Sam Weber never fails to deliver subtle and riveting value structures. This piece is one of my favorite examples of localized value shapes because it functions almost as three distinct silhouettes. When we eliminate all but the darkest values, we see form in the boy and rock. At mid value however, this information is lost and the image is a very bold silhouette. None of the interior values are as bright as the background, and yet we can still read both. When we lose all but the highest values, the silhouette changes again and we now see just the boy silhouetted against a sun or moon. Looking from the midtone threshold and the high key threshold, it is like was see the same scene at day and at night. Of course, all of these layers fit together into a beautifully understated final image. |