A viewers guid to looking at Photos summary

The goal that one must have for analyzing photos would be to understand them and gain insight from them. Take the time, appreciate them, keep out all prejudices.There are 4 steps to analyzing the first is description. Describe everything as neutrally as possible and keep opinions out. Make sure you don’t miss part of the picture! Also make sure you get the details what forms and lines are in the picture, color structure, relationship that things have in the picture with each other, shape of the photo, texture, perspective, motion, mood, space, lights and shadows, quality of edges, time, quality of photo, and harmonious color. Ask yourself what way your eye travels through the photo? the next step is formal analysis. Still without passing any judgments have a interpretive tying together of these facts: geometric shapes, parallels or repetition, theme, contrast, over all composition and balance. The third step is to put the photograph into interpretation. Making no judgments but asking the question “why”. Look at symbols, straight forward, trying to say something specific, feelings involved, what does the photo remind you of, what is the picture really about, is it important because of the subject or the treatment of the subject, what is the photographers statement to the relationship of the photo. Lastly in the evaluation ask yourself what standards should it be evaluated, is the most important at the top and not important at the bottom, how original is the statement. If the following questions can be answered about the photo it will be enhanced: do other photos from this person have the same theme, quality, history, or position? This guide to looking at photography has some very good points. Descriptions to pictures are always required so that the viewer will be able to understand the picture and pick out the small details with the aid of the description. When they say not to pass any judgments in the formal analysis and in the interpretations I highly agree with that because a person should keep an open mind when first looking at a work of art. Take the facts and why and how it makes you feel and then when you evaluate the picture at the end you are able to form an opinion with the art work.