Eliot Porter

1. Eliot Porter By Jade Drapeau

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Black Dragon Falls • The lighting used is natural and comes from the upper right hand corner • The main subject of the photogr- aph 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 breaki- ng 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”.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Resources • http://www.cartermuseum.org/collections/porter/about.php