My conceptual photograph depicts a framed lithograph of Picasso’s painting The Dream, whose glass coverage has been partially smashed. Resting on top of the painting lies a hammer surrounded by shattered glass. I placed it in this manner so that the viewer is able to deduct that it is responsible for shattering the painting. The objects lie on a smooth concrete surface with a crack across the bottom. I chose this setting because it demonstrates that even strong materials, like concrete, are capable of breaking. I shot this photo at a high angle slightly to the side with somewhat bright lighting so that the broken glass pieces would be evident and their reflections would be minimized.
The painting in my conceptual photo represents the need to share, as art symbolizes a common way in which people express their emotions. The hammer in the photo portrays a sense of unhappiness as it is destroying the painting. Often, when people feel unhappy, they overcompensate by sharing a false image of their idealized self. In my photo, the hammer is breaking through that false layer, represented by the glass, to reveal the feelings the artist is expressing through their art.
Through editing my photo with Adobe Photoshop, I learned how to work with adjustment layers to balance the contrast and exposure of my photo. This allowed the white in the painting to shine brightly while the concrete ground remained fairly dark. I learned that through utilizing a vignette, I was able to bring attention to the center of the photo, making the objects the main point of emphasis rather than the edges. I also learned how to work with the spot healing treatment to remove a few specks of dirt from the frame of the painting.
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