The beauty of this photograph is found in the use of focus and blur. The hard edge of the hand is just enough to anchor the boy in the bubble while the fraction of a reflection gives the impression of a watery platter form or deck. The way in which the light defines the bubble through the black shape and then turns dark as the edge enters the light creates a truly stunning reversal of tone. The blurring of the image may have been achieved with a lenses baby or tilt focus lens. Shallow depth of field provides the blur that engulfs everything else. Though I find most blur photography cliché, this is an image the inspires me to strive for similar effect.
We have all seen light trails with headlights and airplanes, flash lights and glow sticks, but moths in spot light is a new one. Not only is the idea new and interesting, the execution is beautiful. The swirling of the insects as they are drawn in makes for a much more interesting photo then the straight lines of a moving car, and the way in which many of the insects flap their wings creates a unique bead like pattern. The inclusion of the moon adds a sort of scene setter. This picture makes me want to set up a light and camera on some warm summer night back home and wait to see what I get.
This is my favorite of Keith Carter’s photographs. It used to hang on the corkboard in my high school dark room and would constantly fascinate me. The size of the leafs in comparison with the apparently emaciated children has always caused me to question which really is in front. The light playing through the jar adds to the already mysterious quality that the soft focus lends the picture. The reflections on the water and light in the foliage complete the picture. How the photographer managed to throw the children so far out of focus while still retaining detail in the back ground is beyond me, but it certainly creates an amazing image.
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