unofficial blog for course ART007

Lehigh University
Art Architecture and Design
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Bethlehem, PA 18015

Composition and Content, Yifeng

Composition Analysis

This photograph by Mitra Tabrizian shows a view in Tehran, Iran. This photo is a very wide panorama, so the field of view is unusually wide. This creates an alienating kind of feeling since it’s very different from normal human vision. On the other hand, the wide aspect ratio also gives the viewer a cinematic view, making it more immersive in a way. The photo doesn’t have a main subject, people are walking towards different directions, doing their own things, creating a chaotic look. The overall saturation of this picture is also low, it could be that Tabrizian is deliberately making it pale during developing. Run-down apartment buildings and propaganda billboard, broken car, rough road, showing that this place is deserted and broken-down. Despite the fact that there are a lot of people in the frame, no one is smiling at all, even the children. Some are emotionless, some are concerned or exhausted, but no one is showing positive emotion. Tabrizian uses this photo to present to the viewer how people are living in Iran under a dysfunctional government: everything is breaking down, rough roads, and no one is happy. The depressing and ruined feeling fills the entire photograph.

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