San Rafael Bridge, Mount Tamalpais, California
1962
1962. This photo has the focus on the road and nearby dock with the mountains and bridge blurring out into the background. The composition makes the water seem almost endless as the bridge fades into the back. The blurred mountains make them seem unfathomably large and distant. The focus being on familiar things such as buildings and telephone wires, makes the background water and mountains seem wild and unknown.
Diane Arbus Veteran with a flag, N.Y.C. 1971
Diane Arbus, Veteran with a flag, N.Y.C. 1971. The photo shows a sad looking veteran holding an American flag in the fore ground. In the background you can see a woman holding a flag ad what almost appears to be a crowd of people behind barricades. Having the veteran up close and in focus and having a busy half of background on the left and an empty background on the right gives the viewer a sense that there are two worlds that this veteran in the foreground is experiencing. The busy patriotic support from the crowd but the loneliness and hardships of war from the emptiness on the right. Also, having the veteran’s face in focus gives the viewer a sense of empathy and concern as he doesn’t look happy. The combination of these things leads to a powerful emotional response the photograph.
Good analysis of depth of field and spatial relationships. Your interpretation of the Veteran image is sensitive and backed by details in the image. Well done.