Analysing photographs

1. Category: Sports news.
Purpose: Illustrate a news story.
Meaning: To tell the story of Liverpool’s defeat to Oldham.
This image is one that falls under the category of sports news. It would most likely
be used in a newspaper report about the match as the picture has been taken with
the purpose of illustrating the news story, or in this case, accompany an article
about Liverpool’s defeat at the hands of lower league Oldham. When looking at
the image your eyes are immediately drawn to the centre block where the Oldham
players are, which is significant as it suggests they are the focal point of the image.
This point of Oldham’s players being the focus point of the image is further
reinforced by the fact that the photographer has used a shallow focus which places
Oldham’s players in focus whereas the Liverpool ones are out. Attention is directed
to the Oldham players as Liverpool’s players are out on the vertical edges of the
rule of thirds and out of focus compared to the centre placed and well in focus
Oldham players.
In terms of lighting the image is lit brightly by the artificial harsh lighting of the
floodlights, and this suits the image well as it is a football themed photograph. A
fast shutter speed would have been used by the photographer as there is no
motion blur in the photo, and during an event with as much movement as a
football game a fast shutter speed is important if you want to take motion blur free
photos.
The body language of all the subjects in the picture helps to distinguish who the
winners are and who the losers are. On one side we see players looking rather
embarrassed and frustrated with heads slumped down and shoulders hunched yet
on the opposing side we see the Oldham players appearing to have feelings of
sheer joy as they celebrate their victory against the bigger team.

2. Category: News.
Purpose: Illustrating the story of a newspaper article.
Meaning: To tell the story of a killing that took place outside of a night club.
When looking at this photo the viewers eyesight is almost immediately drawn to the
centre block of the image, which is where an open coffin is placed. As well as it
being located in the centre of the image it is also the part of the photo with the best
lighting, as elsewhere in the image shadows have formed.
Because of this the viewers eyesight is drawn out from the centre which frames the
people on either side of the photograph. The fact that the main point of the image
is a coffin is no surprise as after all this picture is an illustration for an article
reporting a killing outside of a night club. Another significant aspect of the photo is
the fact that the picture has been taken with a deep focus. This use of deep focus
means that everything in the picture is in focus and therefore visible. Not only are
all subjects in the picture visible as a result of the focus but also because of the
angle that it has been taken in, as the elevated angle provides a good vantage point
for us to observe the photo. The body language of the subjects in the photo is
rather casual, which could suggest that the presence of death is something that they
are used to, which could be a result of occupation or perhaps the area where they
live in may have a high crime rate,

3. Category: News/events.
Purpose : To illustrate the story of floods.
Meaning : To tell the story of the 2 photographed survivors.
In this photo the subjects are positioned along the left of centre which not only draws the
observers eyes to the subjects but also showcases the scale of the floods that have subdued
the home that they stand on. The body language of the two subjects is also an important
part of the image as we see them consoling each other after the devastation of the floods.
They are placed on the left vertical line, and the shot type is a long shot. The photographer
would of used a fast shutter speed in order to catch a cleaner image, which would be
necessary due to the movement in the photo, such as the water movement and trees being
blown in the wind, as well as the two subjects moving. By using a fast shutter speed motion
blur is drastically removed. The image is lit by natural lighting which reflects off the waters
surface.

4. Category: Paparazzi
Purpose: To show celebrities in real life.
Meaning: To show celebrities in real life.
In this paparazzi image the two subjects are positioned along the vertical line and
the left and right blocks of the rule of thirds. The positioning of the two subjects
has the effect of maintaining focus on the two celebrities and also making sure
that they are both in focus. Not only has the photographer aimed to keep the
subjects in clear visibility by positioning them in a certain way, but also by using a
deep focus. The use of the deep focus makes sure that everything in the picture is
visible, and because the techniques the photographer has used seem to suggest
that visibility for the subject

5. Category: Paparazzi
Purpose: To show celebrities in their daily life.
Meaning: To show celebrities in their daily life.
In this image of the two celebrities the subjects are
placed in the centre of the picture. Such positioning
of the subjects suggests that they are the main
focus point and that the photo more or less revolves
around them. . The subjects would have been
moving quickly in order to dodge the shots of the
paparazzi.
A fast shutter speed has been used on this
photograph because of how much the two subjects
would have been moving. If a slow shutter speed
was used there would be plenty of motion blur on
the final image. The image has been lit artificially by
the streetlights and flash of the paparazzi’s cameras.

