Connecting Essay One

This a picture I used for inspiration when looking at silhouettes. I liked the idea of combining miniatures with this particular topic as this gives the photograph a more surreal look to it. Due to the outline of the subjects being well defined and sharp, the viewer is able to see exactly what is going on and be able to imagine what the people in the picture look like even though they have no clues on their facial features. The use of the hat as a prop further emphasises the mystical idea being portrayed here in this picture; the miniature looks cartoonish and comfortable in the hands of the man, whereas the man looks quite confused and surprised. From this, viewers can conclude that the woman is not seen as human but as some sort of 'creature' and this man seems to be intrigued by it. However, this image is quite ambiguous - it could be that this man is a magician and he has somehow turned this woman into a miniature. There are certain features of his that indicate his role as a magician: his hat, his pointy nose and he looks as if he's wearing a cape. These specific features are highlighted by the sharp outline of his shape that the silhouette has produced.

This is my image that I have produced from one of my shoots. This images portrays a friendship between my subjects; the boy is looking at the girl and they seem to be having a conversation. Her pose is quite a relaxed and friendly one, showing that she is comfortable around him and is not intimidated by the difference in her size compared to his. Also, her clothes look quite casual, suggesting that she sees this boy on a daily basis, further showing their close relationship. The main subjects looks as if they are in their adolescent years, highlighting youth and maybe representing the beginning of a new friendship.

These two pictures have a lot of similarities. For example, they both portray power, the viewers can clearly see that the miniature is not big enough to look after themselves; the fact that they have to be held by the other subjects show that they have to be cared for and looked after. Additionally, some may argue that the photographs represent the patriarchal society we live in today. In both of the pictures, there is a male holding a female, showing a difference in size, which highlights the power difference. The difference in size could also represent the difference between males and females physically and emotionally -  women are suppressed and left vulnerable by men. Moreover, both images show some type of relationship between the human and the miniature, whether a close one or a distant one, they both show some connection that can be seen by the viewer. The techniques used in both photographs are also very similar, the silhouettes are both extremely sharp, showing off the shape of the subjects so that every detail is picked up, potentially helping the viewer to imagine what the subjects look like.