Reading a Photo

We all know you can read a book, but did you know you can “read” a photograph? Photos are packed with all kinds of information that you may not notice at first glance. Here are some questions to think about next time you are looking at an interesting photo from a magazine, a newspaper, or online.

• What is in the foreground of the photo? What about the background? How is the subject of the photo framed?

• What do you think happened the moment before this photo was taken? How about the moment after the photo was taken? Why did the photographer choose this particular moment to snap the photo?

• What choices did the photographer make about the angle, lighting, focus, etc.?

• Do you notice any patterns in the photo? Is there anything interesting about the location of people/objects in the photo?

• Imagine what was beyond the photo. What might the photographer have decided NOT to include in this photo?

• Do you think the photographer has an opinion or point of view that he or she is trying to communicate to the viewer? What message is the photographer trying to tell you?

You can also use these questions when looking at a painting or any other kind of image. Enjoy!