Name:
________________________________________________________
Understanding History Through Photography
WhatÕs in a Picture?
THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography is the art or process
used to create photographs or other visual images. Like other arts, photography
involves both simple and complex elements. Understanding the basic elements of
photography helps you take better photos and develop an eye for evaluating
them.
Some of the basic elements
of photography are:
á
Subject
á
Composition
á
Point
of Interest
á
Contrast
á
Background
á
Foreground
USING THE BASIC ELEMENTS TO STUDY PHOTOS:
Developing an eye for
looking at photographs requires an understanding of how certain elements are
used to create an image. Asking questions about these elements will increase
your understanding of the photograph and the story it tells. The following
chart defines each of the basic elements of photography. It also lists
questions you can use when looking at a photograph to deepen your understanding
of it.
|
Element |
Questions |
|
Subject: that which is shown in a photograph |
á
What is the photograph
about? á
What is shown in the
photo? á
Is it a photo of a
person, place, or thing? á
What story does the
photo tell? á
Is the photo a
portrait? á
Is the photo posed or
candid? |
|
Composition: the placement of objects within a frame of the photo |
á
Where are objects
placed in the photo? á
How is the subject
arranged? á
What is the relationship
of objects to each other? á
What is emphasized or
highlighted in the photo? |
|
Point of Interest: the primary point, or area, of interest of the
photograph |
á
What is the central
focus of the photograph? á
What area of the photograph
is the most important? á
Is the subject in the
center of the photo or off-center? |
|
Contrast: the difference in brightness between light and dark |
á
Is the subject light
or dark? á
What areas are light? á
What areas are dark? á
What areas are in shadows? á
How is contrast used
to make area stand out? |
|
Background: the area of the photo that was far from the camera Foreground: the area of the photo that was close to the camera |
á
What objects are in
the foreground? á
What objects are in the
background? á
What part of the photo
is the center of interest in? á
Is the center of
interest larger or smaller than objects in the background? á
Is the background
distinct or blurred? á
Is the foreground
distinct or blurred? á
How would the picture
change if the foreground and background were switched? á
How do the objects in
the background add to the story of the subject? |
Assignment:
Part 1: Does Every Picture Tell a Story?
What stories do historical photographs tell? How can we learn about the past by studying old photographs? In this project, you will study historical photographs and examine them according to basic elements of photography. You will then select photographs that meet certain requirements and assemble them in a photographic portfolio.
Browse through the photographs on WWI. As you browse through the photographs, ask yourself the following questions:
- What did the photographer want the photograph to communicate?
- How did the photographer use the elements of photography to create the photograph?
- Why did the photographer select this subject to photograph?
- Why did the photographer photograph the subject in a particular way?
- What is my reaction to this photograph?
- What would I like to know about the people or objects shown in the photograph?
- What have I learned about the past from this photograph?
As you view the photographs, watch for ones that fit the descriptions given in the following list, ÒSelect a Photograph That . . .Ó Answer the questions above for each photo. Paste a copy of the photographs in the documents available on the website, label them with the information provided on the database (year, description, and any other information given). Print out your portfolio and staple (there should be 12 pages).
Click for EXAMPLE
PHOTO Collections:
á
WWI
photograph albums and postcards
Searching for WWI Photos on
google:
á
Make sure you put ÒWorld
War IÓ in quotes
á
Check also WWI
á
Add a topic. For
example: Òworld war IÓ tanks
Tips for inserting a
picture:
á
Drag into document.
á
Double click picture.
á
Choose layout
á
ÒSquareÓ picture
á
Now you can move the
picture around your text and make it smaller to fit
Click here to print out and
download worksheet with questions below.
SELECT A PHOTOGRAPH THAT . . .
1. Uses a person or event to make the photo interesting.
2. Uses an object as the subject.
3. Uses a building as the point of interest?
4. Uses a person as the point of interest.
5. Uses contrast to make details stand out.
6. Has no one object or area that dominates the photo.
7. Blurs the background to make the subject stand out.
8. Uses the background to add to the subject.
9. Shows the subject off-center.
10.Records a historical event.
11.Shows a happy event.
12.Shows a sad event.