Nikita Seet: Diptych
Concept
The concept for my diptych is very familiar in the sense of still life. However, there are many forms of symbolism that these fruits showcase. One of the aromatic effects of grapefruit is to support our feelingof self-love, especially when it comes to self-honor. Grapefruit encourages us to look inward and address the problems we avoid. I placed the grapefruit front and center to metaphorically deal with the problem straight on.Lemons express longevity and happiness among other things. I wished to remind the viewer of such desires with the incorporation of the bright colored fruit. Pomegranates have the symbolism of fertility and a strong association with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, as well as Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage and childbirth. This is strongly the reason behind my creation for the second part of my project. having the natural elements to represent childbirth in the original photograph, I pieced togetheran image that depicted rebirth in a parallel world. Visually piecing together a representation of the female reproductive system to fully immerse the viewer in the symbolism of the fruit in the original photograph.
Process
When creating the setup for part I of my diptych, I wanted to create a very organic visual that would be almost portrait-like through the eyes of the viewfinder. When staging the fruit (pomegranates, grapefruits, and lemons) I knew I wanted to capture the colors of the slices and reflections of color through various perspectives. By changing the placement of the fruit, vase and mirror throughout my photographing process, I was able to achieve a variety of shots that expressed the feeling I wanted to display.
When creating part II of my diptych, I wanted to make sure there was still a connection between my original image and the altered image created using Photoshop. I did this by keeping some of the most eye-catching elements, such as the grapefruit in the foreground, consistent in the framing of the collage. Since the original photograph was very real and fresh, I wanted to explore what the opposite of that would look like in my design. Thus, I tried to create a outer universe feeling while still keeping the natural visuals intact. To explain the design as a whole, in the most simplest terms, I attempted to recreate the symbolism of the female reproductive system.
Conclusion
If I had more time, I would definitely improve the setup of my original photograph to have been more balanced and easy on the eyes. I feel that my photograph right now is very focused on specific areas due to the direction of the lighting. With my photoshopped collage, I would have wanted to incorporate a complementary color palette. I felt that there was strong emphasis on the colors of the grapefruit, which I do not mind; however,I wish those colors were equalized with the lemon and pomegranate. Even with these thoughts, I am quite pleased with what I have learned and created in the second part of my project. Though I know there are always improvements to be made, such as the flow or aesthetic appeal, I recognize my growth while I designed this piece.