For Always?

For Always?

Sandy Skoglund, The Wedding

Love is not always a feeling, occasionally it becomes a decision.

It requires more then a brilliant idea for subject matter, colour or composition to create an intriguing photograph. However, combine all three with a centre theme that people can relate to and the image is sure to draw attention. American photographer Sandy Skoglund is widely known for her unusual and almost bizarre orchestrated photographs. With the use of elaborate sets, her dreamlike concepts become images that captivate any and all viewers. Skoglund’s 1994 image The Wedding conveys a definite message through her use of strong and dominant colour, well-planned composition, and her ability to use symbols and metaphors. In this particular photo her use of those things causes the viewer to take a deeper look at marriage. Perhaps love and marriage aren’t always bliss?

Skoglund’s use of colour is arguably the most dominant component in this photograph. When she began thinking about this project she had two different colour options to consider. Would she use contrasting Black and white or shockingly vibrant colour? Black and white photos have the ability to captivate us because for some reason we relate black and white photos with reality and real life. However, when we as humans see colour we automatically equate colour with a certain feeling or meaning. Our brains attach significance to a colour that is normally predetermined by where we come from. In the western world purple can cause us to think of royalty. White: maybe a wedding. Black: possibly mourning and death. True to Skoglund’s reputation of using energetic colours she chose to use two intense colours, red and yellowy amber. The walls, wedding cake, table, and bridal attire are a vivid red, definitely untraditional but that is the purpose. Skoglund is causing the viewer to think about her choice. Why red instead of white? Red carries with it a feeling of sexuality and passion that does belong in a wedding or more specifically between the bride and groom. Now Take into consideration the yellow amber floors. Conceivably, it screams �WARNING!’ We associate that particular yellow with the caution sign on the streetlights. Skoglund would have known that. With the overuse of red she causes us to think of passion first. Then when we see the amber floor we have to reconsider. Pairing the red with the amber causes us to connect the red with not only passion but now also the red stoplight. This sends out a definite warning and caution vibe. Why cause us to focus on the passionate red first? Perhaps Skoglund is pointing out that couples see passion and love foremost in their relationship and not looking for warning signs until after some of that initial passion has subsided.

This picture is very heavily weighted towards the right-hand side of the image. With the cake table central in the picture Skoglund pushes the bride and groom off to the right. Only a small percentage of languages read written text right to left, meaning that very few people would view this picture that way. English readers naturally would read this photo left