Learning Methods of Visual Analysis

As we learn to analyze works of photography, we will write descriptions, formal analyses and reflections. Much of the expertise and advice we will refer to originates from (lesson plans from) the J.Paul Getty Museum of Art in Los Angeles. Let's start by taking a look at Alexander Garner's photograph of Lincoln on the Battlefield of Antietim. There are three parts to our visual analysis: description, formal analysis and reflection.

Descriptions are pretty basic. A description is objective. Descriptions typically begin with the just the facts about the the subject matter. You would ask yourself: what do I see? who do I see? how are they standing? what are they wearing? what is around them?

Formal Analysis is much more involved. Now we will scrutinze our image according to The Elements and  Principles of Composition. Using this language, we will look at our image and determine which elements are most pronounced.

Unlike the descriptions and formal analysis, the reflection that we see in an image may be unique to the individual. The reflection is the overall tone or mood of the image.

Click here for some of the images we will examine a little more closely.