Source: http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/beato_places/fb1_visnav01.html
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This is an image of Hakoni Lake taken from the Hakoni Pass in Odawara, Japan. Hakoni Lake lies along the southwest wall of Mount Hakoni. The lake is notorious for its spectacular views of Mount Fuji and its hot springs. The lake is surrounded by hills, covered with mist, and right next to a crater of an extinct volcano. The mist in this image makes me think of the steam from hot springs which the area is known for. The connotation of this image is that Japan is beautiful and vast which is why Beato included this picture in his album. This image also connotes that Japan is intimidating and dangerous because the crater of a extinct volcano is present. Volcanoes are formidable and can be devastating just like how Japan is formidable and too be devastating.
Source: http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/beato_people/fb2_visnav01.html
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This is an image of a depiction of the execution of the murderer Shimidzu Seiji. The execution took place outside of Yokohama, Japan in December of 1864. The executioner is an old man with a long sword preparing himself to cut off the head of the criminal. Seiji is on his knees in front of his dug up grave with a white blindfold covering his eyes. In the background is a mountain and some nature. The executioner's age signifies that he is an experienced executioner and is the right man to execute the famous criminal. The background in this depiction is very bright (looking like a white light) which connotes that the punishment is justified and approved by the heavens. Seiji also is clamping his hands together which signifies that he is praying knowing that his acts were wrong and unjust. This image connotes that crime is punished and that punishment delivered is approved by the heavens in Japan.
hey, I think you covered a lot in both photographs. I was wondering if you thought anything of the kind of dark and ominous sky in the first image, it makes the picture look kind of haunting to me. do you think there was any intent in doing it that way rather than on a day with a clear sky? Also, you covered a lot in ur executioner photo, but I was wondering if you had any say on their actual facial expressions (at least from what you can see) and if their "gazes" struck you at all?
ReplyDeleteI think the dark and ominous sky makes the place seem to be mysterious or dangerous (Japan is not a place to be messed with). The executioner's gaze is directly looking at the neck of the criminal which shows that he is focusing on the task he is about to do.
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