Cleat on a Dock
by Kay Lovingood
Title
Cleat on a Dock
Artist
Kay Lovingood
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Looking straight down at the edge of the dock, a pair of eyes are looking up. On second glance, they're actually the bolts that secure a cleat to the dock. The S-curve of the cleat is reminiscent of eyebrows.
The hexagonal bolts of the cleat are set into deep black sockets. The curve goes above the left eye, then slides under the right eye, forming a gently curved wave.
The background of this image is a study in contrasts: The top is dark green water, almost black, and very smooth. The bottom is a dock -- light gray, weathered wood along the edge with gray metal slats. The water is almost solid in color, while the dock has ridges that provide shadows and highlights. Both metal and wood have darker spots mixed in. The metal has a bit of rust, as well; and the wood along the edge has a large splinter missing, which allows the different color of fresh lumber to show.
The dock itself has many contrasts. Reaching up from the bottom of the photo are metal "planks" with spaces between. Each plank has straight parallel grooves and ridges, which mimic wood grain. Above that, where the cleat is attached, is another metal piece, this one horizontal, and perpendicular to the main part of the dock. It forms the frame. This piece of metal has the same qualities as the other -- ridges, furrows, light and dark gray, and a bit of rust. It bisects the photo, centering the cleat in the image.
Finally, attached parallel to is is one piece of wood. It has weathered to a dull gray, about the same shade as the metal. Its grain is not so perfectly parallel as the pattern on the metal. It has no rust, but shows its age in other ways. Its edges aren't smooth; years of wear have caused splinters which have, in turn, been worn smooth again. The grain shows signs of cracking. And on the right side, a large splinter has broken off, leaving fresh wood exposed.
On the whole, this photo is quite symmetrical. It's full of patterns and solids, fluid parts and stationery parts, parallels and perpendiculars, verticals and horizontals. But just entering the left edge of the photo is one special metal part, which breaks the pattern. This one piece, colored like the others, and patterned the same, is on the diagonal to provide strength and support to the structure in the piece, and one more contrast in the image.
Uploaded
January 5th, 2018
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