How to Read a Photograph
Last week I went to the opening of the exhibit Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher at the Key West Art and Historical Society. I got a chance to stand for a few minutes in front of his great photos and appreciate them. It occurred to me that our clients might appreciate a few tips on how to read a photograph, using the photograph Lake Istokpoga #4 (1989) from the exhibit as an example.
What is your initial emotional reaction?
Your first reaction to a photo is usually an emotional one. It’s also probably what drew the photographer to make the photo and what they are trying to convey. Keeping in mind that everyone’s reaction is different and valid, I feel both calmness and strength when I first look at this photo.
What do you see in the photo, literally?
In this photo, you can see calm water and lily pads in the foreground, a tree growing out of the water and moss hanging from the branches in the middle ground, and more trees and clouds in the background.
Check what your eyes are drawn to—oftentimes the brightest areas of the photo, like the tree trunk. Look for symmetry, like the reflection of the tree in the mirror-like surface of the water. Look for leading lines, like the tree roots leading to the trunk and the branches. Look for contrasts, like the solid tree trunk and wispy moss, or the tall tree and short lily pads.
Consider light and shadow
Where are the lightest and darkest parts of the photo? Where do they intersect, and what does that tell you? Is there a story you can tell? In this photo the bright tree trunk is reflected in the dark water. To me that says something about how everything is connected.
What does the accompanying card say?
After you’ve experienced the photo for a few minutes, read the card beside the photo. It may resonate with your interpretation, or it may say something totally different that gives you a new insight. In this exhibit, the cards often tell the story of how Clyde Butcher made the photo—how he waded into the water, set up the camera in the mud, saw fish swimming by—and they end with one of his observations, such as the beauty of the Everglades and how he wishes to preserve it.
I hope you get a chance to check out the exhibit at the KWAHS Custom House museum.
Stop by the gallery and practice your photo reading skills on some of my photos!
In the meantime, here’s my photo 8:30 on the Fourth of July that you can practice on.
