Photograph Analysis Vocabulary The following is a list of vocabulary you will need to write an effective analysis. Some fall under the category of Principles of Design, while others are considered elements or components. Regardless of how we group them or call them, these terms help you dissect a photograph. 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. Note: This is not a complete list of vocabulary. General vocabulary: § Abstract: An image that emphasizes formal elements (line, shape, etc.) rather than specific,

recognizable objects or figures. § Representational: Images of recognizable objects or figures. § Foreground: The objects or figures that are the closest to the viewer. § Background: The objects or figures that are the furthest from the viewer. § Midground: The objects or figures that are in between the foreground and background.

§ Subject: The main object or figure in a photograph. § Content: The subject, topic or information captured in a photograph. § Context: All other factors that might influence or effect the photograph or the photographer.

Can be culturally, geographically, politically or financially (i.e. a commercial to sell a product).

§ Objective: The capturing of a subject in a non-objective way, showing no personal bias, not making any statement. Showing the subject as is. No posing. You generally find this in news photography.

§ Intention: What the artist wants the viewer (you) to see in the photograph or the reasons for the artist’s choices (could be formal or aesthetic).

§ Expressive: Showing emotion. § Theme: A consistent, dominant, and unifying idea in a body or collection of work.

subject

Representational Abstract

§ Geometric shape: Shapes found in geometry like circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. § Landscape: Environment (can be natural or man-made like buildings).

§ Aesthetic: The way the image looks, the style, the experience that the artist presents (rage,

grief, suffering, joy, etc.)

Formal elements: The line, shape, form, texture, pattern, color, space, light, and composition in the photograph.

o Line: vertical, horizontal, curved or jagged. o Shape: Two-dimensional shapes (can be geometric or organic). o Form: Three-dimensional representation of objects. o Texture: The surface of any object or shape (does it look rough, smooth, soft…) o Pattern: The use of repetition to create interest. Repetition can also create

texture. o Color or value: Look for warm vs. cool, dark vs. light values, bright vs. dull, etc. o Space: Look for cluster of objects, crowds, busy area vs. emptiness, airy. Does

the foreground (floor/ground space) take up most of the photograph or is it mostly the background (sky)?

o Light: Which part of the photograph is highlighted? In the shadow? Is the light natural or artificial? Harsh or soft? Can you tell the time of day from the light? How does the light effect the meaning of the photograph?

o Composition: The arrangement of the formal elements that make up the image. § Angle: The vantage point from which the photograph was taken (ground

level, aerial, exaggerated? § Contrast: Strong visual differences such as dark vs. light, crowd vs.

empty, smooth vs. rough, etc. § Balance: The distribution of visual elements to create weight or stability:

Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical.

§ Movement: The placement of objects/figure/space/color/values to guide/direct for the viewer.

§ Pattern: The use of repetition to create interest. Repetition can also create texture.

Photograph Analysis Example for exercise #1:

The Soiling of Old Glory. Stanley Forman. 1976.

1. Description: a. In the foreground is a man dressed in black holding a flag pole that still has the U.S.

flag on it. It looks like he is about to stab a black man (being held by several people) with the flag pole. The black man is dressed in a suit.

b. In the midground is a group of people, mostly men in casual clothing. These folks all seem to be white people. They are looking at the scene. It seems that they are all looking at the direction of the black man.

c. The background is a row of buildings that look like brownstones clustered very closely. The setting is in a plaza between buildings. The ground is not concrete like a normal driving road. The ground is paved with bricks evenly. The street seems clean.

d. The subject matter is people in an urban setting. e. This is a representational photograph taken objectively because it doesn’t look like

these people posed for the photograph. 2. Formal elements:

Lines: There are lots of vertical lines formed by the bricks on the floor forming parallel lines that leads toward the buildings at the end of the street. There are also lots of vertical lines on the buildings on both side of the photograph. Lines are also repeated on the American flag. The people’s legs look like vertical lines. Texture: The bricks on the ground give a hint of bumpiness. The lines and stars on the flag create a visual opposite to the solid fabrics on the people’s clothes. The checkered pattern on the shirt of the man in the center of the photograph repeats the checkered windows in the background buildings. Color/value: The picture is in black and white. The man holding the flag pole is in all black creates a small contrast with the black man in gray suit. The building behind the man with the flagpole is in shadow which created a darkness while the building behind the back man is doused in sunshine and appears to be very bright and light. Space: The photographer composed this picture by juxtaposing the emptiness in the foreground with the chaos in the midground. This transform the foreground into a stage like environment.

foreground

background

midground