This project was designed by my EAE 201 professor to encourage students to explore the term “aesthetic.” She asked us to take time out of our busy schedules to appreciate the space around us through the elements of photography.

*Note: Quality is severely degraded due to photo size limit

PHOTOGRAPHER: Hayleigh Prentice

TITLE: Wish

DATE AND LOCATION: September 9, 2023 – Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan

HIGHLIGHTED PHOTOGRAPHY ELEMENT: Texture

ARTIST’S STATEMENT:

I have spent every summer since I was born at my family cabin on Last Mountain Lake. It truly is my home away from home during the hot months. There, sprawled out on the sandy beach or walking through the fields at dusk, I feel my happiest. Sadly, as the summer comes to an end, I must bid farewell to my seasonal oasis for another eight months. Two weekends ago, I took my final trip out to pack my items away. It was then that I decided I would take a walk around the resort village to capture some photographs. I wondered what better place to document an aesthetic experience of mine than here.

I began my journey by strolling along the beach as the sun set. Examining my surroundings for the elements of photography, I snapped several pictures. I then made my way to the main road and leisurely followed it through the community. As I continued to observe my environment, I found myself captivated by the colourful trees, their foliage displaying a tapestry of vibrant yellows, deep crimsons, and fading greens. The kaleidoscope of colours was unnatural to see as I have grown accustomed to the lush summer green. I rarely visit the cabin this late in the season. Although beautiful, the changing leaves were another bittersweet reminder that my time here was drawing to a close.

I followed the road to the outskirts of the resort village and wound up in a grassy field just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Here, amid the fading daylight, I snapped photos of the landscape, wildflowers, a hay bail, and a little toad. My attention was later drawn to a cluster of white dandelions. Entranced by their cottony tuffs, I plucked one and felt its soft fuzz between my fingertips. I then blew on the dandelion and watched as its delicate seeds fluttered away. This simple action rekindled childhood memories of when I would make wishes on dandelions. In that fleeting moment, I yearned to wish for an eternal summer so I would not have to leave this place. I took a variety of dandelion photos and concluded my walk.

After scrolling through my photo album and reflecting on what I had captured, I decided to choose this dandelion photograph. The image resonates with me the most because it symbolizes an innate desire to freeze time, capturing the beauty of seasons or moments in life that we wish could last a bit longer. Furthermore, the soft fuzz of the dandelions represents the delicate nature of time and how quickly it can blow away.

Although I think several photography elements are depicted in this picture such as colour and space (the use of the rule of thirds), the one I chose to highlight is texture. As previously mentioned, the soft texture of the dandelion head is symbolic and initially drew me to photograph this plant. The fluffy white fuzz stands out against the dark negative space. Thus, the viewer’s eye is drawn directly to the dandelion focal point, where they immediately observe the cotton-like texture. Moreover, the texture of the dandelion contrasts with the prickly blades of grass, which sprout up from the ground in every direction.

Ultimately, this photo serves as a testament to the transient nature of time, representing the wish for its prolongation.