Photographs and Images
The key question has to be: which category does the photo fit into?
· Accurate spontaneous record.
· Staged record of an even (after the fact)
·
Staged record of an event that did not happen that way.
Staged record of an event that never happened.
How to Analyze a Photograph
·
You start by analyzing the photograph in exactly the same way as you
would for a written source. First ask the 5 “w” and one “h” questions (What?
When? Where? Who? Why? And How?). Then apply these questions:
·
Look more closely at who is in he photograph:
o
Are they old, young, male, female, of similar backgrounds and so on?
o
Look at their facial expressions and how they are interacting. Can you
suggest how they might be feeling or the attitudes they might have?
o
If the photograph leaves out certain people, for example, if it only
includes men, is there a reason for this?
·
Does the photograph show a natural situation or is it posed? How have
the people been arranged? Does this reflect anything about their relationships?
·
Is there any sign that the photograph has been altered in any way? If it
has been altered, how and for what purpose?
·
What limitations do photographs have as historical evidence?