Artist: Corey Arnold

Title: Herman Melville

Corey Arnold has so many beautiful images depicting the sea and life working with the ocean. Herman Melville, however, stood out to me as brilliant, gorgeous, and breathtaking. Immediately when I saw it, I wanted to write about it.

What first caught my eye was the division of thirds and how unequal each section is but how balanced the photo is as a whole. There appears to be a natural gradient with the dark blacks of the sea, to the neutral grays of the clouds and the white brilliance of the sky. Each level is as intriguing as the last with so many textures and details, even with the lack of a formal subject. 

Of course what brings the most attention is the slight burst of color coming from the horizon in the middle of the photo. When looked at by itself, it doesn't seem all that brilliant. But in comparison to the dull and dark colors of the sea and sky, the sunburst shines above. It also illuminates the clouds from behind, giving an almost angelic look to the piece. The way in which he captured the rugged, fast, ongoing waves of the sea and the calming, peaceful fluff of the clouds bother counter act and add a sense of overall balance and brilliance to the photo.