'A Viewers' Reflection

A viewer’s guide to LOOKING AT PHOTOGRAPHS

1. Understanding Photographs to gain insight and pleasure

1. Enough time to make analysis

1. simplest photos can not be analyzed in less than 5 min
2. Could take up to days or weeks for full appreciation

1. Free mind of prejudices (good or bad)

1. all aspects of photograph 

1. most difficult part of analysis

1. four steps of analysis: 

2. Description

1. whatever is in the photo: physical, psychological, etc
2. The subject matter ex lines and color structure location And relationships between a&b
3. shape of photo, textures, perspective, motion of subject, mood,space, lights and shadows, (quality; sharp,blurred, fogged, or grainy), reality or nonfiction, exotic or common, (time, place, locale-definite or indefinite), (known or unknown b/c its hidden or blurred), and rout of eye.
4. formal analysis aka facts
1. what shapes in parts and overall composition are used? Are they repeated?, What are the repetitions and parallels?, variations on a theme, contrasts? is photo enhanced? what is balanced? and it is achieved and appropriate? Is the photo united, if so what is the feature of the unity?
5. Evaluation

1. Interpretation
1. Specific or Universal
1. Universals can be abstractions
2. Is there something specific or is there a broader message
2. Symbolism
1. Should stand for exactly was is seen or there needs to be solid evidence that a higher or broader meaning exists in the picture 
3. Manner of Statement
1. Modern times prefer subtle approach, opposed not obvious
2. Picasso chose a violent, slashing, deadly technique in his painting Guernica
3. Death is hard to approach effective and subtly
4. Answer what manner did the photographer choose to make his statement? 
4. Feelings
1. Vision, emotion, and intellect
2. ambiguous appeals to sense of mystery
3. Humor is obvious 
4. some are tactile: rough bark, smooth, cool rocks
5. pity, love, admiration, joy etc.
6. Bring to foreground, so you are conscious of the appeal of the photograph
5. Metaphor
1. What does this photo evoke about your own life?
2. Find object metaphor not subjective so its a personal reaction to the photo
3. requires a relaxed, inquisitive and sensitive approach
1. subconscious needs to be relaxed so uncover their clues, and eyes need to dream of forms and lines, tones and colors like those in the photograph
2. nothing might come and that is ok
6. Meaning
1. Its not a literal answer, but can be so broad or farout that it is meaningless
2. make broadest statement possible about pic consistent with what the pic offers
3. needs to have real evidence
4. Meant to categorize photos into sensory, tangible, conceptual, and miscellaneous

1. Subject Matter
1. whether the appeal of a photo stems from sub matter or the manner of picturing the subject is the question
2. nothing might be added by the photographer
2. Photographer’s Viewpoint
1. Their relationship with the subject; ironic, sympathetic, objective, sardonic...?
2. comes through the photographs

1. Evaluation

1. Pick the right standards to judge it by, for what it is and around the broader ground of photography in general.

1. When looking at portraits we are confronted with questions to consider
2. These questions come from a variety of places ie. museum that bases off of history
3. The questions deal with all the matters of the subject, hair, expression, clothes, etc
4. These  should all fall in place one the  standard is set
5. The last question: will this photo live should encompass the rest of the answers
1. There is room for all photographs
1. Abstract photographs can offer just as much interesting conclusions as any other kind, so keep an open mind if you personally prefer realistic ones.
2. Dont judge a photo by whether or not you would hang it in your house
1. The sistine Chapel by Michealangelo is considered a great piece of art but critics dont want it to be their houses. 

1. This process set by the authorities of photography to give aid to understanding pictures. They should help viewers make educated assumptions about the characteristics of a photo. Once all the steps are complete the viewer should be thoroughly equipped to decide whether or not the photograph is significant. It teaches you what to look at when looking at a picture so your able to enjoy photography no matter what skill level.