The Art of photography

WhattheCameraSees:ElementsonDisplay

PAULCAPONIGRO
TwoLeaves. 1963

Softnaturallightcaressesthetilted-valentme

shapeofaDutchman's-pipeleafatleft.Thearea

withintheleaf'ssinuousboundaries,depictedina

subtleplayoflow-keytones,seemsessentially

flat,butthesmaller,highlightedleafand

spiraling

stemlendthesuggestionofathirddimension.

Thecontoursofawoman'snosearerepeatedly

amplifiedinthehigh-contrastphotograph

opposite,firstbythesimilarlyshapedcrookofher

arm. thenbytheouteredgeofthearm.which

extendsbeyondthepictureframe.Usingharsh

lightingandprintingfor

sharpcontrast,the

photographerexcludedallbutthefaceandarm.

lettingtheeyeandmouthhelpexplainwhat

otherwisewouldhaveremained

a

minormystery.