wide2tele Loc: Australia

Did this one as my take on a little modern art a looong time ago.
It's a vision of mankind, past, present and future.
The Journey was taken back in the film days.
It's as it appears on the original transparency film out of the camera.
Every element of this image has a purpose and a reason.

Make of it what you will.
Hope it's worth your time and something a little different.

I'm posting The Journey after discussion in the thread below:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-690455-1.html

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I like it. Nice composition and color.

wide2tele Loc: Australia

Thanks!

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

An intriguing work!

wide2tele Loc: Australia

Thank you Carol.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

To my mind that's the problem with this kind of art. You say elsewhere that every aspect of the image has significance. What that really means is that it has significance for you. If it was purely for your own viewing pleasure, that wouldn't be a problem, but since you're sharing it on a forum, your intention is presumably for others to get something out of it. I hope you realise that the significance it has for you will not come across in its present form. The title will get us guessing and speculating but those guesses will probably be mostly wide of the mark, even with your brief description to guide us.

However, it's the sort of image that could really come alive if it was accompanied by something more of an explanation. The viewers' ability to get something out of it will increase exponentially if they are told enough to enable them to get more meaning out of it. That way you will be sharing your vision and your artistic thought processes. As it is the image has much visual interest but as far as the meaning goes, it will be mostly lost.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Alert the troops" Their coming by sea...

wide2tele Loc: Australia

No, no, no. This is why I don't like digital photography and now mirrorless cameras. People just want easy. They don't want adventure or challenge or to think about anything or to learn or to experience or to be surprised. They just want the spoilers, the cheats, the instant results, the instant gratification. Welcome to 2021 not just with photography but with everything!

I don't claim to be an artist. I personally dislike art but art does not need explanation. People will argue if the viewer can make no sense of the piece they are viewing the artwork has failed. It's a good argument imo and this image may very well be a complete and total failure. I'm fine with that. I didn't feel it was appropriate to post an image that was created in a completely different era for viewers to understand today. I didn't want to post it but people complained so here it is. I'm fine with it not being understood. I'm fine with people taking a look and thinking, "Makes no sense to me, waste of time being here, next thread..."

I won't explain it but I'll give further clues. If you don't want to give it any thought, close the thread. It's what we all do with images we do not like or wish to bother with.

Title is The Journey. It's a vision of mankind, past, present and future.

I ask:

Why is the image blue?
Why is the figure in a liquid substance?
Why does the liquid substance appear to have density?
Why are air bubbles in the image?
Why is the figure not upright?
Why is the figure distorted?
Why does the figure appear to not be totally human?
Why is the front of the figure not greatly illuminated?
Why are there small highlights on the front of the figure?
Why is there light coming from behind the figure?
Why does one hand have more definition than any other part of the figure?

Past, present, future.

Make of it what you will or move on. Don't take my comments in a nasty or negative fashion. It's not my intent. The image may not appeal or interest anyone. The image may only appeal for it's visual qualities, color or because it is a little different or odd. It's just like any other image in this forum. Like it or don't like it or place it somewhere in the middle.

As I said, please do not take my comments as being in any way aggressive.

wide2tele Loc: Australia

Hmm...

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Your perspective and expectations seem to be balanced and realistic. I'm beginning to suspect that in your earlier thread you were hoping for the discussion to include more of the why we rate images as standout, and for you it's obviously about the meaning those images have for us. Considering it was the Main section, you're lucky it got beyond discussing what makes an image good technically .

I've learned to be as clear and as specific as possible when it comes to starting threads, especially the more ambitious ones. Murphy's Law clearly states that if a divergent topic can be raised and discussed, it will. Not to mention the (almost inevitable) inadvertent misunderstandings . Attempts to keep a thread on topic are helped greatly when the intention is described clearly and unambiguously at the outset.

Hal's post epitomises the sort of thing that's most likely to happen when other people's artistic creations are too obscure. The visual interest will hold a viewer for a moment - hopefully long enough for their curiosity to kick in - but if there's nothing for the viewer to connect to they will either lose interest or come to the wrong conclusions. But you seem well aware of those possibilities.

If your question in your earlier thread had been "What qualities in an image would cause you to classify it as "standout?", I would have answered that it's usually basic things like beauty but it includes things like storytelling, good composition, good editing and the like. For others it can be sentimental content or some such. For you it's obviously about having a deeper meaning, which will always be conditioned by the fact that these things are often very personal.

wide2tele Loc: Australia

I'm adding you to my buddy list. Hope you don't mind?
Appreciate your comments and thoughts.

