
Everything that one views sparks an emotion, a reaction, within a person. Arts creation is to bring out a specific emotion, or range of emotions, intended by the artist. Different mediums can allow art to tell a story and through that story different emotions emerge. I argue that the photograph tells the story of a man giving into his temptations, which occurs due to the environment that he is in. The photographer of this image made use of low lighting, a centralized focus point, and the position of the subjects in the photograph to convey a sense of acquiescence. 

This image features a man who is approaching a bar. This man is wearing a sweater over a white collared shirt and khaki pants which signifies that the man just came from somewhere important, potentially work, as he presents himself in nice clothing. This man is standing up at the bar and he has his hands in his pockets, giving him an uncertain look as if he is not sure that being at the bar is a good thing. The viewer can also see a woman behind the bar which would most likely be the bartender. What she is doing is unclear, but if she is in fact the bartender then she would most likely be mixing drinks and providing the customers with alcohol. The man in the sweater and the woman behind the bar are both facing each other, maybe conversing. At least one other person is sitting at the bar based on the jacket hanging on the back of the last chair and the shadowy figure to the right of the man in the sweater. The viewer can assume that the man knows these people from his head inclining and his body turned toward them. He may know the other customers from work or they could be friends that he is meeting them at the bar for some drinks. The man’s positioning tells the viewer that this is a new experience for him, one that he is not exactly comfortable with. This is why the man in the sweater still has his hands in his pockets and is standing up instead of sitting with the other patrons, so he can leave if he is still uncertain of the situation.

When first looking at this image, the lights are one aspect of this picture to first stick out. Located on the left and right side of the image, warm colored stringed lights are hanging from the wall and from the doorway. The warm colors such as red, orange, and some green resemble the type of Christmas lights that hang from a Christmas tree or outside during the holidays. Having these lights in the picture sparks memories of the holidays, being with family, sitting near a warm fire, and other comforting thoughts. This in turn makes the location appear to be welcoming and like a home away from home, where one can come to get away from troubles and relax. Through the doorway the viewer can see more lights within the building. There are a few neon signs hung up on the walls, they appear to be advertisements for different brands of alcohol since the locations resembles that of a bar or small tavern. The clearest sign to be hanging up on the wall is in the top and center of the image and the sign is depicting a neon red skull. This skull is what stands for the devil and his temptations. The devil is one who tempts people with what they want most, to draw them away from being pure. In this image the devil is using the comforting, home-like atmosphere, the temptations of alcohol, and the man’s uncertainty against him.

Another part of this image to stand out is how the sides of the image are fuzzy or hazy, and do not give the viewer a clear view of what is happening outside of the bar. Along with this is the doorway, which divides the picture between what is hard to see and what is clear. The view inside the bar is clearer than that outside of the doorway and outside of the bar. This draws the viewers’ attention inside the building and away from what could be happening outside of it. This forces the viewer to determine that there is no other option besides viewing inside of the building because viewing a clearer, sharper image, is more comfortable than looking at an unclear image. The space around the bar is small and intimate, making it look welcoming and inviting. It is not jammed pack with people where one would feel like they would get stepped on and pushed around. Instead, this place has open seats and walking room, an uncertain person would be less intimidated to walk into a relaxed environment than one with say, loud music and a populated crowd. This is one more aspect to tempt the man to come inside the bar and forget what is bothering him by drinking away his problems. 

The photographer of this image made design choices to establish a story within this photograph. The story of a man giving into his temptations from the devil and going into a bar to drink. The photographer tells this story to the viewer through his specific detail. The blurry edges of the photograph draw attention to inside of the bar, making it seem like a warm and welcoming escape from the cold world outside. This enhances the lights bordering the doorway to the building, which create a soft glow of warm colored lighting that bring along good memories and good feelings. Both of these details from the photograph make the viewer believe everything will be okay and that this is a good place but the man still has uncertainty, displayed by his body language. This uncertainty is of justice as consequences of giving into temptation and of drinking can both affect a person in a negative stance. All these details put together give the viewers of this image a sense of acquiescence, like what the man may have felt when he decides to go into the bar.
