I found the photograph of Mr. Kramer at his group home to be particularly intriguing. As far as the composition of the photo, it looks as if the photographer was mindful of the rule of thirds, but implemented it in his own way. If you split the photograph, the outer thirds are dark while the middle third is brightly lit. Meanwhile, Mr. Kramer’s body runs parallel and just below the line that denotes the bottom third of the photograph. The photo is also nicely framed, with the shelving on the left, the mirror on the right, and Mr. Kramer running across the bottom. The outline of Mr. Kramer’s body also provides a line for the eye to follow across the picture.
As for working within the framework of the photo essay, it provides closure to Mr. Kramer’s story. In the short blurb next to the photo, the photographer mentions Mr. Kramer’s looming retirement, which is mirrored by his impending sleep session. The photo, when looked at in series with the two preceding photos, is also the darkest of the three. The shift from the bright light of Mr. Kramer’s dancing to the middle ground of his reading in bed, and eventually to the darkness of his going to sleep also helps to signal the end of the photo essay. They serve as a literal “fade to black” for the story.
Emotionally, the photo is one of the stronger shots in the essay. To me, it depicts a man alone, and in the twilight of his life. While the store serves as his main focus in life, this picture leads me to question what there will be for him after he makes the decision to retire. With such a seeming reliance on the structure of his life that is built around going to work, will he be able to cope with no longer having that steady presence in his life?
Leave a Reply