Jorge Daura

Jeff Bain-Conkin
Rhetorical Analysis
9/10/14
The idea of a picture to actually enhance and describe beautiful scenery is actually
pretty difficult to achieve. The photo I am about to describe just enhances the beauty of
a mountain in Switzerland. It also shows how vivid nature can be without peoples
interventions. There may be many photos like this one, but the fact that the author took it
at the right moment just makes the photo so beautiful that it appears to be fictitious, Its
safe to say that this picture give a sense of peace, calmness and vitality to any viewer.

In the photo there is a high pyramidal peak, pointing at space like it is the top of the
world. The viewer assumes is the focus point because the author manages to perfectly
center it in the photo. A blurry starry sky along the edges makes the viewer gradually
come to the center of the picture. The only object between the sky and the earth is the
peak that just breaks the horizon line, but at the same time creates a more abstract line
that the author uses to identify the feature of calmness.

Besides just showing the peak the author actually decides to use a wide-angle camera
to capture the stars, not only they enlighten the sky to make it brighter, but they create a
sense of openness in the photo that makes the viewer feel that humans are in an infinite
space, that there is no limit and that if you really want to touch the sky, you can do it. He
also uses the stars as a resource to focus more the peak and to show how perfect it is.
This emphasizes the idea of peace, because the photographer understands the concept,
that stars mainly initiate a feeling of relief, making the viewer feel serenity within him.

Comparing the foreground, mid-ground and background, the author changes the lighting

on the corners, but it also gives a sense of happiness and freedom. Acknowledging the
fact that, this mountain will always be lightening up, even at night. The foreground gives
a perspective of insight into what the viewer sees. It guides the viewer through the
mountain, to the peak, while the mid ground actually focuses the peak; the background
gives an idea about what is there besides the peak, and endless abysm that brings the
night to life.

The light around the peak mean that actually people have already tried to get there, it
also reflects the beauty you dont normally see at daytime. At the same time those light
are useless because the author actually tried to make the sky the light of the ground.
Firstly, because the amount of stars he includes in the photo and secondly because he
also allows a little bit of sunrise to emphasize, even in that place of the world humans
can enjoy outer space.

The photographer planned this ahead of time just to capture the sunrise right in the heart
of the photo. The contrast in color between the orange and blue from the horizon into the
sky emphasizes the peaks perfection. It seems like every object on the picture allows
the viewer to identify with the peak. Even the curvature of the neighboring mountains
enhances the peaks perfection. He programed the camera to use its blurring state. He
uses it in the background as he changes colors and as he focuses on the peak. He does
this to give a little perspective of what the viewer is actually seeing and uses that effect
to once again allows harmony between the objects of the photo for the viewers.

If noticed, in the picture the author decides to take it in wintertime by the snow that
appears all around the picture. It actually helps improve the brightness because its

almost a reflection of what is happening in the sky. The fact that the author shows a lot
of snow in the picture, elaborates how calm and peaceful he must have been at the time
of taking the picture and he actually wants to transmit that same peacefulness to all its
viewers and allow them to imagine themselves in that photo.

Also there has been no human intervention in this place. The author choose that place
because of that reason, but it can be said that he stood there to show the world how
alluring the world is. He may also be aiming to tell the world, all the beauties that can be
seen in the sky. The idea of untouched natural resources recalls to the fact of peace,
and untouched part of land that has been discovered for the enjoyment of the people
who see the photo.

In addition, it is safe to mention that the fact that the peak is standing out in this picture
the viewer realizes in some way, the strength people have some time, how everything
around it stationary, but the peak is the outstanding part of the picture. The photographer
does this to encourage them, to have faith, to overcome any circumstance certain
people may have. The peak is shown in the photo, overcoming the pattern of rectitude
that the mountain is following. Giving them that sense of strength and vitality when they
see the picture.

To conclude this picture helps its viewer feel in peace, calmness and have a positive
mind about them selves. The photographer has shown this in every little detail of the
picture. The fact that it is an amazing picture, also allows it to be interpreted in different
ways, so there may be people that understand and give a different perspective of the
picture, but in the end anyone who sees this picture or encounter it for the first time will
have a sense of peace within him, feel secure about himself, stay calm while seen the

picture and always remember that there are more thing in the world to see, rather than
just one photograph.