Reflection Time

Hola!

I turned in my photography project today, and I plan on posting about it this weekend. Until then, here is a reflection for you all to enjoy (because I know you enjoy reading them so much):


//James Brooke Reflection//

Brooke discusses how to look and reflect on a photograph as a viewer. There are several steps a viewer must go through to completely analyze a photograph. Brooke states these steps as the following: description, formal analysis, interpretation, and then evaluation. Within each step are suggestions as to how the viewer should go about each step of the process.

The description of the photo forces viewers to come to conclusions about the photograph. Viewers must look at what is in the picture. Things like the content, the pictorial details, and the psychological/historical aspects of the picture. Viewers must not overlook any details. It is also important to pay attention to the lines, planes, volumes, and tones, or the items that make up the form.

Next, viewers can begin the formal analysis of the picture. The formal analysis is tying together some of the facts gathered from the description. For instance, viewers look for parallels, repetition, and rhythms. Rhythm is a source of pleasure in a photograph, and rhythm aids in unifying a composition. Contrasts are also something to search the photograph for.  The contrast in a picture can be formal or conceptual. While looking for contrasts, the photograph’s sense of balance will be obvious to viewers. Searching for the balance in something is a psychological need. The loss of balance is frightening; however, the photographer might intend the loss of balance.

The interpretation is an important step in the process. This is where the viewer determines what the photograph has to say, or the statement of the photograph. The statement can be specific or universal. It can be about specific things shown in the picture or the statement might encompass a broader message. Symbolism is a way of figuring out how many levels of meaning exist in the photograph. The viewers should not consider every element of the picture to be a symbol. There should be solid evidence that a higher meaning exists when it comes to symbolism.

The last step is the evaluation of the photograph. Viewers must judge or evaluate the picture based on photographic standards. A good way to go about evaluating a photograph is by asking questions. Should the central character be gazing at the viewer? Or would the picture be more effective if the central character was gazing in a different direction? Viewers should not confuse what they would want displayed in their house with photographic standards.

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