The Art Assignment // Off
We seem programmed to be drawn to bright colors.
Even though the assignment was to take a photo of an “off” screen, something in me resisted the idea of taking a dark photograph. So often, dark images are viewed as deficient unless they are long exposures like nightscapes and light painting. The original photographs I took of my dinosaur plants as reflected by my laptop screen were much brighter, and I was tempted to post one of those photos rather than this very dark one. However, there is a freeing feeling that comes in saying “this photo is dark and I don’t care.” (It is also interesting to note that this is not quite the same as saying “this photo is dark, but I don’t care.") In this digital world, where we get an infinite number of redo’s, it is easy to seek near-perfection. In the true nature of “Off,” I realized that the photo is dark, yes, but that doesn’t make it any less intriguing.
I was happy with my photo, but still wanted to try Lauren Zoll’s suggestion regarding using natural lighting when creating a reflection. I took my phone outside to see how well it doubled as a Claude glass, although I had my doubts because I cracked my phone a while ago and thought that the crack on the screen might distract from the reflection.
I hadn’t even been outside for five minutes when I found the perfect subject for a photograph: a decorative lawn ornament made of crackle glass. I love the juxtaposition of the intentionally cracked ornament and the unintentionally cracked phone screen. Captured in such a way, the crack in the screen is instantly transformed from flaw to flourish and led me to question my own preconceived notions about the relationship between flaws and beauty.
The Art Assignment 9. Off - Lauren Zoll
1. Turn off a screen
2. Take a photo of only the screen
3. Make sure to think about color, pattern, and form. Do not include any humans in the frame.
4. Upload it to your social media platform of choice using #theartassignment
5. Fame and glory (your work might be featured in a future episode.)
