HOW TO DO THE IMAGE ANALYSIS
IMAGE ANALYSIS
For this assignment, you will be writing about the photograph that you believe best represents your work
Step 1: Read the directions.
Step 2: Read the example description of Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland.
Step 3: Read student examples at http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/classroom_resources/curricula/exploring_photographs/photoworks/index.htmlweeblylink_new_window
Step 4: Pick one of your top images to write about from the ones you have CREATED (not ones you are in) from this semester.
Directions
This assignment relys on three methods of visual analysis: description, reflection, and formal analysis. These methods provide a structure for viewing, analyzing, and writing about photographs.
DESCRIPTION The first step in visual analysis is description. Describing an image is a useful technique for looking closely at an image and absorbing its details. Descriptions should remain objective, discussing what can be seen without drawing conclusions about a photograph's meaning.
REFLECTION This section should focus on the emotions and interpretations that an image evokes for the viewer. Different viewers will react to the same image in different ways, so there are no wrong responses. For the reflective section, chose SOME of the questions from the list as possible questions that can be used to provoke responses:
• Why did you choose this image to represent your work?
• When you took this photograph, what first caught your eye?
• Where were you when you took this picture?
• What were you doing when you took this picture?
• What time of day was it?
• What were you thinking when you took this picture?
• What ideas or feelings were you trying to capture in this image?
• How were you able to capture these ideas or feelings?
• What do you think about now when you look at this image?
• How would you like the viewer to respond when they look at this image?
• How did you expect this image to look? What, if anything, looks different than what you expected? What surprised you about this image?
FORMAL ANALYSIS After looking carefully at an image and considering its emotional and interpretive properties, formal analysis is the next step. Include the elements of composition and principles of art, which can be used as a guide in your formal analysis. The "elements of composition" are the building blocks for achieving the "principles of art." A very good place to start formal analysis is by deciding which elements are most strongly represented.
http://phsphoto.weebly.com/elements-of-composition.htmlweeblylink_new_window
For this assignment, you will be writing about the photograph that you believe best represents your work
Step 1: Read the directions.
Step 2: Read the example description of Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland.
Step 3: Read student examples at http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/classroom_resources/curricula/exploring_photographs/photoworks/index.htmlweeblylink_new_window
Step 4: Pick one of your top images to write about from the ones you have CREATED (not ones you are in) from this semester.
Directions
This assignment relys on three methods of visual analysis: description, reflection, and formal analysis. These methods provide a structure for viewing, analyzing, and writing about photographs.
DESCRIPTION The first step in visual analysis is description. Describing an image is a useful technique for looking closely at an image and absorbing its details. Descriptions should remain objective, discussing what can be seen without drawing conclusions about a photograph's meaning.
REFLECTION This section should focus on the emotions and interpretations that an image evokes for the viewer. Different viewers will react to the same image in different ways, so there are no wrong responses. For the reflective section, chose SOME of the questions from the list as possible questions that can be used to provoke responses:
• Why did you choose this image to represent your work?
• When you took this photograph, what first caught your eye?
• Where were you when you took this picture?
• What were you doing when you took this picture?
• What time of day was it?
• What were you thinking when you took this picture?
• What ideas or feelings were you trying to capture in this image?
• How were you able to capture these ideas or feelings?
• What do you think about now when you look at this image?
• How would you like the viewer to respond when they look at this image?
• How did you expect this image to look? What, if anything, looks different than what you expected? What surprised you about this image?
FORMAL ANALYSIS After looking carefully at an image and considering its emotional and interpretive properties, formal analysis is the next step. Include the elements of composition and principles of art, which can be used as a guide in your formal analysis. The "elements of composition" are the building blocks for achieving the "principles of art." A very good place to start formal analysis is by deciding which elements are most strongly represented.
http://phsphoto.weebly.com/elements-of-composition.htmlweeblylink_new_window
http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/elements_art.pdfweeblylink_new_window
http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdfweeblylink_new_window
Example
The photo used for this example can be found at http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=67188&handle=li
Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland, Alexander Gardner, October 2, 1862
For this image, it is important to know that the Battle of Antietam was one of the most bloody and brutal battles of the Civil War.
