Critically Analysing Photographs
Photographs
Photographs can be useful primary sources and useful in providing an insight into the lives of people and showing us different places. Analysing a photograph is therefore a very important skill.
You might think that a photograph is always an accurate record of what happened, rather than somebody’s impression of it. But that is not necessarily true. Often when you take a photograph, you compose a picture, choosing the angle from which you want to shoot, what you will have in it, what part of a scene you will leave out and whether it will be taken close up or from a distance.
Limitations
What are some of the limitations with making observations through photographs?
You might think that a photograph is always an accurate record of what happened, rather than somebody’s impression of it. But that is not necessarily true. Often when you take a photograph, you compose a picture, choosing the angle from which you want to shoot, what you will have in it, what part of a scene you will leave out and whether it will be taken close up or from a distance.
Limitations
What are some of the limitations with making observations through photographs?
- They give us a snapshot in time.
- They provide a small and selective view. They may not give us the overall picture.
- They can be staged or faked.
- They can be edited.
- Photographs are often taken for specific purposes. Consider how these purposes may affect your interpretation of the issue or aspect that the photographs are trying to portray.
Cropping Photographs
Photographs can be cropped to mislead the viewer about what is actually happening.
For example, the two photographs below paint different pictures about what is happening and whether the dog is being harmful or helping.
Photographs can be cropped to mislead the viewer about what is actually happening.
For example, the two photographs below paint different pictures about what is happening and whether the dog is being harmful or helping.
- The photograph on the left leads the viewer to assume that the dog is mauling the sheep with its jaws clutching the sheep's neck.
- The photograph on the right shows the watering hole where the sheep is being pulled out of, leading the viewer to assume that the dog is actually saving the sheep's life.
Timing or Faking of Photographs
Look at this example of football player Gareth Bale (Welsh international and Real Madrid player), who went viral on social media amongst the global football community.
- Left: Side by side images apparently showing a loss of muscle mass in his leg.
- Middle: The side by side images went viral and was published by 'news' sources such as the Daily Mail in the UK. Bale faced alot of criticism from the public.
- Right: Bale responded by positing this photo on his Instagram account.
Additional Information
Examples of Edited Photographs
AI (Artifical Intelligence) Generated Photographs
AI generated image wins an Australian photography competition
Drone image of a beach at sunset by Absolutely AI (using the nom de plume 'Jan Van Eyck')
Read more here: AI generated image wins Australian photo comp - Australian Photography (February 2023)
Drone image of a beach at sunset by Absolutely AI (using the nom de plume 'Jan Van Eyck')
Read more here: AI generated image wins Australian photo comp - Australian Photography (February 2023)
AI generated image wins the Sony World Photography Award 2023
A German photographer and artist called Boris Eldagsen submitted an AI generated image called 'Pseudomnesia: The Electrician' into the Sony World Photography competition and was selected as one of the winners. He then rejected the award and sparked a debate about the use of AI in the industry.
Read more here: Sony World Photography Award 2023: Winner refuses award after revealing AI creation - BBC News
A German photographer and artist called Boris Eldagsen submitted an AI generated image called 'Pseudomnesia: The Electrician' into the Sony World Photography competition and was selected as one of the winners. He then rejected the award and sparked a debate about the use of AI in the industry.
Read more here: Sony World Photography Award 2023: Winner refuses award after revealing AI creation - BBC News