Ralph Gibson photo analysis


This photo by Ralph Gibson is not as erotic as some other examples of his photography and lacks the surrealist element he gives to many of them. However, it is no less interesting or detailed for that.  All we can really see of the figure is his back and a bit of his legs as he walks away. The background is entirely out of focus bringing our attention to the man’s clasped hands. From there our eyes naturally stray to the rose held in one of them.


The focus of the photograph is clearly on the hands because they are in focus and so detailed compared to everything else.  The blurry background, and the simplicity of the back of the figure makes them uninteresting so we disregard both and look at the hands. Positioning plays a part here too—as having them at nearly eyes level makes them stand out even more.   The hands are simply a segue though.


They call our gaze to the rose by the natural movement of our eyes and the figure combined.   The fact that it is white makes it even more bold and attention grabbing against the dark coloring of the figure’s clothes. it’s somewhat blurry and indistinct though which makes our eyes go right back to the hands and take in the detail in them once more.  
Overall the manipulation of the viewer’s gaze is masterful and overall the photo gives an impression that we’ve stepped right into the middle of a romantic comedy. Could he be waiting for the love of his life to walk up? Maybe he’s walking away after being rejected – or on his way to confess his love and we’re at the height of the drama. Whatever way you interpret I, the story Gibson has created within this photo may be simple, but it’s a well told, beautiful, and timeless one.

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