John Loengard - Cadet Officers

I chose Cadet Officers by John Loengard. I find this image interesting for many reasons. The lines created by the officers' legs and shadows lead the eye around the photo - not only vertically and horizontally, but diagonally as well. The repetitive and illusionary nature of the subject also captures the viewer's attention. As the officers' legs get farther back in the photo, they appear to be closer together, but a look at the shadows shows that each man is equal distance apart from the others in the entirety of the line. The reason why I find this photograph especially interesting is not for these reasons, but because Loengard captured an image so structured and stationary, but still portrays motion. The officers' left feet are partially off the ground, as if they are about to take another step. The tension is built with the gripping of the officers' hands, and this element is why I find this image so fascinating.