Description
For instance, when looking at Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland, it would be appropriate to say, "The tall man in the middle is wearing a black suit," For example, a description of this image might begin with the basic statement, "In this black-and-white image, three men stand in front of a tent." Once you have stated the subject matter, simply elaborate on what you can see: "The man in the middle is the tallest and is posed with his hands down at his sides, wearing a formal black suit with a bowtie and a tall stovepipe hat. The man to the left is wearing a worn dark suit and a bowler hat. The man to the right is dressed in a military uniform with bright buttons and epaulets. The tent is pitched on a grassy clearing with trees in the background."
Reflection "The tone of Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland seems very bleak. The somber facial expressions of the men, coupled with the barren grass and sparse trees give an overall impression of death and dying. There is also a sense of loneliness about the figure of President Lincoln. Although standing next to two men, he seems totally isolated. He is unresponsive to the camera; rather than making eye contact, he stares distantly off into space, increasing the sense of isolation."
Formal Analysis
In the Lincoln picture, the very distinct lines and geometric shapes are immediately apparent. Upon closer inspection, it is clear that these lines and shapes function to frame and to move the viewer's eye towards the central subject, President Lincoln. For instance, note the way that all of the lines in the image draw the eye toward the figure of the president. The tent forms an inverted "V" shape directly behind Lincoln, while the vertical tent post and tree trunk in the background further elongate Lincoln's already tall figure, clearly emphasizing Lincoln's figure in the composition. There are other strongly represented elements as well. Consider the use of contrast in this image: there is a stark contrast between the white of Lincoln's shirt and his black suit, which further draws our attention towards the president's face. There is also a sense of balance, with the figures standing to either side of the president in similar poses, like mirror images.
Student Examples
Read through three student examples from this site, and find one that you like.
Examples of other student work can be found at
http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/classroom_resources/curricula/exploring_photographs/photoworks/index.htmlweeblylink_new_window
Sample Image analysis
Gabriela
January, 14, 2011
In this photograph, on the background there's a s big tree and on the bottom there are cars passing. There are also stop lights on each side of the picture, one in front, the other on the right side. Than there are the poles that are use to separate the roads so cars wont ma a right turn and than there is the "walking lines" where people walk on and not be "jay" walking.
This picture was taken in January 11, 2011, during a very cold winter time. The first thing that caught my eyes from this photograph was the symmetry it had. I was standing in the middle of the road looking for something that would represent both sides of the schools and than I looked down to the bright yellow line separating the road, and thought, "This yellow line separates the wide road and the road separates both sides of the schools….This could really be a cool to image to take". When I started editing this picture I was thinking that most students would crust adjust the exposure, contrast, brightness, and darkness, etc., to a certain level, so I decided to take it to the next level. As a result I got this painting-like image. This photograph reminded me of those paintings you would see with bright neon colors of big beautiful cities. This photograph is a picture of the road that divides the old school of Pittsburg High School and New one, The street's name is Harbor Street. I never expected it would come out like this. I really love this image because it makes me fee like i'm in NYC, the place i've always wanted to visit and so I chose this picture to represent my work.
In this image there a variety of elements and components. To start with I adjusted the brightness an darkness of this picture, along with the contrast and saturation to get this painting-like image. It was also exposed very high for the sky to get this neon colors and saturated to bring out the other bright neon colors. The lines in this picture not only makes horizontal and vertical lines, but also they make up a bright pattern. The red poles on the left hand side are laying on the rhythm of vertical stripes and follows a pattern too. The negative space the tree has around it makes it stand out more, which also emphasizes the tree making it one of the dominant parts in the image. Another object that is emphasized are the poles, with its bright colors and pattern. The unity of this picture has made me proud of it.
http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdfweeblylink_new_window
Example
The photo used for this example can be found at http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=67188&handle=li
Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland, Alexander Gardner, October 2, 1862
For this image, it is important to know that the Battle of Antietam was one of the most bloody and brutal battles of the Civil War.
