Artist research: Carsten Peter:

Carsten Peter is a photographer, filmmaker, biologist and adventurer. He is a world press photo award winner and has been featured many times in the National Geographic. 

This first photograph is of an erupting volcano. when looking at this image I immediately take notice of the bright, intense yellow centre of the lava that is erupting from the top of the volcano. I think that this draws quick attention and acts as a focal point for the entire image. I really love the way that the volcano is in the foreground of the work and the city lights can be seen far off in the distance within the background. It makes it seem as if the volcano is looming over the city waiting to attack. I noticed that there seems to be a clear divide diagonally through the photograph, separating the city and volcano. I believe that this not only creates a contrast the subject of the work, human verses nature, but also in the colours, tone and depth of the piece. The city, although lit up and bright with lights, seems flat and artificial, and I think that due to the distance and it being so far away it seems detached and removed from the image and the viewer. There is detail , and the city lights seem to draw out lines and bend and weave around each other but I think that there is a monotonous quality to it all, like every day is the same as the last. However, when I turn my attention to the volcano I believe that there is such a violent and spectacular feeling that runs through this section of the work. The lava is messy and vibrant and it seems to draw the viewer in while simultaneously warding them off at the same time. The almost black ash and smoke only enhance the colours and details of the lave and act as a backdrop that elevates the scene. I think that there is also a strong sense of movement within this scene, the lava is mid eruption and shooting off in all directions, while running down the side of the rock as well.

When looking at this piece my eyes are drawn to the deep and warm orange and beige tones within the image, and I believe that this enables the image warm, as if this is all happening on a hot summers day. I also think that the tones within the photograph have a stylistic quality to them, the way the yellows, beiges and oranges swirl and merge with each other allows the colours to be rich and enticing. The right half of the image is much lighter than the left, which is overcast with shadows. I believe that this allows a real sense of depth within the work and helps to convey the size and magnitude of the tornado. Similar to the previous photograph I believe that there is a really interesting sense of movement within the work, the tornado seems as if it is coming alive and when compared to the strong and stationary figure at the bottom it seems as it is set on a raging path across the image. I believe that there is overwhelming atmosphere that is inked within this work. The sheer size of the tornado compared to the figure crouching beneath it is panic inducing. The tornado is wild and untamed, and although this may be scary I do think that there are undertones of liberation running throughout the work due to this. The tornado has set its course and there is nothing that can be done to stop it but there is beauty  in relinquishing control to something greater.