Transcript Eliot Porter - WordPress.com

Eliot Porter
By Jade Drapeau
Biography
• He was born in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, 1901
• His Education consisted of enrolling at Harvard and graduating with
a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1923 and a
medical degree in 1929.
• His work can be seen in his own books: Intimate landscape, In
Wilderness Is the Preservation of the World, and many more.
• The style of photography he is known for is his “quiet” landscape
captures.
• That style is about
• Eliot Porter was influenced by his brother, the realist painter Fairfield
Porter, and photographers Alfred Stieglitz and Ansel Adams
• Though he started off taking pictures of birds in 1911 he became the
first established artist - photographer to commit to exploring the
colorful, beauty, and diversity of the natural world.
Pool with stones
• The lighting is natural and is
coming from above and in front of
Eliot.
• The main subject of the
photograph is the water and stones
because they are
• Eliot uses texture from the stones,
lighting coming off the water, and
leading lines from the rock wall in
the back to capture the viewers’
eye and carry it along the water
towards the back.
• In this photograph Eliot is saying
that even though the water looks
small and still it was once a wild
rapid that carved this trail through
the rocks.
• I chose this picture primarily
because I personally enjoy the
color choice and subtle flow from
the textures of each object
Black Dragon Falls
• The lighting used is natural and
comes from the upper right hand
corner
• The main subject of the photograph is of the falls breaking over
the rocks because it is the center
of the picture
• By using the Rule of Thirds Eliot
is able to attract attention to the
black rock that the falls is breaking over. The texture of this picture is very smooth and soft from the water,
but the rocks add more bumps to the overall image.
• In this picture Eliot is describing China by it’s flow of tradition and bumps
from each generation.
• I liked this picture for it’s use of minimum colors, but use of light to not
overload the viewer with too much “sound”.
Waterfall in crevice
• Natural lighting is used from behind the
photographer (Eliot) and above the
waterfall to add context and emphasis on
the water.
• The main subject of this picture is the
water behind the rock walls because this
is where all the lighting and main focus is.
• By using light Eliot is able to draw your
eyes to the waterfall in darkness of the
picture, and the texture of the rocks adds
contrast to the smooth flow of water.
• In this picture Eliot showcases our secret
hideaways as something private, yet
public.
• I like this picture because of the texture
contrast and colors found in the moss
growing over the rocks.
West Hall
• Natural lighting is coming from the upper
left-hand corner.
• The main subject is of the rock path
winding through the water among the
trees.
• By using leading lines from the tree
reflections Eliot draws the viewer’s
attention to the rocks.
• Elliot Porter is showing us the natural
beauty found among us everywhere we
look.
• I like this picture because of the flow
between the rocks and trees in the water
by the textures and lighting.
Waterfall and maple
leaves
• Elliot used natural lighting from above
the waterfall, behind the trees.
• The main subject of the photograph is
the water falling off the side of the
rocks. You know because it is the main
focus of the photograph
• By using leading lines from the tree
branches, and the location of the light
as well, Elliot is able to lead the
viewer’s eye to the top of the fall and
follow it down to the end of the picture.
• Elliot took this picture as an image for
peace but continual flow. The trees
don’t get in the way of the water, but
assists in directing the attention to it.
• I like this picture because of the
textures found in the rocks, the colors
between the water, leaves, and the
rocks.
Resources
• http://www.cartermuseum.org/collections/p
orter/about.php