Photography Analysis

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Photographs have become extremely common in today’s society. Photographs are employed in various forms of media from advertisements, articles, and even memes. Noteworthy, photographs are not just used to capture special moments in time, they have an intended meaning on their audience. When we look at photographs, we see the surface meaning but photographs carry a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. Photographers just like musicians, writers, and artists use a particular set of rules to communicate their meaning. As the saying goes, photographs are stories of a thousand words; they might mean one thing on the surface level but mean another thing upon closer examination. This essay provides an analysis of photographs that best represent our world today using the principles of description.

Source: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/protesters-march-from-at-jubilee-christian-church-saturday-news-photo/1228122152The photograph above embodies current times mainly because of the message it communicates to the audience. The photograph is based on the concept of systemic racism and oppression against people of color. Although the problem of racism has always existed in society, the matter is more alive right now with people realizing the need to do whatever it takes including demonstrations to ensure their rights are upheld. The photo was taken by Getty Images Inc., a British-American visual company. The photograph is illustrative and conceptual. In the photography, there is a multitude of people (black, and mixed) holding protest signs such as posters bearing messages they intend to pass across. Noteworthy, the protesters have themed items such as t-shirts also intended to help pass their message across. They are all dressed in black colored t-shirts and they also have face masks. This is an indication that the photo was taken recently after the emergence of the coronavirus. Moreover, one can tell that the peaceful demonstrations took place in the city streets and during the day as evidenced by the huge buildings, vehicles, and trees in the background. The photo was taken in landscape form. The photo was also taken from a high angle as the subjects appear to be smaller than usual. The multitude of people is the main focus of the photograph; it captures nearly all protesters. This is a wide shot; it accommodated a lot of aspects that speak volumes about the overall message on racism. With regards to lighting, the subject is well lit hence the clarity and openness. Although the audience can only see a portion of the subjects, it is evident that the photographer employed an angle that captured a majority of the subjects. The subjects are rarely looking at the camera as they are busy going about the protests. They seem angered and serious but at the same time calm. This photography is a perfect demonstration of modern times as it shows the way people are willing to put their lives at risk to call out on injustice and address a social issue that is eating into society.

Source: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/amsterdam-canal-parade-royalty-free-image/458674277The photograph above depicts an event of the Pride month which is globally celebrated by people who identify as gay, lesbians, bisexual, transgender, and intersex. The photo embodies current times as it is themed about a social issue in the current society that is surrounded by controversy and evokes mixed feelings among different audiences. The photograph shows two groups of people spectators who are sited on the quay enjoying as boats pass by and the members of the gay parade who are seen entertaining the spectators. The photo was taken from a high angle which makes it easy to capture most if not all people. The individual in the parade are men who have cross-dressed, in dresses, and have wigs and makeup. Additionally, they are dressed in brightly colored clothes including pink, blue, yellow, and orange; others have rollers on their wigs. There seems to be communication between spectators and the entertainers; spectators are even taking photos of the entertainers. The photo is well lit with the subject being the drag queens and the audience. The subjects seem to be in a happy and merry mood. The photograph was taken in landscape form. This photo embodies current times because of the issue it seeks to address. LGBT issues have been at the center of discourse across the world and they seem to evoke different emotions in people. The purpose of LGBT Pride Month is to celebrate and recognize the impact of LGBT issues in the world.

Conclusion

Photographs are used to pass across various messages by the person taking the photo. At face value, photographs are meant to capture moments in time but deeper analysis reveals that photographs have a deeper meaning. The photograph with a multitude of protesters captured a moment of people taking to the streets to protest against systemic racism and inequality in society while the second photograph captured LGBT Pride Day celebrations. Both photographs were used to capture historic moments and to communicate specific messages to audiences.