Research and Analysis You don’t have to use this template, but you should still How to Research

t you should still How to Research &

Name of Photographer:
Additional information about the picture:
Analysis: Content & Form
Describe what the photograph shows
you. What is in the picture?
Colour – What are the dominant
colours? How has the colour has been
used – i.e. is it saturated, muted, tinted,
cinematic etc?
Line: Are there objects in the
photograph that act as lines? Are they
straight, curvy, thin, thick? Do the lines
create direction in the photograph? Do
they outline? Do they show energy or
movement?
Shape: Do you see geometric or organic
shapes? What are they? How do they
relate to one another?
Space: Is there depth to the photograph
or does it seem shallow? What creates
this appearance? Are there important
negative spaces in addition to positive
spaces? Is there depth created by special
illusions?
answer the questions posed within it Analyse a photograph
Analysis: Process Analysis: Lighting
What is the lighting like?
How was the photograph was taken? Has the picture been taken using a film camera
or a digital camera? Have any parts of it been manipulated or changed by the High contrast or low contrast?
photographer?
Where is the light coming from?
Has the photograph been staged, posed or is it candid/natural?
Is there one (or more) source(s) of light?
Has the photograph been taken during the daytime, in a studio, at night time or at
Is the lighting natural, studio light, or from another
twilight (just before it gets dark)?
artificial light source (e.g. a street light)?
What depth of field has been used – is it shallow or deep? What is the effect, i.e. what
are you drawn to looking at? Research: Context and Purpose
What themes or issues does this work contain?
What is the work about?
See if the photographer has said anything about their
style, influences or photographic technique that is
Delete this box and put a copy of the photograph specific or relevant to the photograph you are looking
you will be analysing in this box – make sure it at – if they have, include this information here as a
quote (don’t forget to reference the book or website
takes up the centre of the page. page)
Is it a single image or part of sequence of photographs
or larger body of work/a specific project?
What is the title of the photograph? How does the title
contribute to your understanding of the meaning?

Texture: If you could touch the surface
of the subject matter in the photograph
how would it feel? How do the objects in
the picture look like they would feel?
Value: Is there a range of tones from
light to dark? Where is the darkest
value? Where is the lightest value?
Which area of the artwork is most
important? Why?
Developing ideas:
What is it about the work that inspires you?
What do you like about the style? Be specific and explain your answer
How has looking at this photographer’s work, this picture specifically, given you
ideas for your own work? How will you take inspiration from them, i.e. how will you
apply their techniques to your work?
What are the values and beliefs of the culture in which
this photograph was made?
What does this photograph say about the world in
which we live?
If you can’t find anything the photographer has said
about their work think for yourself:
What do you think message (political/social/historical)
is that the photographer is trying to communicate?
Where do you think the photographer got their
inspiration from?