Critique #1 "Brad Burch Rock Solid"

           

            Fear, it keeps most people content standing on the ground nice and safe where they are. Some people aren’t okay with that. Some want to push boundaries, some want to stand out. Some people want to risk their health and safety to do something amazing. Anybody willing to do that has beaten fear, they have overcome their fear. Give that person a motorcycle and who knows what may happen. Modern dirt bike riders are willing to risk themselves for the sport. They are always going higher, faster, and doing harder tricks than the last guy. Brad Burch had overcome his fear when this image was captured. In the photo “Brad Burch Rock Solid” The photographer “B Rad” focuses on background and juxtaposition in order to make the trick being preformed appear not human.

            Background is an important element to any image. In this image the background really affects the image. The background is a “cool” light blue color just like the rider and the bike. Although the colors are similar there is still some contrast because the background doesn’t really have any movement while the rider does. The background being the same color as the focal point also creates a unity and harmony of the colors that are throughout the image.

            The juxtaposition is the most important element used in the image. I think it really makes the image what it is. It just wouldn’t be as cool of a photograph without it. The rider is in the middle of the picture. The background is all blue sky. Having the rider soaring through the air without being able to see anything underneath him makes the viewer wonder. The viewer doesn’t know how high or low the rider is to the ground or how much danger he is in. Maybe he is about to land in a foam pit or maybe he is going to crash you don’t know because all you can see is the rider soaring through the sky. I think it also makes the rider pictured have sort of a non human or godlike look to him. I think this because the rider is totally detached from the bike at the instant the photo was captured and it makes him look like he might be flying.  
            In conclusion this photograph is very interesting. Just by quickly looking at it the image was able to capture my attention and hold it too. The photographer skillfully captures a fantastic image at the perfect angle. The combination of artistic elements in this photo blends nicely creating a pleasing image for the viewer. The colors flow throughout the whole photo but there is still a certain contrast between the moving parts of the image and the still parts like the sky. However everybody knows people can’t fly giving the image a non human and fictitious feel to it even though it is a photo and isn’t fake.