Alum Exhibit

Brian Powers - Entrance to Dachau and Holocaust

These two images are done by Brian Powers and are focused on a very intense subject matter. The thing that I notice first about these images is the value and the tones.  He uses very dark and cold tones to bring out the details in each picture.  The composition and subject of each photo is very different but the value and tones still persistently stick out in each which is important in a series of pictures.

The subject of both pictures is not entirely clear until you look at the title but after you see the title every detail of the picture points to the subject. The dark values, the tones, the lighting, the contrasts between light and dark all create the very sober mood that is appropriate for these pictures. I think that his objective was to make the pictures look as serious as the subject, he did not want to sugar coat anything in these pictures.

The relationship between dark and light is almost everything especially in regards to the Holocaust picture. The light comes in through the window on the wooden cubbies and a part of the floor, the middle of the picture where the hallway leads is still very very dark. The lighting really brings you around the entire photograph and focuses you on the simple details.

Both of these images are very powerful and very well composed but I don't think they would be complete without each other. They compliment each other without withdrawing any significance from the other. They make a good pair and the way they were hung with the building on top and what is inside on the bottom was also very well done.