Photo literacy is the language of photographic images. Photographs communicate their meanings in particular ways. Let's have a look at some famous photographs to see how this works.
Each of the following images is presented without the photographer's name or the title of the image. Underneath each photograph is a list of questions. Use them to help you analyse the image. Feel free to draw on printed versions of the photographs and scribble a few notes. Resist the temptation to 'find out more' about the images until you've really had time to look and think.
Photography is all about learning to look.
Each of the following images is presented without the photographer's name or the title of the image. Underneath each photograph is a list of questions. Use them to help you analyse the image. Feel free to draw on printed versions of the photographs and scribble a few notes. Resist the temptation to 'find out more' about the images until you've really had time to look and think.
Photography is all about learning to look.
Robert Frank 'Trolley, New Orleans' 1955 from The Americans.
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
- Describe the composition of this image. How has the photographer arranged the various elements of the picture? (It might help to draw some lines on a printed version of the image.)
- How has the photographer exploited the way light behaves in this image?
- What patterns can you see in this photograph?
- What does this image tell us about life in 1950s America?
- How does this image make you feel?
Lewis Hine 'Young Russian Jewess, Ellis Island, New York' 1905
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
- What is the expression on this young woman's face? How is she dressed? Does she remind you of anyone?
- What are the light sources in this image? How does the light help to describe the physical environment?
- Why is the background out of focus?
- How has the photographer composed this image? (It might help to draw some lines on a printed version to see how the various elements in the photograph relate to one another).
- Describe the room in which the young woman stands. What happens here?
- How does this image make you feel?
E. J. Bellocq 'Untitled' c. 1912
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
- How do you feel when you look at this image?
- At what time of day, do you think, was this photograph taken? How does the light behave?
- What is the woman doing? Who is she? Do you think she is aware of being photographed?
- List as many different textures as you can see in the photograph.
- Why do you think the image appears damaged?
Helen Levitt 'New York' c.1945
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
- What is happening in this image?
- Why has the photographer stopped to make an image?
- How would you describe the composition of this photograph? (It might help to draw some lines on the printed version)
- Try to describe how this photographer was able to make an image like this? How might s/he work on a daily basis? What kind of camera might s/he have used?
- How does this image make you feel?