Chukchi home, Yandrakinot, Siberia, Russia, 2002 photo

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Nine: Composition -- putting it together > Chukchi home, Yandrakinot, Siberia, Russia, 2002

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09-AUG-2002

Chukchi home, Yandrakinot, Siberia, Russia, 2002

Many photographers will automatically place their center of interest in the middle of the picture. I prefer off-center placement for most subjects because it gives the viewer a better chance to compare and contrast elements within the picture. For example, in this shot of a Chukchi house, I am trying to make the point that it must withstand some of the most severe weather on earth. Their homes have no landscaping, and can't hold a coat of paint. Yet some of the Chukchi, such those that live in this house, manage a bit of decoration by putting plants in their windows. The off-center placement of the window allows for a stronger comparison with the crumbling siding on the right.

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1/400s f/4.0 at 7.0mm full exif

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Phil Douglis		30-Aug-2012 18:14
Thanks for noting the role of texture, shape, diagonals, and color here, Ken. They work together to create an image that helps define the nature of this place.

Guest		30-Aug-2012 00:15
What impresses me here first of all are the textures and the various manifestations of the flower shapes. Then as the eye moves away from the window, there is more texture in the diagonal wiring that reinforces the plaster. The diagonals in the plaster also seem to hold the window in place. The soft blue outer window frame adds the final touch to this superb photo.

Phil Douglis		13-Apr-2007 20:36
Once again, the composition here was the result of my evolving idea, Chris. As I shot this window again and again, the deterioration of the surrounding wall became more and more important to me, and this positioning helps me make the point about the brutal, unforgiving climate. You are right -- the contrast between the vivid coloration of the flowers and pots in the window and the surrounding frame and wall really helps tell the story here.

Chris Sofopoulos		13-Apr-2007 09:11
I like very much the unconventional placement of the window as well as the juxtaposition of the colourful window and the almost monochrome textures of the wall.

Phil Douglis		12-Aug-2005 22:27
Thanks, Ana, for searching out this picture and adding this comment. You add another dimension of meaning for us by noting the way the plants seem to huddle together within the window frame -- they seem not only to have a caring owner, as you say, but also seem to care about each other. And yes, this image tells us a great deal about those who live within these modest walls. They are survivors. Anyone who can endure Siberian winters is a survivor. And these plants are a symbol for survival.

Ana Carloto O'Shea		12-Aug-2005 20:40
Yes, the effort in trying to decorate the house is really strong here. From the outside the house looks too much beaten by the weather and the years and the way the plants are potted in old rusty tins also makes that feeling stronger and yet there is something so warm in this shot... The fact that the plants are so close together almost blending into eachother gives us a feeling that someone caring lives in there; maybe the little drapes also help to convey this feeling. But the strogest feeling I get is that if I would knock on that window, somone would gladly welcome me inside. So, it's a window, but I think it tells more of the nature of those that live inside than of the window itself.

Phil Douglis		03-Apr-2004 04:14
Thanks, lagstein, for your kind words on my pictures. You are right -- light and shadow often play a major role in my pictures. I devote a whole gallery to just that subject. Sometimes light and shadows work for me, and sometimes they can be a distraction. Such was the case on this day -- the bright Siberian sun at mid-day was a touch on the harsh side for me, so I decided to look for subjects on the shady sides of the homes in this small village. There are often times where flat, indirect light is more beneficial than direct sunlight, and this was one of those times. The contrast of the colorful pots and plants against the battered exterior of this house works because there are no conflicting shadows cluttering the image. As for what time of day do I like to shoot the most, it usually would be around dawn and dusk. The light is the warmest, the angle of the sun puts subjects into bold relief, and the colors are always more vivid. As a tourist on a group tour, however, schedules often prevent me from taking full advantage of this wonderful light. I also enjoy shooting in flat light, as I did with this image. Phil

Guest		03-Apr-2004 02:42
Phil, this is an observation of all of you photos, not just this one. What I love is light and shadows in all of your pictures. You seem to capture the light and shadow that I can only seem to find at my most favorite time of day - just before sunset and just after sun rise. What time of day do you like to shoot most? Brooke

Phil Douglis		15-Sep-2003 00:05
Thanks, Larry, for the comment. You read my intentions perfectly and your last sentence sums up what I was trying to say here. Our own standards of home decor are not acknowledged in this land of poverty and fierce cold. Yet we can feel the human spirit somewhere within those window panes.

Guest		14-Sep-2003 23:52
This image definitely tells a story. I love the contrast between the crumbling facade and the delicate pattern of the drapes, the faded blue paint framing the window and the bright colors of the plant holders, the varying textures/colors/orientations of the building materials. Despite its run-down look, this house looks like an inviting place to visit.

Phil Douglis		14-Sep-2003 02:47
Thanks, Doris, for your comment. I am glad you found the information in this caption of interest. I've posted this gallery as a learning resource, and hope that each of these captions and pictures will help others understand a bit more about how pictures can express ideas. Phil

Guest		12-Sep-2003 10:15
I love this window! Thank you for sharing and explanation.

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