We simplify too much.
I like to provoke, entice discussion and opinion.
It's very difficult to achieve this I believe today without war. lol
It's why I've been through a number of different photography forums.
People are defensive and aggressive.
The nature of forums have changed.
There is no need, just have fun and enjoy.
The Hog however, imo, has elements of fun, interaction and discussion.

I need to find something if I can. May take me a week or so but if I do, I'll post it in this thread.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Yep, all human life is here - the good, the bad, the ugly...... . Looking forward to seeing your post.

wide2tele Loc: Australia

Haha, think I've already come across it all in my short stay here. Variety is a glorious thing!

srt101fan

I had put a hold on commenting on UHH because a few of my posts were misinterpreted and created some unpleasantness. But your thoughtful comments and R.G.'s always enlightened contributions have drawn me in again.

Your image is, indeed, as Carol said, "an intriguing work" and one that is very worthy of viewing and reflection. I would like to be able to say that I "understand" it, but, alas, I find it somewhat baffling (but "understanding" a work of art isn't always necessary, is it?). I agree, at least to some extent, with R.G.'s comment "the viewers' ability to get something out of it will increase....if they are told enough to enable them to get more meaning out of it."

You say, "People just want easy. They don't want adventure or challenge or to think about anything or to learn or to experience or to be surprised." True of some people, but certainly not all! I'm always amazed at the crowds a traveling art exhibit can draw....

You say "I personally dislike art..." Intriguing comment! I would have thought that "everybody" likes "art", the only variable being what one considers art, an endless subject for debate.

You go on to say "...art does not need explanation." If I read you right, this goes to the core of your postings. I agree in part. Most people will admire a good photograph of a sunrise or sunset even when devoid of recognizable objects. They need no explanation. Why then, do we ask for an explanation from an artist who creates an abstract painting using colors, shapes and compositions similar to what nature gives us?

Does it matter if we "understand" an artist's intent? If we open up our minds and hearts to a work of art we might have an emotional reaction that is not in line with the artist's vision. Is that bad? I don't think so. On the other hand, as R.G. said, our appreciation of some works is clearly enhanced with context and background info. Picasso's "Guernica" comes to mind. And all those old masterpieces loaded with symbolism and mythological themes. Would a picture of two naked people and a snake in the woods make sense if we didn't know the story of Genesis?

Time to shut off this stream of consciousness. Thanks for activating may aging brain cells. Looking forward to more of your UHH contributions....

wide2tele Loc: Australia

I'm very pleased to read this. It is clear you have a great deal to contribute. Thank you for your post, plenty for myself to read and consider.

I mentioned earlier I was going to find something. Looking at my storage room and boxes, I feel it will be a difficult task so I am giving up before wasting serious time.

Now, R.G. will pick me up on this so will explain first. I stated I never displayed this image elsewhere. I never stated I have not shown this image. There is a difference.

For a short time I had a little interaction with a rather talented artist. He even gave me one of his paintings which 2+ decades on, still hangs in my home. I showed him the image above as a small 6x4 inch print. He took it with him and a few days later returned the image with a note giving a breakdown of how he interpreted it. I was hoping to post the note in this thread as I kept it but it will be too difficult to find.

I can tell you quite accurately how he interpreted it from memory. I found his thought process interesting. If his thoughts matched my vision is irrelevant and I won't even mention if we were a close match or miles apart.
I'd simply like to demonstrate one possibility how one could view the image.

He came up with this:

The Past

The image is blue, representing the Earth and it's oceans. This is mankind's beginning. Evolution was slow so the liquid has greater density than water to represent this struggle. While the period of evolution was long, life was short. This is represented by the small and limited air bubbles as once they are no more, life is no more.

The Present

The figure represents the present. The figure is tilted to demonstrate the instability of mankind. The figure is being pulled apart as a representation of man causing his own destruction. The figure is in shadow as the path of mankind is headed toward darkness.

The Future

Represented by the light. While the figure is headed toward darkness, if only the figure could look behind, he could see and turn toward the light. Mankind could then save himself.

Does the above add the necessary interest to the image as requested?
Is the above what the image could represent to you?

Questions open to anyone wishing to respond.