Brothers Robert Houston | 1965

V. Notes From My Mind’s Eye

Visual Element : Space & Perspective


If You Change The Way You Look At Things, The Things You Look At Will Change — Dr. Wayne Dyer


Space & Perspective | Visual Depth

Used to draw attention to main subjects, space is made up of large continuous areas that isolate details to establish meaning. How much space we see is a manipulation of perspective or point of view. Extending the space or contracting the space between objects in your composition serves as a wonderful way to organize your information. Contrasting dark areas with light objects and vice versa, further defines the compositional space and creates visual depth. This illusionary sense of depth that recedes into infinity, draws the audiences focus into the subject with no distractions.



Robert Houston | Since 1965

Making a commitment to photography after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Houston initiated his career as a photojournalist by documenting the local Baltimore protests and rallies. Serving as Houston’s best advantage, his subjects were of things no one else was willing to document. Unbeknownst to him, these images would change the course of how we view Black American History forever. Most famous for the images Houston took of Civil Rights leaders, it is the images of his children that draws most of my attention for their pure simplicity. It is these images that highlight the cohesive relationship between space & perspective. For that reason, these images will be used to further our understanding of compositional organization.

There Comes A Time When Silence Is Betrayal — Martin Luther King Jr.

Brothers

Perspective and light are the key elements used to place emphasis on foreground. Which allows the space that follows to lead us into the secondary subject. The image as a whole challenges us to see siblings in a different light, literally and figuratively, as it is the one directional light that illuminates both subjects. Only highlighting portions of their faces, Houston leaves everything else in dark blank space.

Son

Space, face, space. Space sandwiches the face of the young boy giving us only a sliver of information illuminated from the darkness. The details we do see are of visibly expressed emotion that we have no choice but to confront.


Eldest Daughter Robert Houston | 1974

Eldest Daughter

Implicit lines, highlighted with light form a Triangle shape. The glass, bread, and subject are the focus leaving dark blank Space to fill in the remainder of the composition. With the foreground being consumed by the bread and water, we see that these items are meant to tell us something about the subject. Because the subject is holding their hand over their head, we may assume that something is wrong, in which case the bread and water might be the remedy to their ailment.


Space & Perspective | Storytelling

Perspective and space creates visual and emotional depth by organizing a composition’s implicit lines , shapes , & symbols. It is with these images that we see Houston’s manifested artistry. The intimacy within these photographs highlight the relationship between Houston and the subjects, something to be both admired and celebrated. Audiences are not always clear of the concepts artist attempt to convey, but with a little space and perspective between layered information, clear communication can be achieved.

Until Next Time,

Be A Storyteller, Share Experiences, & Challenge Norms | Shoot With Intention


In The Comment Section Below | How do you interpret space & perspective within Robert Houston’s works?


LauraNicoleHaldane

publishing creative content intended to be both viewed as a whole anthology and as independent collections

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Laura Nicole Haldane

Written by

Conceptual Artist — Photography | Cinematography | Illustration | Entrepreneurship

LauraNicoleHaldane

publishing creative content intended to be both viewed as a whole anthology and as independent collections

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