Reading a Photograph
or a Picture
How do we read
Photographs and Pictures?
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Objects
- shapes and figures which could be people, animals, places or objects. Some
objects have been associated with certain emotions and feelings. An object
can be used as a shortcut in a message but relies on the understanding of
the symbol by the audience e.g. a lion is an animal but can also be used to
symbolise bravery. Knowledge of the parts of a photograph (foreground,
mid-ground and background) helps in the identification of specific objects,
especially in a crowded picture.
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Size
of the object of interest. Important objects are usually large and located
in the foreground while small objects that are in the background are
considered less important.
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Settings
have symbolic significance and influence our response to a photograph- dry,
country settings denote ruggedness and hardship while soft, green, rural
settings suggest tranquillity.
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Colour
- White denotes innocence and black denotes death in some cultures. Hindu
people mourn in white and marry in red. Colour often represents the
stereotypes for maleness and femininity in popular culture- soft, pastel
colours are associated with feminine stereotypes while dark primary or
metallic colours are seen as masculine by some groups.
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Position
of objects, shapes and figures in photographs gives meaning e.g. centre,
left, right, bottom, top, foreground, mid-ground, background and whether the
objects are close together or far apart.
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Direction
In what direction are the objects, figures, people, animal etc facing? Is it
at the camera, past the camera or at a person or object in the photograph?
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Angle
Where has the photographer placed us in the photo? A high angle shows
dominance by the object that we are viewing while a low angle or us looking
down on the object shows submission by the object being viewed. Equality is
shown through the representation of an eye level point of view.
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Light
Different lighting effects or colours can provide meaning e.g. soft, yellow
light or back lighting creates a halo effect and can suggest innocence.
Overexposed lighting suggests heat while underexposed light suggests
coolness or an enclosed feeling. Settings can be confirmed through time of
day clues provided through the representation of light.
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Body Language
- posture, gesture
and facial expression all tell about the way that we are feeling and
thinking. Animals are often portrayed with body language to develop humour.
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Clothing
reflects or our personality and can also be a symbol of period, culture and
status.
(Adapted from: Quin, R., McMahon, B., Quin, R., 1996, Using Visual Texts
in Primary and Secondary English Classrooms, Department of Education,
Queensland.)
Source:
A Visual Literacy Unit for
Students in Years 7 and 8
http://wwwfp.education.tas.gov.au/english/vislit.htm