Analyzing ImagesAnalyzing Images

Analyzing images is similar to reading Analyzing images is similar to reading verbal text. Images have a structure, verbal text. Images have a structure, sometimes even a narrative quality. sometimes even a narrative quality. Whenever we attempt to make sense of Whenever we attempt to make sense of what we see, we usually observe what we see, we usually observe similarities and differences and similarities and differences and establish relationships with other establish relationships with other things that we know. In other words, things that we know. In other words, we try to understand the language of we try to understand the language of visual texts – sometimes without even visual texts – sometimes without even knowing it.knowing it.

Talking about images requires that Talking about images requires that we be more observant, more willing we be more observant, more willing to experience what we see, and then to experience what we see, and then take the time to analyze using a take the time to analyze using a method and a language designed method and a language designed specifically for visual learning. specifically for visual learning.

Once you have this vocabulary, you Once you have this vocabulary, you have a common language to use to have a common language to use to talk -- and ultimately write – about talk -- and ultimately write – about images.images.

We will explore the following terms:We will explore the following terms:

Focal PointFocal Point Narration or StoryNarration or Story Use of colorUse of color

If you focus your vision on the small dot at the center of If you focus your vision on the small dot at the center of the rings in the figure below, and move your head the rings in the figure below, and move your head

alternately toward and away from the picture, the rings alternately toward and away from the picture, the rings of symbols appear to rotate slightly in opposite of symbols appear to rotate slightly in opposite

directions. directions.

Focal Point and Focal Point and EmphasisEmphasis

Usually there is at least one central Usually there is at least one central figure in an image – often called a figure in an image – often called a

focal pointfocal point

This is the spot where your eye This is the spot where your eye immediately goes when viewing an imageimmediately goes when viewing an image

The preceding image used the focal point The preceding image used the focal point to create the desired effect. to create the desired effect.

What about the following What about the following image?image?

For most people, their eye will be For most people, their eye will be drawn to the red dot in the middle, drawn to the red dot in the middle, almost like a magnet. It’s the focal almost like a magnet. It’s the focal point of the image.point of the image.

Now, look at it again:Now, look at it again:

How many red dots do you How many red dots do you remember?remember?

How many black dots do you How many black dots do you remember?remember?

You may remember there is only 1 red dot, You may remember there is only 1 red dot, but not that there are 48 black ones. The but not that there are 48 black ones. The

reason is that human beings tend to reason is that human beings tend to remember what is different, unusual or remember what is different, unusual or

unexpected.unexpected.

The next image depends upon The next image depends upon focal point. What do you see focal point. What do you see first?first?

How is color used? How is color used?

What is the narrative of the What is the narrative of the image?image?

Now look at the following Now look at the following photograph. What is the photograph. What is the focal focal pointpoint? ?

Sharbat Gula was one of the students in an informal school within a Sharbat Gula was one of the students in an informal school within a refugee camp. National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry, refugee camp. National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry, rarely given the opportunity to photograph Afghan women, seized the rarely given the opportunity to photograph Afghan women, seized the opportunity and captured her image. She was approximately 12 years opportunity and captured her image. She was approximately 12 years old at the time. She made it on the cover of National Geographic the old at the time. She made it on the cover of National Geographic the next year, and her identity was discovered in 1992.next year, and her identity was discovered in 1992.

What else is in this What else is in this photo?photo?

How is color used in this How is color used in this photo?photo?

Now look at the following Now look at the following photograph. What is the photograph. What is the focal focal pointpoint? ?

What else is in the What else is in the photo?photo?

What else is in the What else is in the photo?photo?

The photo is the Pulitzer Prize winning photo taken in 1994 during The photo is the Pulitzer Prize winning photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan famine. The picture depicts stricken child crawling the Sudan famine. The picture depicts stricken child crawling towards an united nations food camp, located a kilometer away. towards an united nations food camp, located a kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat him. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat him. This picture shocked the whole world. No one knows what This picture shocked the whole world. No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer Kevin Carter happened to the child, including the photographer Kevin Carter who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken.who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken.

Every photo should tell a story. We Every photo should tell a story. We call this the call this the narrative narrative of the image. of the image. What is the story of the following What is the story of the following photo? What is the focal point?photo? What is the focal point?

