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Photography is an extremely powerful visual artform that can cut through cultural and linguistic barriers and speak directly to the viewer in a way that the written word cannot. However, it’s not always clear exactly what a photographer is trying to convey and it can be confusing to try to translate the images into expressible meanings.
How Do You Go About Understanding a Photograph?
Each photographer has a unique practise and it’s this special perspective that makes the artform so popular even though it can be difficult to objectively interpret at times. Similarly, every person who sees a particular photo will have a different reaction and personal way of understanding it that will depend on their own experiences, history and point of view.
Nonetheless, there are certain ways that you can begin to decode the messages and meanings of a photograph which can be applied universally to any image you are looking at. You can explore how photographers use light, perspective, narrative structures and even the genre they work in, to start to unpack the meaning of their work.
What Are The Central Elements That Make Up the Language of Photography?
Photography can be understood as a form of visual language. This means that if you learn what the elements of that language are then you can begin to translate what the photographer is conveying through their images, even if you’re not familiar with their own personal intentions!
By being aware of how a photographer uses the visual language of photography you can start to unpack the meanings of their work with confidence. Each element of a photograph comes together to act in concordance to convey a message; and so it’s essential that you don’t interpret them in isolation. All aspects of the photo need to be considered before you can begin to understand the full depth of meaning that the photographer may have intended.
How To Understand What A Photograph Is Conveying – The Main Elements Explained.
The following are some of the ways you can understand the message.
The Subject of the Photograph.
The subject of a photo is always carefully chosen and is usually intended to be the central focus of the image; or at the very least, the fulcrum around which the meaning of the photo revolves.
Studying the subject of a photo will instantly give you some powerful clues as to what the photographer was intending and will provide you with a context in which to understand the rest of the image.
Many photographs contain a narrative structure in their composition and generally this narrative will refer, in some fashion, to the subject of the image. When you’re analyzing the subject you also need to take into account the way it was shot, the angles or perspectives that were used and how it fits together with the rest of the composition.
The Lighting.
One of the most important parts of any photo is the lighting – which is the primary way that a camera can capture the essence of the world around us. Understanding how the lighting can contribute to the overall mood, emotion and impact of a photo is a vital part of translating the meaning that the photographer was trying to convey to their audience.
For instance, is the lighting dramatic and deliberately highlighting certain features of the subject? Was the photo shot at sunset? If so, does the setting sun have a significance to the overall meaning of the photo? Or was the photo taken at night by moonlight? In this case, the photographer might be trying to convey a message about the haunting shadows of a moonlit night!
Contrast.
The contrast of a photograph sets the tone of the image. Contrast refers to the differences between the darkest and the lightest parts of the image. Depending on the style of contrast that is used in a photo it can either look drab and gloomy or, with stronger contrasts, powerfully dramatic. When a medium contrast is used, especially with bright lighting, the photo can feel cheerful and naturalistic.
A photographer will usually use strong contrasts to create a highly impactful image that aims to grab the attention of the viewer whereas softer contrasts are much more subtle and might be seeking to create a more thoughtfully calm image. When you’re trying to understand what a photograph means you should always be cognizant of the contrast which can give you valuable clues as to the overall message of the image.
Perspectives and Point of View.
The perspective, or point of view, that the photographer has chosen to use to capture their subject can tell you a lot about what they are trying to convey. If the photo is taken from a natural height it can put you into the shoes of the photographer, allowing you to see the subject as they did. This technique also gives the audience a stronger connection to the subject of the photo which can be used to create a feeling of intimacy.
Alternatively, if the photo is taken from below, at an upward angle, the subject can look imposing and dominant while making the viewer feel insignificant. Similarly, if the photo is taken from above, by using a crane for instance, it gives the viewer a birds eye view of the subject or scene and might be intended to make the viewer feel superior or separated from the image.
The different perspectives and points of view that a photographer may use are deeply ingrained in us all on a deep subconscious level. We all know instinctively how it feels to be superior or inferior to the world around us and so photographers will often make use of this to convey a particular meaning in their work.
The Moment Itself.
The precise moment that the photograph was taken is central to understanding what is being conveyed. This is especially true when the image involves a scene with action in it. The moment that was chosen for the photo immediately conveys something about the overall narrative of the image.
