logtic and photos.

Tips on reading and analyzing photographs Photo 121 Analyzing a photograph goes beyond “what you see” and “what you like or don’t like”. Formal analysis focus on visual elements that include: shape, size, texture, line, space.” The following are general descriptions of the elements and components in art. There is no consensus in the number of elements or if “element” is an accurate word to describe them. As a student, you should be mindful of what your teacher in specific class calls which and follow directions. I don’t actually care how we categorize them. I list as many as I use myself so to help you read and analyze your photograph. I write these in ways to help you think them through. An analysis of a photograph is composed of 3 parts:

1. Formal Analysis a. Looking for visual elements: shape, size, texture, line, value, and space. b. Looking at visual components: focus, light, repetition, vantage point/angle,

balance, foreground/midground/background space, contour, contrast, setting, framing/placement.

c. Looking at the photographer’s decisions about the composition (the arrangement of the visual elements and components) of the photograph.

2. The content (image and meaning) of the photograph, and the artist’s intention. 3. The historical and social context of the photograph as well as the time when the

photograph was made. General vocabulary:

§ Abstract: an image that emphasizes formal elements (line, shape, etc.) rather than specific, recognizable objects.

§ Representational: Images of recognizable objects. § Subject: The main object or person in a photograph. § Content: The subject, topic or information captured in a photograph § Objective: The capturing of a subject in a non-subjective way, showing no personal bias,

not making any statement. Showing the subject as is. § Intention: The reasons why the artist created this work or the reasons for the choices

(could be formal or aesthetic) she made in creating this work. § Expressive: Showing emotion § Theme: a consistent, dominant, and unifying idea in a body or collection of work. § Geometric shape: shapes found in geometry like circles, squares, triangle, and

rectangles. § Organic shape: shapes based on natural objects such as trees, rocks, leaves. § Landscape: Environment (can be natural or man-made like buildings).

Visual Elements in art/photography:

§ Line: What kind of lines are in the photograph? Curvy, straight, thin, thick? One single line? Multiple lines? Are the lines creating some kind of directions or movements? Is a natural line formed by the object itself (like an electrical line) or is it a group of objects that formed a line (like a bunch of cones lined up to form a line)?

§ Shape: Are the shapes geometric or organic? One shape or many? Do they form a pattern?

§ Space: Does the photograph seem to show depth? Shallow? What made this (like large cones in front and gets smaller as they move into the back – this creates depth)? Is there a spatial illusion? What about the negative/background space?

§ Texture: Does the image/object feel rough? Smooth? Does it look wet? Shiny? If you could touch the surface what do you think it would feel like?

§ Value: How dark is the darkest value? The lightest? Is there a long range of grays? Does the foreground or main object have the lightest or darkest value?

Components in art/photography:

§ Vantage point or Angle: Where is the photographer’s vantage point? Does it seem like the photographer is very low on the ground pointing the camera up? The opposite?

§ Background or negative space: Not the main object or point of interest in the photograph. This can be supporting landscape, objects, buildings, or people.

§ Balance: Are the visual elements in the photograph evenly (symmetrical) distributed? Or the opposite (Asymmetrical)? How does the evenness make you feel? What about the unbalanced asymmetrical placement of objects? Does it make you feel uneasy?

§ Focus: Which object(s) are most prominently focused in the photograph? § Light: Which part of the photograph is highlighted? Shadows? Is the light natural or

artificial? Is it soft lighting? Harsh light? Is it a direct light source (light shining on the subject)? Or is it a reflected source (light bouncing off something else onto the subject)? Can you guess the time of day base of the lighting?

§ Repetition: Are there a group of shapes that are grouped together to create a pattern (this can be objects or the negative/background spaces)?

§ Composition: The arrangement of the formal elements that make up the photograph. § Contour: The outline of an object or shape. Does the light cause the objects to form an

outline? What purpose does this serve? Does the shadow or value or light form an illusion of lines that move your eyes from certain point to point?

§ Contrast: Strong visual differences between light and dark, smooth and rough textures, single object that connotes light weight vs a large group of objects that give the notion of heavy weight, etc.…

§ Framing or Edge of paper: How did the photographer crop or frame the work? Does the object/image end at exactly the end of the edge of the paper? Does the object/image get cut off? Are there a lot of space left at the top of the paper? Does this make everything seem really crowded in the space? Does the amount of space devoted to the top make the sky/space see, bigger? Ask why the object/image ends where it ends? Why are things placed where they are?

§ Setting: The actual environment where the image/object is photographed? Is it indoor? Outdoor? On a table? On a stage? Describe the space.