WORK AND LIFE:
American photographer and director of photography Cody William Smith mirrors the world upon itself in these contemplative landscapes. The series, entitled A Moment’s Reflection, features a large, round mirror placed unmistakably into the sand, the dirt, or the sea in various settings. Standing upright and partially buried, the mirror disrupts the normal landscape with a reflection of a different space located close by.
The stunning arrangements create a unified balance of multiple realities linking in unexpected ways. Some circular shapes and forms stand out against shady surroundings and show off the bright skies in the distance while others blend seamlessly into the setting in an optical illusion of shapes.
Smith reveals, “My intention is to draw new connections between familiar forms by introducing specular reflections to environments where none would typically exist. The mirrors serve as a focal point within a given scene and also function as a window to provide an entirely unique perspective on the same location.”
Smith is a professional Photographer and Director of Photography. Originally from Reno Nevada, he moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and earned his BFA in Cinema from Columbia College in 2012. As a photographer he specializes in landscape, fine art, and environmental portraiture.
source:
http://www.domusnova.com/domus-loves/story/135/time-to-reflect-cody-william-smith
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
VISUAL:
When looking at this image the first thing the eye is drawn to is the circular mirror which reflects the small and delicate waves within the sea. Unlike the surrounding sea, it is a lot brighter, reflecting strong and white light of its surface. It is a juxtaposition between nature and man made objects as the strong, crisp and round outline of the mirror is contrasted by the organic and free flowing shapes of the waves. The ripples within the water also provide repeating shapes which create a sense of pattern. The mirror provides a sort on continuation of the sea, the linear pattern being reflected in it. The image is mainly composed of different tones of blues and very subtle oranges in the background of the image. The image also provokes many ideas in the head of the viewer, such as the repetition of the image they can see within the mirror and the reason for the mirrors presence in the first place. Within the image we can see the linear repetition of the line of the wave, giving the photo a whole another dimension.
TECHNICAL:
In terms of technicality, the image was likely taken in the early morning/late evening due to the low angle at which the light hits the water and the darkness lower down in the image. I believe the ISO of the image was likely to have been set to 400 as the image and environment is slightly dark, avoiding under exposure. A tripod may have also been used in order to capture the image in order to get the mirror into position and before the tide comes in too far and knocks down the mirror. The aperture was likely set to about f/8 as the image is fairly dark with dark shadows and subtle highlights.
CONTEXTUAL/CONCEPTUAL:
It is possible that you catch a glimpse regarding this kind of landscape photos processed with a mirror effect on a geometric shape. American photographer Cody William Smith did the job straight-shooting and made 4 very beautiful series called “A Moment of Reflection”. He took pictures of impressive landscapes seen through mirrors: the sea, a sunset, the desert or mountains.
