Tag Archives: photographs

Picture observation image #1

Posted on by
1
  1. The image is taken in 1898,Afternoon because there is a glare probably caused by sun, the season seems to be fall.
  2. It is a urban area some city, black and white picture
  3. 9 women in the picture , 3 behind the counter and rest are probably customers.
  4. The store has  embroidery material.
  5. There are seats in the left of the picture.
  6. The photographer took the picture from the entrance of the store, probably took the picture to show how the women run the store.
  7. They are dressed the same and all are dressed formal and elegant.
  8. The facial expression are not clear but i think they are happy shopping or running a store.
  9. I think the purpose of the image is to show the massage that women can run a business too since this time were when women were not considered equal as men.

 

Reading an image: observations and interpretations

Posted on by
Reply

Observations and interpretations:

  • families of different race or color
  • family of 2, Hacidic family, based on his appearance (hair, clothing), one family dressed well, formal clothing: hat, coat, suit, dress, in control of his stance, maybe looking at the photographer
  • they have 2 air conditioners
  • the other is not, everyday clothes: overalls, jeans, T-shirts
  • they have the door open–no AC–so we can interpret to mean they can’t afford it?
  • family of 7, African-American family:graffiti, broken ledge–post missing on one side; dog? paint chipping, father’s arm around child=affection
  • one family is looking at the other family–is it a disapproving look? unhappy?
  • class, race, rank, respect–all interpretations

What kinds of things are we looking for when we read an image?

  • who is in the photo, what do they look like, where are they looking
  • time: year, era, season, time of day
  • setting: urban/rural, indoor/outdoor, landscape, buildings, etc
  • how the photos are taken: effects such as b/w or sepia, saturation of colors
  • who and where the photographer is, why they took the photo
  • the frame, limitations
  • background/foreground
  • light
  • who is the audience, purpose, message

Reading Images

Posted on by
4

For homework, I ask that you describe one of the photos posted on our blog. Please write a blog post offering a description of one of these photographs.

Photo 1:

A.I. Namm & Sons Department Store, Boerum Hill, ca. 1898, V1972.1.743; Photography Collection; Brooklyn Historical Society

Photo 2:

Three picnicking ladies, ca. 1899, 2010.023.61; 141 Quincy Street photograph album; 2010.023; Brooklyn Historical Society.