GRAZING DOWN BROADWAY

GRAZING DOWN BROADWAY Serendipity - being in the right place at the right moment, and having luck on my side, set the scene for this photograph. Two questions emerged during the submission process: firstly, what would work best to tell a more detailed story - colour or black & white for street photography? In this case, the subject dictated the choice. Therefore, a layering technique uses a black & white background to represent the manufactured world - the stage upon which a second, colourful layer draws the viewer's attention to a scene that represents the natural environment. Here, layering provides a powerful technique to guide the viewer's eye, establish a sense of scale, and maintain the visual balance and harmony of the image. Secondly, I questioned whether the vision of sheep is similar to that of humans. Knowing this would justify the relevance of using colour selectively. Further reading confirmed that sheep have limited colour discrimination abilities compared to humans. Yet, despite these differences, sheep have evolved to be grazers, with their eyes positioned on the sides of their heads. As a result, their wide field of vision allows them to scan their surroundings and spot patches of green grass or other forage from a distance. Ultimately, the choice between black and white and colour remains a personal creative choice, with much room for further exploration.