Comparison of Two Pictures by Josef Koudelka
Both of the pictures that I have chosen for my compare and contrast are by Josef Koudelka. The first picture is called Czechoslovakia and was taken in 1968. It seems to be a modern social image. When you look at the man’s watch you can see that the picture was taken in the middle of the day, yet there is no one around. This makes the viewer wonder why such and obviously urban landscape is barren. It is a static, horizontal, monochromatic, fine image that is taken from both bird’s eye as well as eye level. The watch in this image is at eye level but the rest of the image is taken from bird’s eye, which helps to give the image a sense of distance. Since there is a watch in the picture telling a specific time at which there is none around it is highly unlikely that this image could ever be reproduced and it is therefore a moment in time. The photographer uses the lines of the street to give the street an added sense of distance. His arm provides a sharp contrast from the otherwise urban scene and sets the image of balance. I feel that it gives the viewer a sense of melancholy due to the desolation as well as a feeling of loneliness. Since the image is in unlimited focus the arm which is so close to the lens it helps to highlight the desolation in the picture as the photographer appears to be the only one around.