Describing Photographs

By Márcia Elena Schaedler 

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

Using accurate descriptive language to describe a photograph allows the deepest interpretations and most accurate assessment of the work. This exercise is designed to guide you in one way of talking about photographic images. You may work with a partner or individually on the questions. Select 7 if the 10 images to respond to. Make sure you identify the image(s) you are addressing.


Describing the scene:

The photo was taken (if known) in ___ (place)/ at ___ (event)

It's an image of ___ (place, person, scene).

Describe the scene ___ .

In the picture you can see ___


*In position ___  there is/are ___

*In position ___  there is/are ___

*In position ___  there is/are ___

*Possible Positions
Foreground
Midground 
Background
In the upper part 
In the lower part
On the right 
On the left
In the middle 
From front to back
From behind 
From above 
From below
From left/right



Impressions of the Scene

The people ( the objects) look as if they ___

The viewer's attention is focused on ___

The photo is vivid / dark / expressive/...

The photo makes us feel ___ (sad/happy/...)

The picture makes us think about ___

It looks like___

The photographer mainly uses ___ (colors/forms/…)

The photographer uses ___ to express ___

He/She (probably) wants to criticize/express/show ___

It seems/appears to me that ___


Assignment:

Describe each of the photographs below using the guiding sentences above as a starting point. 

Feel free to add to or expand on those ideas. Post the answers on your Blog. If working with a partner, post them on each persons Blog.

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/

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