The Art of photography

ThePrinciplesatWork:InPursuitofExcellence

Atleft,AndreKert&szconfrontstheviewerwitha

paradoxa

stilllifewith

a

highlyexpressive

gestureimplied.Thetulipdroopslikeaballet

dancerbiddingafarewelltoanapplauding

audience.Althoughthemetaphoncgesture

does

suggestfatigue,itisextremelygraceful

—

an

impressionreinforcedbyarhythmicorganization

Four

stages

ofdeclineareevidenttheuprightleaf

atthetopofthevase,asecond,horizontalleaf,

athird,droopingone;andfinallythedown-

pointingstem,whichcompletestherhythmicflow.

An

indomitablepersonalityiscapturedinthis

portraitof IsakDmesen(opposite)—theDanish

baronesswhoselongcareerrangedfromfarming

andnursinginAfrica

to

writingworld-famous

Gothictales.Proportionconveysthe

photographer'sresponseByaimingupward,

makingtheheadseemimperiouslyperched

atop

thegreatbundleofawolfskincoat,Richard

AvedonsuggestsMissDinesen'soutsizedspirit.

ANDREKERTESZMelancholyTulip, 1939