OCA BA (HONS) PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

Exercise 1: ​Erwitt Analysis

Before you read any further, look carefully at Erwitt’s image and write some
notes about how the subject matter is placed within the frame.

  • How has Erwitt structured this image?
  • What do you think the image is ‘saying’?
  • How does the structure contribute to this meaning?
  • Did you spot that the picture is framed in stages of three?

The bottom third is the foreground, the middle is the subject matter and the top shows the subject and the background. This element of three is repeated in the number of subjects and the horizontal thirds are balanced by the vertical thirds of the small dog and other subjects’ legs. This use of three and the horizontal and vertical lines make the image appear visually complete. You get this impression that what’s within the frame is the whole picture, but of course there were bodies and heads and the rest of the larger dog just outside the viewfinder.
This leads us to the photographer’s decision to crop at a particular point. This was a witty decision but, more importantly, we’re reminded that it was a decision. What we see of the situation very much depends on the photographer’s point of view. By placing the small dog as the main focus, Erwitt emphasises its small stature. The size of this dog probably means that it’s often overlooked, especially in relation to its larger friend, so Erwitt’s decision to make it the main focus may tell us something about him as a person.

  • Does he like to help the ‘underdog’?
  • Does he prefer dogs over humans?
  • Is he making a statement about giving everyone a voice?
  • Or is he just making a joke?

Before you read any further, look carefully at Erwitt’s image and write some notes about how the subject matter is placed within the frame.

Erwitt has placed his subject, the dog, in a way that accentuates the difference in size. Adhering to the rule of thirds he has placed the dog to right and the other two sets of legs (cropped but enough to highlight their length), straight and long give the photo both balance and symmetry.

I think the image is saying ‘hi I’m a small fellow out with the big guys’! and the structure helps accentuate that. What is unexpected is the length of the human and other dogs legs are similarly leading this viewer to think the other dog must be absolutely huge. So, the play on the contrast of size, the little dog and his hat make for a memorable photograph.

 
 
 
 

  • Does he like to help the ‘underdog’?
  • Does he prefer dogs over humans?
  • Is he making a statement about giving everyone a voice?
  • Or is he just making a joke?

Without context, or knowing Erwitt, or even the history of this photograph, one could read many things about it. Photographs are malleable and we bring our worldview to bear when looking at them, so many interpretations are possible. What I can deduct is that he may not have had much time to compose and take this photo-or he may have asked the people to pose and got lucky that it came together-the small dog didn’t jump around etc. I don’t particularly agree with the view above that the little dog is the focus of the image-the two sets of legs and the small dog are the focus-all three contribute to the cohesion of the photo leading me to think the difference in size was the main motivation.
Most if not all photographs exist somewhere within the image-making eco-system-some are kept in family photo albums and get seen on special occasions, some hang on gallery walls, while others get 2000 likes on Instagram. This positioning impacts how we look at (and interpret an image). Having found out that Erwitt was a magnum photographer, my evaluation of the images changes immediately. Being a Magnum photographer comes with an amount of kudos that I as student of photography take the image at more than face value. I look for the message, the meaning.