ABC News is running a continuous story about the devastation and rebuilding going on in Japan they call “Disaster in the Pacific.” Everyday ABC shows numerous photographs that not only convey emotion but put across information through images.
An image I recently saw that caught my attention was of workers carrying a deceased body through the rubble of a village that was hit by not only the earthquake and tsunami but engulfed in fires. All around them you see the devastation that has happned due to the earth’s plates shifting.
The composition of this photograph is decent. The subject matter in this picture is off to the left giving you a view of the area around them and you see the trail wined behind them. In addition the picture is well balanced. Lastly the framing of the debris adds a good touch to the picture.
The image definitely impacts the viewer thoughts and emotions.
Another image that I saw that grabbed my attention is also from the disaster in Japan and it isn’t of people but of a destroyed school house with a Winey the Poo bear left behind covered in wreckage. This image conveys a lot of information to viewers. Just like the above picture it’s telling viewers a story of what the March 11 tsunami did and how much reconstruction will need to be done.
This second image demonstrates an even better composition than the first. The focal point is the bear. The debris behind it is out of focus. When you first see the image, your eyes naturally are attracted to the bear and then due to the linear lines in the debris you follow the lines throughout the remainder of the image. The picture is also broken up into the rule of thirds; nothing is centered making it more interesting. Lastly it’s balanced and framed well.
Both of the above images excel in mechanics and aesthetics. The lighting and dark coloring is good for these types of photos because they’re showing a dark time for the country of Japan.
Both of the above images were taken from the ABC News Slideshow, Japan: 9.0 Earthquake Causes Major Damage.
