How to Look at a Photograph? The operative words are "look at." In this context look at is much more than glancing. Look at means seeing, and, unfortunately, seeing takes time, and these days we are busy and don't have much time. Nonetheless, it takes time to thoroughly look at a photograph in order to properly see a photograph.

 

Seeing requires a methodology, a procedure, a way of careful looking, a systematic approach, a thorough examination. This means looking from top to bottom, from left to right, from corner to corner and from edge to edge. 

 

Here are some factors we should consider as we look at a photograph, not listed in any order of priority. 

 

Eye Movement

Balance/imbalance

Harmony

Color

Tone

Contrast

Rhythm

Placement

Spacing

Separation

Flaws

Exposure

Light

Dominance

Mood, feeling, emotion, mystery

Story telling

Composition

Craftsmanship

Creativity

Content

Total presentation

 

The careful viewer must ask a series of questions regarding these factors. Do they provide a positive or negative contribution to the photograph? How do they vary in importance? How did the photographer use the picture space? Where did the photographer place his/her choices? Is the photograph ordinary, less than ordinary, or better than ordinary? Can I articulate why this photograph works or does not work? Have I not only looked at the photograph, have I also looked into the photograph?

 

Today we are inundated with a tsunami of photographs, most of them technically correct thanks to amazing modern technology. At best we can only skim the surface as we glance from image to image and that is okay in most instances. But what about our photographs? How do we evaluate and learn from our photographs and the photographs of others so we can improve as a photographer? That is when looking becomes seeing, and seeing becomes analysis, and analysis becomes improvement.

 

Joseph Miller

furnfoto@aol.com