Erwitt Motel Room

Renowned for his iconic photographs and unique style, Elliot Erwitt stands out as one of the most high-status photographers worldwide. Erwitt’s exceptional collection “Personal Best for Leica” features several photographic works that have moved many audiences due to their visual impact. Two of those photos include the “Motel Room, Texas, 1962” and “Museum Watching, Madrid, 1995” (Elliot Erwitt Exhibition n.p). This paper gives an analysis of the two photos by Erwitt in terms of their aesthetic and formal qualities as well as an interpretation of the possible narratives in them. “Motel Room, Texas, 1962 – Elliot Erwitt” (Elliot Erwitt Exhibition n.p).
Elliot Erwitt’s “Motel Room” photograph depicts a hotel room scene just like the title suggests.
These lines converge towards the centre of the composition where the television set is positioned. They hence lead the eyes towards the TV which acts as the subject in this image. Elements of emphasis and pattern are also visible in the composition on the chequered floor as well as on the curtains. These also create the impact of repetition and harmony and rhythm within the composition. The photograph also shows an interesting use of color and value. Erwitt draws the eyes of the viewer to the television screen by using the color white to create a focal point within the composition. By capturing darker shades on the background, he makes certain that the rest of the image creates perfect contrast with the focal point. In terms of balance, he has managed to create symmetrical balance by harmonizing the elements with the picture. Furthermore, Erwitt also manages to create depth and a sense of perspective by placing the TV on the background and the chequered floor running from the foreground to the
Erwitt’s photograph of “Museum Watching” creates quite an interesting composition as well. The image shows a museum scene where an audience is in the event of viewing two pictures of what appears to be a nude woman. The interesting thing about the photograph is the fact that the audience is divided; one woman is standing alone in front of one painting while seven men stand separate from the woman in front of the second painting.
In terms of visual elements, Erwitt employs an asymmetrical balance to create tension and emphasis on the impact of the composition’s theme. By positioning several subjects on the left side of the composition, he creates more visual weight on that side. However, the most interesting impact employed by Erwitt in this particular photograph is interior framing. He manages to capture the attention of the viewer and direct it towards the two paintings on the wall. This particular element helps him to directly influence the viewers’ perception of the entire composition. Basically, Erwitt sets up his composition in such a way that every element directs the eyes of the audience towards the two focal points which are the paintings. By setting up the subjects to face away from the viewer, he directs the viewer’s focus towards what the subjects are engaged in. This plot is further developed by the use of color and value on the background, which is the wall. The white color on the wall