Connecting Essay Four

This is a picture from the internet I found when doing my research and decided to take inspiration from this. I quite like how simple this picture is, there isn't a lot going on in it; the subjects are standing in a neutral pose and looking straight at the camera. However, this simplicity is hidden by the heavy make up that is used and the contrasts being shown in various different ways. The white background is there to focus all the attention on the subjects and to portray them in brighter lighting. The red lipstick used is a massive contrast to the whole picture as it stands out the most; this is perfect because the photographer wants the viewer to automatically focus on the lips of the woman. There is a relationship being shown here - the man and the woman are presented in a moment of intimacy, suggesting they have a close relationship. This is further emphasised through the lack of clothing and even though they are not looking at each other, the viewer can tell that there is a strong bond between the two subjects. Also, the woman is covered in make up, whereas the man is not; this represents a stereotypical relationship, where the woman is expected to wear make up and look nice to please her man. This is also shown through the height difference, portraying power and strength.

My picture was inspired by this so it's very similar. My subjects are not close together, this is because instead of showing a deep, intimate relationship, I wanted to show how friendship can have the same effect as a strong relationship would. The black background contrasts with my main subject in red, whereas my other subject kind of blends in with it. This was done on purpose as I wanted the viewers to focus on one subject rather than both. The lips are dripping away, showing that the silence being forced on him is slowly damaging him, both emotionally and physically. The dark background helps me to show this as it can represent a dark time in his life, almost as if he is trapped like this. My other subject doesn't seem to be bothered about what she is doing to him, representing friendships that consist of people who only want to receive but not give. She looks as if she is almost smiling, further showing how unaffected she is by this situation.

These images have a significant amount of similarities, both showing power being exerted forcefully and similar editing has been used to show this. Both pictures show someone having power over another individual. However, the picture from the internet shows a male having power over a female but I decided to do this the other way round to break the stereotypical idea that men always have power over women. In both photographs, the lighting focuses on the person's whose lips are not intact. The messages of the two pictures are the same and similar methods have been used by the photographer and I to show this.