Photographs and Images

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?