Bright 1

Outline Thesis: Despite the two pictures having differences in landscape and mood, they are similar in the way that their included persons are perceived. I. The contrast of landscapes A. Nature/rural v. urban porch scene 1. color v. black and white 2. at ease v. staged/planned photo (tie in to next paragraph) II. The contrasting, present moods A. Pleasure v. informative/common presidential portrait

1. tranquil v. forced smiles

2. spontaneous v. set place for portrait 3. lounged/playful v. timid/unwilling III. The comparison of the characters of each picture

A. Family oriented scenes 1. togetherness/unity 2. presence of pets (shows a gentle/kind side to personality)

Bright 2 Stuart Bright Dr. Keel English 1101 7 October 2009 Families in Art and Portraits The study of art and photography is often considered to be boring or lacking in the essential field of excitement. In spite of the fact that this misconception is true in some cases, knowing what qualities to look for in a pictorial analysis may provide a greater appreciation for the criteria. What Qualities Does a Good Photograph Have? authored by Lou Jacobs Jr. in The Little, Brown Reader, develops a method for interpreting how pictures either succeed or fail in their presentation. Using Jacobs standards towards understanding pictures, an examination of the Watchful Eye artwork and Lyndon B. Johnson family portrait will be conducted in the form of compare and contrast. Despite the two pictures having differences in landscape and mood, they are similar in the way that their included persons are perceived. Firstly, the painting known as Watchful Eye and the Johnson family portrait are contradictory in their surrounding landscapes. The physically visual locations of each piece are extremes to one another, as one takes place in a natural, rural environment and the other at an urban porch setting. These settings are intensified by the use of color. The vibrant light and tones used to display Watchful Eye create a warm and relaxed feel, whereas the black and white of the portrait does a lesser job of encompassing feelings during visualization. Another distinction in the setting is the difference of unity with nature. On one hand, the children are playing and enjoying their time while seemingly at peace with the outdoors, and on the other hand, the Johnson family looks as if they had been forced to sit still in order to quickly take a staged photograph for national viewing or personal reasons. Whatever the case, each pictures designer exhibits an intentionally

Bright 3 noticeable difference in moods of the group. The contradiction of moods and attitudes between Watchful Eye and the Johnson portrait are subtle but present. The tranquil nature scene, in which the family is located on a boat dock with their faces turned away, is easily implied and understood that no one is upset with their current situation. The children are playfully fishing off the edge while the guardian of the group lounges to the serene setting of the water. In contrast, former president Lyndon B. Johnsons family is displaying a multitude of emotions. The children maintain a half smile and appear timid during the picture. Likewise, the parents faux facial gestures and obscure head angles generate much debate over the familys true feelings at the time. Another factor in the explanation of each familys disposition is the spontaneity of which each picture is created. Although the scene at the dock is, in fact, intentionally painted to capture a brief moment of tranquility amid a family outing, its impulsive theme contradicts the staged setting of the family photograph at the porch. Even though the opposing mind-sets of each family are finely detailed, they are undoubtedly contrasting in a sense of enjoyment. Regardless of all of the opposing matters taking place between Watchful Eye and the Johnson portrait, the subjects displayed therein may be described quite similarly. To start with, each family demonstrates at least an appearance of togetherness and general unity. The closeness of which the Johnson family is sitting together and the ease of which the guardian feels with his given scenario portray harmony in each picture. It is also reasonable to conclude that each family is gentle and caring based on the fact that a dog is included cleverly out of the focus in each picture. The intent of a calm family pet shows that it is most likely loved in the household and eager to be around its caretakers. The pictures do have many glaring differences, yet they also correspond in certain areas as well. After analyzing the Watchful Eye and Lyndon B. Johnson family portrait, the general

Bright 4 conclusion is that they differ in more ways than they are alike. Not only do the physical backgrounds and settings range from nature to suburb, but the pictures are also opposites when comparing their immediate feelings. Among all of the contradiction however, they do balance accordingly when studying the broad outlook of each picture; that being each one is family oriented with underlying kindness as a result of the family pet. Just gazing at the two pictures may have resulted in an absence of understanding, but truly interpreting them with Jacobs methods produces a satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

Bright 5 Works Cited Jacobs, Lou Jr. What Qualities Does a Good Photograph Have? 1981. The New York Times Co. Print Stubbs, Marcia, Sylvan Barnet, William E. Cain. The Little, Brown Reader. New York: Pearson Education, Inc. 2009. Print