Today we break a little the site’s pattern showing you not a photo but an Today we break a little the site’s pattern showing you not a photo but an image captured from a film showing the Palestinian father, Jamil ad-image captured from a film showing the Palestinian father, Jamil ad-Durra, trying to protect his son from Israeli gunfire moments before the Durra, trying to protect his son from Israeli gunfire moments before the boy was shot dead, the father wounded and a Palestinian ambulance boy was shot dead, the father wounded and a Palestinian ambulance driver who came to rescue them, also killed. driver who came to rescue them, also killed.

Reporters watched helplessly as the boy and his father became trapped Reporters watched helplessly as the boy and his father became trapped against a wall with nothing but a small concrete block for cover as bullets against a wall with nothing but a small concrete block for cover as bullets rained around them on a road near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim in rained around them on a road near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip. Mohammed crouched weeping behind his father, who the Gaza Strip. Mohammed crouched weeping behind his father, who tried in vain to shield him with his arms and body. At one point, the tried in vain to shield him with his arms and body. At one point, the father raised his head and wagged his finger, as if to scold. Some time father raised his head and wagged his finger, as if to scold. Some time later, both were shot and Mohammed slumped into his father’s lap.later, both were shot and Mohammed slumped into his father’s lap.

Mohammed died, while his father survived badly wounded. An ambulance Mohammed died, while his father survived badly wounded. An ambulance driver, who braved the fierce shooting to try to rescue them, also killed. driver, who braved the fierce shooting to try to rescue them, also killed.

What is the focal point and narrative What is the focal point and narrative of the following photo?of the following photo?

June 11, 1963, Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk from June 11, 1963, Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk from Vietnam, burned himself to death at a busy Vietnam, burned himself to death at a busy intersection in downtown Saigon to bring attention to intersection in downtown Saigon to bring attention to the repressive policies of the Catholic Diem regime the repressive policies of the Catholic Diem regime that controlled the South Vietnamese government at that controlled the South Vietnamese government at the time. Buddhist monks asked the regime to lift its the time. Buddhist monks asked the regime to lift its ban on flying the traditional Buddhist flag, to grant ban on flying the traditional Buddhist flag, to grant Buddhism the same rights as Catholicism, to stop Buddhism the same rights as Catholicism, to stop detaining Buddhists and to give Buddhist monks and detaining Buddhists and to give Buddhist monks and nuns the right to practice and spread their religion. nuns the right to practice and spread their religion.

While burning Thich Quang Duc never moved a muscle.While burning Thich Quang Duc never moved a muscle.

What is the focal point and narrative What is the focal point and narrative of the following photo?of the following photo?

This is the picture of a student who tries to stop the This is the picture of a student who tries to stop the tanks in Tiananmen Square standing in front of them. tanks in Tiananmen Square standing in front of them. The tank driver didn’t crush the man with the bags The tank driver didn’t crush the man with the bags but shortly after, the square filled with blood. The but shortly after, the square filled with blood. The photo showed the Chinese that there is hope. photo showed the Chinese that there is hope. However, China is still controlled by a Communist However, China is still controlled by a Communist regime.regime.

What is the focal point and narrative What is the focal point and narrative of the following photo?of the following photo?

On July 22, 1975, photographer Stanley J. Forman working for On July 22, 1975, photographer Stanley J. Forman working for the Boston Herald American newspaper when a police the Boston Herald American newspaper when a police scanner picked up an emergency: “Fire on Marlborough scanner picked up an emergency: “Fire on Marlborough Street!” After he climbed on a the fire truck, Forman shot the Street!” After he climbed on a the fire truck, Forman shot the picture of a young woman, Diana Bryant, and a very young picture of a young woman, Diana Bryant, and a very young girl, Tiare Jones when they fell helplessly. Diana Bryant was girl, Tiare Jones when they fell helplessly. Diana Bryant was pronounced dead at the scene. The young girl lived. Despite pronounced dead at the scene. The young girl lived. Despite a heroic effort, the fireman who tried to grab them had been a heroic effort, the fireman who tried to grab them had been just seconds away from saving the lives of both. just seconds away from saving the lives of both.

Photo coverage from the tragic event garnered Stanley Forman Photo coverage from the tragic event garnered Stanley Forman a Pulitzer Prize. But more important, his work paved the way a Pulitzer Prize. But more important, his work paved the way for Boston and other states to mandate tougher fire safety for Boston and other states to mandate tougher fire safety codes.codes.