Secret Garden: Scene 1
I wanted to frame the tiny door and bench by the fence so that one felt they were crouching down and observing a small world. I left part of the gate on the fence so the comparison of size could be made. I used high contrast to lead the eye from the texture of the leaves and the lines of the fence to the door and the bench. This scene is in my backyard and I knew that I wanted to photograph it- no sketching or constructing needed. I didn't even touch the position of the bench- if you look closely, you may be able to see a delicate spiderweb left undisturbed in this peaceful space.
This image is about a minuscule world you could easily miss if you weren't looking- people should try to be more observant of their environment, and they may just discover a beautiful treasure or magical scene (maybe even a secret garden). They should also leave these areas undisturbed- enjoy it, but don't spoil it. In this way, the image could be seen as a statement about conservation.
The small setting reminds me of the rabbit going through his door in
Alice in Wonderland. Like
Alice in Wonderland, the scene has realistic aspects combined with fantastical ones to create a narrative.
Secret Garden: Scene 2
In this image, the silhouettes of two lovers can be seen against a lush natural background. I increased the contrast between the bush and the figures and made the edges of the frame darker so that the focus is directly on the silhouettes. I placed the figures slightly off center for a more interesting composition. I didn't plan this image at all- I was out taking pictures with my boyfriend when we noticed our shadows, which inspired me to take the photo.
My intention with this image was to give the idea of the garden even more depth. The idea of the secret garden takes on a completely different meaning in this image- a secluded location yes, but possibly the couple has to keep their romance secret as well. This idea reminds me of the
Romeo and Juliet, hiding their affair with furtive meetings. Maybe the fact that the couple is surrounded by beautiful nature would remind the viewer of Adam and Eve, whose romantic love was also forbidden. Could this be the moment before the fall? The dark areas surrounding the couple accentuates their closeness and the sanctity of their space, but could it also foreshadow dark events to happen? I want the viewer to be able to attach their own story, memories and recognitions with this image.
Secret Garden: Scene 3
The third secret garden image also uses high contrast to bring focus to the subject(s). I also made the area behind the dragonflies darker so that where they are couldn't easily be discerned. These beautiful dragonflies are only a plastic mobile, but the sunlight that shines through them gives them a brilliance that makes them almost seem alive. This is also accentuated by the fact that they are suspended, which creates even more movement in the scene and makes it more dynamic. It was fairly difficult to get the image the way I wanted it, since the dragonflies were constantly moving and my camera was pointing in the direction of the sun. In this image, I wanted to bring the more magical or fantastical feeling Scene 1 brought in a more direct, less subtle way. It seems the main dragonfly and the others are celebrating, buzzing around the entire scene.
This image again reminds me of the fantastical environment in
Alice in Wonderland, or possibly the setting in
A Midsummer Night's Dream. I thought it would be interesting through all of these images to create a world and narrative that wasn't real. Most people think of photographs as recording what is real and true, but it is just as easy to create a fantastical story with a photo as well.
