Favourite Photo

It wasn't hard for me to think of my most favourite photograph, the honour goes to Steve McCurry's - "Afghan Girl"






















Subject;
The subject for this image is the plight of refugees during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

Subject Matter;
The image shows a young teenage girl staring intensely/desperately at the camera with her piercing sea-green eyes. Her facial skin complection is tanned by sand and dirt. Her hair is scruffed up and poking through the gown that surrounds her face. The gown is a slightly faded burgundy colour with tears in it that reveal a deep forest green cloth beneath. The out of focus background of this tight portrait is a very similar green to the cloth.

Form;
The image is composed with the subject front and center with the eyes just above the central horizontal line, this is enhanced by the way the head dress encircles the face. The subject is going from left to right which is aesthetically pleasing and calming however with the bright greens and whites of the eyes staring directly at the camera it gives the feeling that the subject is intimidated somewhat, with a look of the unknown. The textures of the smooth background, ruffled gown, scruffy hair and smooth skin all combine to create an equilibrium of the senses. The pastel colours of the gown and background are very harmonious. The soft darker light of the background, opposed with the brighter soft light falling on her face come together to give the subject depth.

All in all this image is simply stunning!