Photographer Jay Maisel is known for his vibrantly colored images, and his “Don’t Walk and Red” piece is an example of this style.
Overall, the composition is limited to two different colors: black and red. The silhouettes of the men and crosswalk sign and pole act as points of emphasis. As points of emphasis, the silhouettes carry visual weight and balance the image. The image is also balanced asymmetrically about the vertical axis. Furthermore, because the men and crosswalk sign occupy approximately the same amount of space, equilibrium is achieved in the composition. The lack of a horizon line is somewhat disorienting and uncommon in most photographs, yet the image still feels balanced.
Maisel uses the isolation of the men and crosswalk sign as another means of visual emphasis in his composition. The foreground figures’ isolation from the background also attracts the viewer’s eye. The high contrast between the dark shadows and highly saturated red is eye-catching and demands the viewers’ attention. There are almost no shadows in this image, which achieves an interesting and almost two-dimensional effect. Maisel’s use of lighting and framing contributes to this two-dimensionality. Furthermore, the exaggeration of the red background almost pushes the image beyond the limit of reality. It is difficult to gauge the foreground subjects’ distance from the red wall; making the red appear infinite.
A sense of rhythm is achieved in the composition; the repetition of the shapes of the silhouettes and jazz-like colors evokes a rhythmic tone. Also present in the image is a psychic line. The men appear to be looking towards the crosswalk sign and beyond it. This line creates tension and attracts the viewer’s attention, creating the existence of mental connection between the subjects and the viewer.
In summary, Jay Maisel’s “Don’t Walk and Red” is a fine example of a composition that represents many principles of design: visual emphasis through isolation, color, and contrast; use of lighting to achieve dramatic effects; a sense of rhythm through repetition of shapes and color; balance with shape and color; and psychic line to create a sense of tension and mental connection between the subjects and viewers of the image. The result is an eye-catching and overall pleasing image.
