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ASPH1300: Intro to Photography: Describing vs Understanding

Describing an image

Describing focuses on what you see without any context to a photo. When you receive an image that your classmate has selected, you won't know the photographer, the title, the date, or any other hints about what the photo is trying to convey. Look at the example below. Start by describing what you see without trying to add meaning to it - 

  • What is the layout of the photo? What are the objects included? What does the landscape look like?
  • How many people are in the photo? What are their facial expressions? What is their posture like? Are they gesturing?
  • Is the photo in color or B&W? If in color, list the colors you notice.
  • Can you get a sense of the weather?
  • What else is in the photo? 

After neutrally describing the photograph, you can start to dig even deeper -

  • Who are these people to each other?
  • How are they each feeling?
  • What type of environment does this appear to be?
  • Are there hints of the time period?

Understanding an Image

You can further understand the photograph when you know who the photographer is, the title of the photograph, and the date of the photograph was created. Below you will find the citation for the image to the left, which I found through ArtStor.

Diane Arbus. A Family on the Lawn One Sunday in Westchester (Suburban), N.Y., 1968, gelatin silver print, 19 15/16 x 16 in. Baltimore Museum of Art. Retrieved from: https://jstor.org/stable/community.18109291

Use the following resources to find background information about your photographer .