Showcasing...




As an avid photographer, I am always seeking for some inspiration through the genius works of other photographers. I hunt for photographs that speak out to me and attempt to portray that same vivid emotion through my own pictures. One particular photographer whose work never ceased to amaze me and has influenced me as an artist is Alfred Eisenstaedt. As a tribute to this epic LIFE magazine photographer, I have taken the liberty of critiquing one of my absolute favorite photos by him titled, “Saint George and the Dragon”.

In this photograph, multiple techniques were used to capture this unforgettable moment. A small depth of field was used to bring the foreground into focus and to blur the background. This depth of field effectively controls the viewer’s eyes to target the children in front and exclude the surroundings. The outdoor scenery shows that the photograph was taken using natural lighting from the sun. By using natural lighting, Eisenstaedt was successful in maintaining perfect light exposure to avoid an overly dramatic contrast of colors. In addition, the composition in this photograph consists of leading lines, shallow depth background layering, positive space, and a repetitive pattern. Lines make up most of this photograph, in my opinion. There are rows of children’s heads which draws the eyes from the foreground to the mass of blurry heads in the back. The viewers’ eyes are also led to follow the lined structure in the background. I find it fascinating how genius usage of lines gives the impression of a never ending crowd of eager children. The shallow depth background layering is seen through the layering of multiple faces with special attention towards the focused children with various expressions. I enjoy how the background is shallow and unfocused because it places emphasis on the the emotions displayed by the children. This photograph also contains positive space because the entire frame is full. This composition provided me an image of a large, squirming crowd squeezed together with very little space between them. Finally, the last composition I see here is a repetitive pattern of children’s heads. This pattern is continuous throughout the entire picture and adds to the impression of an extremely large gathering.

When I see this photograph, I am amazed at Eisenstaedt’s ability to connect with his subjects. Not only is it skilled compositionally, but the emotion is real and gets across to the audience. I believe Eisenstaedt is the master of photography simply because he has a knack for capturing candid moments that immerses the viewers into the moment. I interpret “Saint George and the Dragon” as a message of the importance in treasuring the precious memories your childhood has given you. There is an innocence and a sweet emotional appeal in this photograph. Seeing this picture, I am awash with powerful feelings of nostalgia, excitement, and a tinge of bitterness. The children’s emotions serve as a reminder to me of what it once felt like to truly believe in magic and the fantastical stories of heroes. Eisenstaedt captured more than just the climax of the puppet show when Saint George finally slayed the beast-- he also captured the pure, triumphant belief in good over evil as seen on the children’s faces. However, it feels slightly bitter because this is not the case when childhood innocence is lost. Eisenstaedt truly is a visionary in the photography field and I admire his works of art. “Saint George and the Dragon” is a perfect photograph that demonstrates great composition with effective emotional appeals.