography, and there is movement in the background. The photograph is in black and white, there are textures in the foreground and there is a focused person on the left that has glasses, which can take the attention away from the two lovers. The couple seems to be going to work; it seems like an “I’ll see you later” kind of motion. Because the picture is in black and white, the man’s hand seems to contrast against the woman’s coat.
This photograph seems a little ill organized, there is a busy foreground for example there is a chair in front of the man’s hand making it appear that he is holding a briefcase, which might give the judgment that he is headed off to work, or to some type of business. Another thing that could have been better is if there were not any clear people in the background, there is a man, with glasses and a hat on the left and there is half of women on the right near his shoulder as he is kissing the woman in his embrace. I however think that Doisneau worked with what he had, and made the best of the technology, the emphasis on the couple could have been better. The picture of Doisneau’s subjects is centered, but the attention goes from foreground to the lovers to what surrounds them. Proportion is even, there is also repetition of where some background is blurred and some foreground is blurred.
The mood that this picture “The famous kiss” gives the viewers some anxiety, the picture is too busy. I think that Doisneau wanted to capture intimate young lovers in Paris, which the concept is still there, but I think it couldn't have been any better.The photograph seems realistic, there is movement, texture, and most importantly mistakes.
