A Symbol of Hope - Fine Art Photography examples

What does the term "Symbol of Hope" mean to you?  Wikipedia defines hope as being the belief of a positive outcome, especially in relation to an amount of depair or wanting or wishing or suffering.  We can hope for such basic, trivial and mundane things such as "I hope my washing dries before it gets dark", "I hope there's chocolate in the cupboard for me to snack on" to a deeper, more urgent need to hope - "I hope she'll be alright", "I hope I can make it to the hospital in time", " I hope a cure for cancer can soon be found".

It's always interesting when asking artists to depict an abstract emotion such as hope.  It can be more challenging than it first seems - how do you show hope in an image?  And what does hope sybolise to you?  As august is Cancer awareness month here in Australia, it was timely to ask artists from "A Photographer's Craft" to submit images to this challenge.   These artists have also donated works through "The Gift of Art" where all the artists' proceeds are being donating to the National Cancer Insitute. The disease that is cancer affects each and everyone of us.  I don't think I've come across a person for a long while, who hasn't in some way been affected by this disease.  I am hopeful of a cure, I am hopeful that as a society we are doing all we can to assist those researchers in finding a cure, and to help those who are living with the disease.

The following images were submitted by those artists who wanted to show their "Symbol of Hope".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether it's the early morning rays of light, a dove in full flight, the fresh face of youth, a guardian angel watching over you, the strength that is nature or your faith in your God, it's important that we hold that sense of hope.  Thanks goes to Adrian Rachele, Mark German, Dana DiPasquale, Sue Wickham, lallymac, Redtempa, Tom Vaughan and Karri Klawiter for taking part in the challenge and allowing this images to be shown on this blog.

In Photographic Art - What moves you?

They say artists are a sensitive lot and there's no more obvious a place to display their emotions than in their art.  It's interesting how different factors will draw out that emotion.  The skill in a great photographer is to connect with their audience so that some of that emotion us also felt by the viewer.  The subject portrayed can be a person, an onject, a location - basically anything than can convey an emotion from familiarity right through to taking your breath away. 

Below are some images that resonated with both the photographer and their audience in a recent Emotional Attachment challenge over in "A Photographer's Craft".  There's no right or wrong way in how you should feel when viewing a photographic piece - the ideal would be to feel.

 

"Sisters Two" by Adrian Rachele

The look of despair and sense of helplessness is apparent in this photograph taken after visiting Auschwitz.  The heavy shadows, the play on light, the expression and the Black & White treatment all convey that deep sense of sadness.

 

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"On Her Way" by Sue Wickham

Quite a contrast with the first image - this glorious bride has that look of expectation and excitement in her face. I can remember my own wedding day when I look at this beautiful bride - and I remember all the emotions that go with such an exciting day.  Sue Wickham has captured the moment and beautifully edited this image that will resonate with other brides and their parents.  It's the moment the bride begins her new life with great expectation!

 

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"Waiting to say goodbye" by Dana DiPasquale

A photograph of an inanimate object is sometimes all that's needed  to open the floodgates of memories from another time. Dana DiPasquale while visiting family for a funeral captured this image - anything to keep busy while trying to forget the sadness surrounding the family gathering.  The lone chair, the warmth exuding from this image and the way it has been portrayed shows the richness of family life.

 

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"Alone in paradise" by Debbie Black

The image of paradise can take many forms, afterall we're all different, so what is paradise to one, may not be to another.  This image taken on Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef holds great signifance to Debbie Black, the photographer.  Firstly, taken whilst on honeymoon - paradise in itself! And secondly the location is truly spectacular.  You can feel the warmth of the sand, the coolness of the salt water, the gentle sea breeze, and the lone figure on the beach really does make you feel as though you are alone in that paradise.

 

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"Beautiful Creation" by lallymac

"Home is where the heart is" and for lallymac, this dawn image will always remind her of  happy times and new beginnings.  New beginnings as a photographer in capturing such an image with sharp silhouettes and gorgeous warm tones of morning.

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There would be no greater compliment to a photographer than to let them know "you get their image" - their purpose of recoding that image, that moment - has been achieved.  Go and view these artists' on-line galleries, and tell them you "get their images"!

 

 

Feature Monday

For the feeling of isolation and strength:

Cape du Couedic by Tom Vaughan

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For the feeling that love will conquer all:

After all we've been through... by myoriginalsin

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For the sheer pleasure that such music evokes:

Only the light reveals your workings by Jordan Ewart

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For the history and mystery of what lies behind each door and window:

Antiques by Sue Wickham

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For the decaying beauty:

Window into Budapest by Adrian Rachele