6. Category: Fashion
Purpose: To showcase a new brand of clothing
Meaning: To advertise clothing
When taking this photograph the photographer has used a deep focus, a focus
that ensures that everything in the picture is in focus and visible. As this type of
focus has been used there is connotations that the model in the photo is not the
focus point of this image, which would make sense as the photographer would
want to also direct attention towards the clothes in the picture as it is a fashion
advertisement.
The photographer has also positioned the subject to the left side of the rule of
thirds, and because of this it does appear that she is not necessarily what the
photographer wants us to be looking at. The image has not been lit by studio
lights or any artificial lighting at all, as instead the image gets its lighting from
the sun, so the photo is naturally lit.
The subject in the photo is most probably a model, and one reason why this is
clear is because of the fact that this is an advertisement for a clothing company
and the company would have to have hired a model. Also, the body language of
the subject suggests that she is a model as she is posing for the camera. As this
has been taken outside it would have been practical for the photographer to use
a fast shutter speed due to the motion blur that would occur from the subjects
clothes blowing in the wind.

7. Category: Fashion
Purpose: To advertise clothing
Meaning: To advertise clothing
When the viewer looks at this photo his/her eyesight will immediately be drawn to the
face of the subject, and the fact that he is placed along the three central blocks means
that the viewer will then have their eye-line drawn to the rest of his body. Such
positioning of the subject connotes that he is the focal point of the photograph, which
would make sense considering he is the only person in the picture.
The image is lit by the lights used in the studio as this helps whoever is taking the
picture to land a cleaner image. As studio lights were used the image has been lit
artificially. In terms of shutter speed whoever was taking this photograph would have
used a fast shutter speed when taking this picture. This is because of the fact that the
model would have been moving around whilst the picture was being captured, so in
order to remove motion blur a fast shutter speed would be necessary.

8. Category: Album cover
Purpose: To illustrate the album
Meaning: To advertise the product
On this album cover the photographer has used different techniques with
the purpose of conveying the message that she is the focal point of the
picture. One of these techniques that they have used is a shallow focus.
This type of focus ensures that she is in focus and clear for everyone to see,
which almost suggests that it is necessary for us to see her clearly.
As well as the type of focus that has been used by the photographer the
way in which the subject has been photographed is also something that
suggests she is the main focal point, as the camera is zoomed in directly on
her face. As she takes up the whole cover it can be implied that she is who
the photographer is directing our attention towards.
After having our attention directed towards the main subject the next we
thing the viewer would look at would be the text positioned next to it
which reads ‘Jennifer Hudson Spotlight’. The text confirms that the woman
who in the picture acts as the main subject is in fact Jennifer Hudson.
In terms of shutter speed, a fast shutter speed would have been used, and
this is because due to the movement of the subject during the photo
taking process a fast shutter speed would need to be applied in order to
reduce motion blur in the final image. The lighting of the image would fall
under the category of artificial, because of the how the picture is
illuminated by studio lights.

9. Category: Health
Purpose: To promote hand sanitizer
Meaning: To promote hand sanitizer
In this picture the photographer has utilised the rule of
thirds to maintain focus on the fingers in the image, as
they are positioned in the centre part of the image. The
eyesight of the viewer is fixed onto the centre block that
consists of fingers. The image has been deliberately made
to appear disgusting to stress the importance of hand
sanitizer.
The photographer has used a shallow focus which blurs
out the rest of the image apart from the centre block,
and the use of this technique reinforces the fact that the
centre block is where the photographer wants us to be
looking.
As well as using the rule of thirds to imply what the main
focal point of the image is, the Photographer has also
used it to communicate key parts of the image. For
example, the bottom right corner of the image informs
the reader that the product being advertised is hand
sanitizer as that is where the slogan and logo of the
company is located.
A fast shutter speed would have been used by the
photographer when taking this picture, as this would
have to have been the case to eliminate motion blur.