This image presented itself to me at the end of a windswept blustery bike ride. The ocean was surprisingly calm under threatening skies. Shafts of beautiful sunlight slid through a slit far towards the horizon.
I love this image for the contrast of light and dark, colour and monotone, calm and threat. The beautiful sun streams elevate the image from a simple horizontal monotone. Their light and angle add dynamic interest. The light shafts look strong, almost solid, reminding us of nature’s power and our comparative powerlessness.
In editing, my first instinct was to increase contrast for more drama. I did that and it looked beautiful. But kind of predictable. I have little interest in making perfect images; there are others who do it well but that’s not my area of exploration. I prefer to make subtle narratives.
As a contemplative person who finds solace and meaning in quiet thought, these kind of images calm me then intrigue me. For example, this scene can be taken in at first glance: two tankers, ocean, clouds. Not a lot of mental work.
Physically it doesn’t demand much either. There’s a calm palette and peaceful composition. Strong horizontals. And the main focal point is placed in the centre of the image. This is not an image that demands a lot from you, so you end up gazing at it, lost in thought. The light centre draws the eye, which is then held in place by the similar tones encircling it, with pitstops at each ship. This image doesn’t demand a lot mentally or physically. It’s a sweet rest in a busy world.
But if I continue to contemplate, my storymaking human brain arouses, creating narrative about the weather, about the sea; about clouds and ships and sunbeams. I think about the people on those ships—what’s their life like, where’s their family, is it scary, etc.
I like images that don’t give everything away immediately; I like being able to contemplate, absorb, interpret images. This is one of my favourite things about art: there’s not one right way to understand it. So when they’re teaching art history they’re sharing the received agreed-upon interpretation. All interpretations are correct. If you like it or hate it, you’re right. Art is so personal, so anti-intellectual. It demands we step out of the left brain and waddle around in the right. Let things be, let understanding come to you. Let yourself absorb it.
I grew up in the 1970s, when abstract art was really hitting mainstream. I heard so many angry viewers snort that their child could do the same and/or that non-representative art that’s not craft (ie doesn’t have a use) is ugly and not art. NOT ART. But I’ve learned that if you stand still and listen, it speaks to you. I’ve learned to love sitting with art, even the stuff I hate. I especially like when a piece pisses me off; I love questioning why I’m reacting so strongly.
So there you go. A calm image that you can experience as a pretty picture, a meditative piece, or a storytelling initiator.