Description
For instance, when looking at Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland, it would be appropriate to say, "The tall man in the middle is wearing a black suit," For example, a description of this image might begin with the basic statement, "In this black-and-white image, three men stand in front of a tent." Once you have stated the subject matter, simply elaborate on what you can see: "The man in the middle is the tallest and is posed with his hands down at his sides, wearing a formal black suit with a bowtie and a tall stovepipe hat. The man to the left is wearing a worn dark suit and a bowler hat. The man to the right is dressed in a military uniform with bright buttons and epaulets. The tent is pitched on a grassy clearing with trees in the background."
Reflection "The tone of Lincoln on Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland seems very bleak. The somber facial expressions of the men, coupled with the barren grass and sparse trees give an overall impression of death and dying. There is also a sense of loneliness about the figure of President Lincoln. Although standing next to two men, he seems totally isolated. He is unresponsive to the camera; rather than making eye contact, he stares distantly off into space, increasing the sense of isolation."
Formal Analysis
In the Lincoln picture, the very distinct lines and geometric shapes are immediately apparent. Upon closer inspection, it is clear that these lines and shapes function to frame and to move the viewer's eye towards the central subject, President Lincoln. For instance, note the way that all of the lines in the image draw the eye toward the figure of the president. The tent forms an inverted "V" shape directly behind Lincoln, while the vertical tent post and tree trunk in the background further elongate Lincoln's already tall figure, clearly emphasizing Lincoln's figure in the composition. There are other strongly represented elements as well. Consider the use of contrast in this image: there is a stark contrast between the white of Lincoln's shirt and his black suit, which further draws our attention towards the president's face. There is also a sense of balance, with the figures standing to either side of the president in similar poses, like mirror images.
Student Examples
Read through three student examples from this site, and find one that you like.
Examples of other student work can be found at
http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/classroom_resources/curricula/exploring_photographs/photoworks/index.htmlweeblylink_new_window
Sample Image analysis
Gabriela
January, 14, 2011
In this photograph, on the background there's a s big tree and on the bottom there are cars passing. There are also stop lights on each side of the picture, one in front, the other on the right side. Than there are the poles that are use to separate the roads so cars wont ma a right turn and than there is the "walking lines" where people walk on and not be "jay" walking.
This picture was taken in January 11, 2011, during a very cold winter time. The first thing that caught my eyes from this photograph was the symmetry it had. I was standing in the middle of the road looking for something that would represent both sides of the schools and than I looked down to the bright yellow line separating the road, and thought, "This yellow line separates the wide road and the road separates both sides of the schools….This could really be a cool to image to take". When I started editing this picture I was thinking that most students would crust adjust the exposure, contrast, brightness, and darkness, etc., to a certain level, so I decided to take it to the next level. As a result I got this painting-like image. This photograph reminded me of those paintings you would see with bright neon colors of big beautiful cities. This photograph is a picture of the road that divides the old school of Pittsburg High School and New one, The street's name is Harbor Street. I never expected it would come out like this. I really love this image because it makes me fee like i'm in NYC, the place i've always wanted to visit and so I chose this picture to represent my work.
In this image there a variety of elements and components. To start with I adjusted the brightness an darkness of this picture, along with the contrast and saturation to get this painting-like image. It was also exposed very high for the sky to get this neon colors and saturated to bring out the other bright neon colors. The lines in this picture not only makes horizontal and vertical lines, but also they make up a bright pattern. The red poles on the left hand side are laying on the rhythm of vertical stripes and follows a pattern too. The negative space the tree has around it makes it stand out more, which also emphasizes the tree making it one of the dominant parts in the image. Another object that is emphasized are the poles, with its bright colors and pattern. The unity of this picture has made me proud of it.