Contrast, Balance and Harmony

Photo by Dave Amodt

This is a photo taken by a friend of mine, which is a killer shot of a very ominous and peaceful setting, punctuated by the bolts of lightning. I was very impressed with this photo when I first saw it, thinking about how precise the timing had to be to capture such a shot.

In regards to contrast, I notice how this potentially dangerous and deadly thing is coming from the passive and harmless clouds. The photo really reinforces this idea when you can clearly see the soft and fluffy edges of the clouds compared to the jagged and protruding lightning forcing its way through.

Though lightning doesn't necessarily scare us when it strikes. We generally have this sense of awe and wonder, or even just "whoa cool!" when we see it. We don't perceive it as a threat (though it could be), we just appreciate the balance of nature when it does what nature does. Nature is calm but brutal at times, and I feel this photo really captures this. The way it works harmoniously with itself; nothing is ever too abrupt in nature, it's a gradual and foreseeable process.

Along with contrast, I really love how the setting sun is reflected in the windows. It gives off the illusion that the abandoned house is inhabited, though we know better. The red, glowing windows are very unique in this photo, as it's the only source of any color besides something bluish or grey. However, the bluish and grey objects definitely make their mark here. Noticing the clouds, you get this snapshot of an early evening stormy sunset with such dynamic light throughout each and every cloud. In the clouds you get the brightest blues, then flowing downward to the darkest blues to the blackest black, all linked together with a stark, whitest of whites lightning bolt down the middle.

All in all, this photo is awesome. There is so much potential narrative to be had by each person who looks at it and really takes it in. I think it's a great example of contrast, balance and harmony and how all these principles can simply be observed in our everyday surroundings.