Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

July 26th, 1933 fm AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER p 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER a Pictorial Analysis Every week one of the pictures reproduced on an art page will be analysed in detail for the benefit of readers of the paper who are seeking to improve their pictorial work. “ SUMMER'S AWAKENING,” by F. C. Diemer. IT is interesting to note the manner in which the sunshine, the pre¬ eminent motive of this picture, has been endowed with more than ordinary brilliance. In the usual run of pictures, the areas under the influence of sunlight are well massed and of sufficient size to make them¬ selves felt. Here, instead of being massed, they are composed of in¬ numerable small points of light, each near enough to another to suggest a connection, but mainly separate. Sparkle and Brilliance. The separation into so many elements has the effect of conveying the impression of sparkle and brilliance. It is unusually vital and alive, yet, because the points of light occur in close proximity, there is no suggestion of bitti¬ ness or scattering of interest. The proximity imparts a feeling of massing that does not actually exist, but which, nevertheless, prevents an im¬ pression of disunity from making an appearance, and the effect is rendered with a virility and force that could scarcely be attained in any other way. The most substantial of these touches of brilliance occurs on the head and shoulders of the figure (1). That, and the attraction afforded by his human in¬ terest, confer principality upon him and make him the foundation upon which the Composition is built up. It is true that the patch of sunlight in the foreground is of greater size, but it has not quite the same intensity, nor has it any strength of position. On the other hand, the placing of the figure is forceful, and its attraction as the centre of interest is neither dis¬ turbed by that light nor the innumer¬ able small points existing elsewhere, though, in the aggregate, their area may be considerably the greater. Relative Significance. The supremity of the figure being established, the collections of points of light, viewed in groups, assume a subsidiary but relatively important significance. Those round the centre (2), would rank about secondary in importance, and those near on the left-hand side (3), next. There is another small group on the right at (4) and, with the small patch of sunshine at the base (5), a sort of circular formation is disclosed. It commences with the figure (1), proceeds by way of (4) to the top of the group (2), from thence it goes, via group (3) and the patch of sunshine (5), back to the figure. The formation is indicated in the sketch by dotted lines. It has the effect of limiting the interest of the picture to the enclosed area, retaining it well within its boundaries, and is of considerable service in contributing to the unity of the work. It enables the composition to be viewed as satisfactory, and plays no small part in the success with which the unusually brilliant effect is trans¬ mitted. It is questionable, however, if that effect would not be equally well conveyed if, instead of the present diffused presentment, a rendering that was perfectly well defined were sub¬ stituted. The points of light would scarcely lose in significance if their shape were properly shown in place of being displayed as a series of semi¬ circular blobs, and, instead of the sense of uncertainty and fumbling for an effect that always seems to accompany a lack of reason¬ able sharpness, the rendering would be decisive and mas¬ terly. Decision or Diffusion. Whether produced by the employment of a soft-focus lens or by the many methods available in after-treatment, diffusion always seems to invite the suggestion that either there was a doubt con¬ cerning the way the effect should be handled, or there was a need for something to be covered up, whereas a rendering that is perfectly sharp would not only be more in accord with the visual impression, but should also convey the effect with no pictorial loss and much greater decision. The point is one that is variously viewed, however, and everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but a fact that is indicative of the trend of thought of to-day is the small number of pictures of a diffused character that are to be seen in exhibitions of the highest class — a fact which goes to show that the craze for diffusion of a few years back seems to be dying out. Possibly, most of us will agree that the picture, in this instance, succeeds in spite of its diffusion, and that, had it been presented in a normal straight¬ forward way, its attraction would not have been any the less. That the subject has been well seen and caught, however, is undeniable, and it affords an instance of the oppor¬ tunities that lie in our cities for thosewith the vision to see them. “ Mentor.” 22 90