For example, if a photographer were taking a photo of an athlete doing a long jump at the race track the meaning of the photo would be very different depending on whether the moment captured were at the beginning or the end of the jump. If the photo was taken as the athlete is just beginning to jump it would create a feeling of tension in the viewer who wouldn’t know how the jump will end or how far the athlete would get! On the other hand, if the photo were taken as the athlete landed in the sand it might convey a feeling of completion, satisfaction and a job well done after hard training!
Or, think about the difference between a photo of a bride getting ready before a wedding and the bride and groom walking out of the church with their friends and family celebrating around them. The difference between the two moments is huge and is vital to consider when you’re analysing a photo to understand its meaning.
The most powerful photos are always taken at the exact right moment – down to the split second! When a photographer captures the perfect moment in a photo it conveys a huge amount to the viewer! Sometimes the moment has quite a subtle effect on the message being conveyed whereas at other times it is absolutely central to the photo; so you’ll have to use your intuition to establish how important it is to narrative and meaning of the image.
Composition.
How has the photo been composed and what does it tell you about the subject, the relationship between the photographer and their subject and how are you, as the viewer, related to the image? The framing and composition of an image will set the entire scene for the rest of the elements to work within and so must always be taken into account when determining what the photo is trying to convey.
Composition includes the way that the elements of the image have been arranged in the photo. The relationship between these objects can tell a powerful story and you need to be aware of how to interpret this. In many cases the photographer has arranged the elements of the image, or captured them in real life, in a particular way to lead your eye though the image. Where the image leads your eye is an important part of the message that the photo is trying to convey so you should always be aware of this and the way that the photo has been composed.
The Colors of the Photo.
Colors play a huge role in the way that we naturally translate visual messages around us. For example, we all know instinctively that the color red is a warning sign for danger. This is actually an evolutionary adaptation that occurred in humans that stopped us eating poisonous fruits in the wild!
However, our understanding of color has become a lot more sophisticated since our early history! Today, a warm color palette in a photo can be a sign that it’s a cheery and joyful image whereas cooler colors can be haunting, sombre or melancholy.
A good photographer can make use of our relationship with colors and use them to great effect in their photos. Colors that are complementary or contrasting can also be a powerful tool in the arsenal of a photographer and are often used to convey meaning to their audience. Colors that are complementary can give the viewer a feeling of harmony while contrasting colors can create intense feelings of conflict or change.
The Story or Narrative.
All of the elements of a photo come together to build the complete narrative of the image. It’s the narrative of an image that ties all the other elements together and gives the image a message that is conveyed to the viewer as a completed whole.
Of course, each individual element of the photo is important when you are trying to discover the message that the image is trying to convey but to understand the deeper meaning of the photo you need to be able to think of them together in their totality.
The narrative of a photo is similar to that of a written sentence. Each word in the sentence has a meaning of its own that is distinct from the overall sentence. However, when you put all the words together in a sentence they still keep their original meanings but they also take on a larger meaning in the overall narrative, or story, of the sentence!
The elements of a photo work in the same way as the words in a sentence. All the elements work together to build the larger narrative of the photo. It’s absolutely essential to be aware of this when you are trying to understand the meaning or message that the photo is trying to convey.
Understanding a Photograph – Grasping the Visual Message.
When you consider all the separate elements of a photo and then tie them together using the overall narrative of the image you can quickly begin to understand what is being conveyed. On one level, you need to use your intuition and common sense to figure this out but you also need to use your technical knowledge of photography and the techniques involved in its creation.
Every photo tells a story and has a message to convey – even if it’s simply to appreciate an object for its own sake! You could even say that a picture ‘tells a thousand words’, as the old saying goes, and once you begin to look at photos in this way you’ll find a whole new world of appreciation and understanding open up for you.
Is there a particular way you go about understanding the message?
Gallery: Please visit the gallery to view images in full size. From the gallery, you will be able to add the images to the shopping cart and checkout. YouTube: I have a YouTube Channel (Hari PHL) where I post videos once a week. Please subscribe to my channel and share my videos. I appreciate your support. Thank you for visiting my site.
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