Studies in Texture

This pair of sepias by Kevin Ashbaugh are nice studies in texture with plenty of other interesting dimensions. The first one (captioned version here) is a lock on a flange greaser, but the details of what it is are less relevant given the tight crop, which reduces the focus on what it is, on the documentation component of the shot, and heightens interest in the surfaces of the various objects, on the artistic component.

The composition begins with a dominant shape, the lock, in the lower middle, an interesting parallelogram. There is contrast between the dark left and brighter right. The diagonal, not quite vertical, line on the right, the edge of the flanger?, is a nice element. The chain lower left is balanced by the bracket through which the lock passes, upper right.

But the shot, to me, is all about the cool rough surfaces contrasting with the smoother body of the lock. On the right, the flanger has a finely detailed, granular surface. The lock itself is smooth. Above the lock the bracket is flaky, or smooth but variations in color give it a flaky appearance. Blurred in the upper left are much larger chunks, of ballast. I find this mix of textures compelling.

Am I reading too much into this (or any other) shot? Perhaps. But these are the things I notice, that I like to think about, that result in my liking a shot, and now induce me to write about.

The second shot (captioned version here) has different textures, and variations in light contribute more. The composition is a simple sideways T where the horizontal element is enhanced with a spike. Three textures contrast each other - finely grained rail surface, the wooden tie with a different sort of grain, the leaves with their smoothly lumped surfaces and their irregular outlines. The whole definitely exceeds the parts.

In noticing the textures, I can't ignore the composition, how the intersection brings the eye to the leaf, glowing in light and casting a strong shadow that reminds one of a bird taking flight, with its narrow sparrow beak pointing up. Great stuff! The interesting glow on the surfaces of the leaves is a bonus.

Now, one can always find something, and this shot isn't perfect. I think the large dark area on the left leaves the shot a bit imbalanced. I might have considered rotating the shot a bit to get the rail and tie at a bit of an angle rather than parallel to the sides of the shot; that would introduce a bit more visual interest, or tension, or energy, or something. But who's to say? I'd have to see it. Still a very nice shot.

[Note: this post greatly expands on one I made in the RP forums.]