Rhetorical Analysis- Project 2

            For the photo-shoot undergoing remediation for Project 2, there are very intricate details that are not necessarily explained in the blurb preceding the exhibit on the blog page. The post only goes as far to mention what the images hope to accomplish in terms of setting a stage for the blog’s future and what’s to come. There is commentary on the bright hues and hope to bring about innovation among the modern world’s obsession with overproduction, repetition, and drone-trendiness. The shoot aims to challenge social norms while still being able to prove relevant and of good quality. My audience consists of college students and, truly, anyone in the 16-35 age range.

            The setting of the images can be the first factor to take into consideration, as it is common for most people to associate outdoor settings with nude tones, loose fitting sheer materials, rustic chic, or even perhaps athletics. A community park is home to playgrounds, fields, tennis courts, pools, and occasionally a woodsy area. As the photographer and editor, my intent was to capture a sort of corruption of those base notions the audience may hold in regards to what a person would be doing in a park. This brought on the idea of high fashion versus nature.

The models selected were not fitness models or athletes, just average college students (a rare group to find in the great outdoors). This is the first disruption of the preconceived notions. The day of the shoot was selected because it had been predicted to be a sunny day, which, while the weather varies, people tend to associate parks and foliage with the sun.

The next aspect to be reviewed is the dress choice for the models. The models are wearing makeup, which does not really mesh with the idea of a natural setting. The shades mimicked fall colors (on the girl) and minor flaws had be concealed and touched up on both models. The outfits were meant to depict what a person who was not outdoorsy would functionally wear. Some images depict rain gear. Bucket hats, red rain boots, a metal lunch box, and a clear umbrella—all props utilized without any sign of it raining.

The hues of the images had been intensified to reflect colors not found in nature. Other shots showcased the models in shorts and fur coats, wearing shades in shadier locations of the park (meant to be a contradiction with their torsos being covered but other parts being revealed—along with it being hot outside). Poses reflected those that would be seen in fashion magazines rather than typical stances (pretending to run, kick, punch, or posing in a competitive way with legs spread apart and fists placed on sides). One pose in particular had one model pushing the other out of the way, but the focus is on the fact that the space they are in is empty and not crowded, therefore pushing the other model out of the way makes no sense.

The final shots of the shoot that had been selected for the thread focused on trying to fit in a scenario, but being out of place. Improper use of sports equipment was an angle projected in some of the other shots. The male model has a golf club swung over his shoulder on a tennis court. The two models use the nets of a tennis court to grab onto for aesthetic purposes, but that is not traditional use.

The main thing that really creates the rhetoric for the images is the editing the preceded the posting of the spread. After carefully selecting which images I believed encompassed some factors of amateur photography, professional photography, and personal (social media shots), I made sure the elements of high fashion versus nature were included in the shots. Brightness, saturation, highlights, and the reduction of shadows made the images appear far different from their original forms—more befitting of their intent.

To change the rhetoric of the images, reordering of the spread and reversal of the edits (perhaps even the removal of some images) must take place to change the meaning. These altered images can be reused half way through the year to reintroduce the idea of innovation and reestablish the blog’s image versatility. More specifically, in a collage-graphic/blog advertisement to be used for promotion.The darker appearance the images will take on would surely evoke a different, however, still positive, response from the audience, as the images could almost be unrecognizable. Another stylistic choice to be altered is the utilization on the crop of the images with the aid of editing apps like Facetune, Afterlight, Picsart, and more. The addition of sticker (the black bullseye) or altered backgrounds would be utilized as well. The resulting images will be more than just the opposite of what they were before, but, with these additions, something completely new.