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Re: BIG

There is a field of study called proxemics which deals with cultural
traits and their influences with environing spaces and relationships,
quite similar to a western version Feng Shui.  This field of study
developed during the 1960s and is today commonly used by
anthropologists, archeologists, and architects, and some others.

One portion of proxemics deals with a person's response to objects at
various distances, basically close (intimate), medium (personal), and
far (social).  Although all three distances are found, they will vary in
length according to cultural background.  For example, an Arab's
personal distance would be that close enough to smell one's breath,
whereas an Englishman's would be across a small room. This could led to
difficulties during a discussion as the Arab would want to move closer
and the Englishman further away.  The same principles are used in circus
lion acts as the tamer moves between the lions intimate and personal
distances (at personal distance, the lion advances; at intimate
distance, the lion retreats).  The chair and whip are only props as the
lion could care less and responds to the distance of the tamer.

So what does this have to do with BIG alt photos.
A photograph is generally viewed at a distance relative to the length of
its diagonal.  The distance places the viewer into their intimate,
personal, or social distance and causes the viewer to evaluate the image
from that distance under that influence.  It is no mistake that Avadon
creates jumbo prints that must be viewed from a distance and still loom
over the viewer.  It is a social political statement, just the same as a
politician will be on a stage separated by a distance (usually at least
25 feet).  Clyde Butcher was mentioned (whom I know), and he too is
making very strong social/political statements for the protection of the
Everglades and like areas throughout Florida.  His photographs should be
even larger.  At closer distances (smaller), they just become a nice
picture.

A most interesting exhibit I saw many years ago consisted of 35mm Pt/Pd
contact prints of gay lovers.  The images were very effective at making
the viewer an intimate part of the affair.  If larger, any closeness or
squeamishness felt by the viewer would be lost.  The exhibit was
effective at delivering the photographer's intent of projecting the
intimacy involved in a gay relationship.

I have found that in general, the typical American culture (if their is
such an average of such thing) responds intimately to a size less than
7x9 inches, personally to sizes up to about 60 inches depending on
subject, and socially to that larger.  These distances do vary, but it
is a safe bet that 4x5 and smaller (size of a hand) will get an intimate
response and larger than 6 feet (size of a person) will get a social
response.  And remembering that various cultures may respond to
different distances.

THINK!  There is a reason that we don't see many huge pastoral
landscapes as they seem to work most comfortably at a personal
distance.  There is a reason that wallet size photos are more popular
for showing off the kids beyond just the convieniance.  There is a
reason for serious artists to produce huge statements.  And there is
also a lot of crap out there, purhaps an ego thing or just a flim-flam
to get a buck.

There is little that can be done about the nonsense and garbage.  But,
an artist has a powerful tool in the size of their work as to what is
being said and how it should be interpreted.  A really great thing about
all this is that the viewer (audience) doesn't have to know anything
about it, they just respond.

-- 
Jeffrey D. Mathias
http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias/