Describe a Photograph
“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”
~Karl Lagerfield, Designer
This is the first lesson in the “Describing Pictures” series. You will learn how to describe a photograph.
Please take a piece of paper and a pen. A dictionary will also be of great help because you will be dealing with a lot of vocabulary.
Describe a Photograph (STEP 1): Different Types of Photography
What is a photograph?
A photograph is a picture that we take using a camera. Note that the word ‘picture‘ has a lot of meanings and can refer to any type of image such a painting or drawing. In this lesson we will be using this word to talk about photographs.
There are different types of photographs that are taken using different photography techniques. Below is a non-exhaustive list:
Photography about People
- Portrait
- Family
- Newborn
- Model
- Beauty
- Bodyscape
- Stock
- Social Media
Photography about Objects
- Commercial
- Product
- Still life
- Fashion
- Lifestyle
- Food
Photography about Events
- Event
- Wedding
- Concert
- Theatre
- Party
- Funeral
Photography about Nature
- Landscape
- Seascape
- Outdoor
- Wildlife
- Pet
- Nature
- Environmental
- Panoramic
- Storm
- Rainbow
- Rain
- Sunrise and sunset
- Bird
Photography about Places
- Street
- Cityscape
- Townscape
- Outdoor
- Indoor
- Travel
- Tourist
- Documentary
- Architectural
- Satellite
- Aerial
Photography that tells Stories
- Photojournalism
- Paparazzi
- News
- Business
- Propaganda
- Scientific
- Medical
- Cultural
- Visual Anthropology
- Archeology
- Fine Art
- Film
- Abstract
Photography about Movement
- Sports
- Action
Photography Techniques and Presentation
- Colour
- Black and white
- Digital
- Printed
- Analogue
- Photo collage
- Newspaper cutting
Describe a Photograph (STEP 2): What do you see?
Oftentimes, you will be asked to describe pictures during exams or in class. How can you go about it?
Let’s look at a few simple steps that you need to follow: Identification, Description and Interpretation.
a) Identification of the picture
Answer the 6 WH- questions: WHAT, WHO, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW.
WHAT: A black and white picture? A portrait?
WHO: Does the picture shows a man and a woman? Who took the photo?
WHEN: Does the scene take place in the middle of the day? At night? Any specific date?
WHERE: At work? At the beach?
WHY: To post on their social media accounts?
HOW: How was the photograph taken? Talk about perspective and angles. Is it a close-up or panoramic picture?
Sample Description
This picture shows six children who are in a canoe in a village in Africa. The photograph was taken during the day by someone who is also in the lake and is very close to them. Maybe the children know this person because they do not look surprised.
b) Thorough Description of the Photograph
You can describe the photograph in detail by focusing on its different areas:
- The top
- The bottom
- The left
- The right
- The top left-hand corner
- The top right-hand corner
- The bottom left-hand corner
- The bottom right-hand corner
- The foreground
- The background
- The middle
Sample Detailed Description
This is a nature or landscape colour photograph. I think it was taken in broad daylight with a digital camera because the quality looks excellent. The location might be Africa.
In the foreground, we see a man who is taking a picture with a camera that is on a stand or a tripod. The equipment looks modern. There is a lake in the middle of the picture and we can spot the reflection of the mountain that lies in the background.
The man looks young and he is wearing casual clothes: a hoodie with African print accents, red shorts and simple black shoes. He is kneeling with one leg on the strip of green grass that is also in the foreground. His gaze is drawn towards the camera.
c) Interpretation of the Photograph
Say what you think about the photograph in this section. You can use the following vocabulary:
- I think this photograph wants to show…
- The aim of the picture is to…
- In my opinion, the picture portrays…
- This photo may/might/could be…
- The photographer’s intentions could have been to…
- This picture highlights…
- The targeted audience of this picture is…
- The message is meant for…
- The message is directed towards…
Sample Detailed Description with Interpretation
This family colour photograph shows a young woman and a little girl sitting in a dusty threadbare living room. It was taken during supper in the evening night because we see dishes on a table in the foreground and a candle burning in the background. The picture must have been taken by someone who is related to these two people. Maybe it was the woman’s husband or any of her relations whom she was visiting.
In my opinion, the location might be a village in Africa because of how the room is furnished with basic necessities: a beer bottle in the background to hold the candle, a coffee table in the foreground to serve as a dinner table, a goatskin-covered stool that can be used to place extra plates. In the bottom left hand-corner we can also see the second chair in the room that seems to be empty. There is also a Bible in a good state and some old newspapers under the table.
The owner of the house seems to spend his or her money on things that sustain one’s health and mind. The plates and food warmers are fairly expensive and the Bible is in a very good condition.
Despite the general poor state of the house, the people in the picture seem to be contented. Perhaps, the photographer wants to show us that human beings, who are deprived of material things, can be happy if they are surrounded by the people that they love.
Further Exploration:
Read:
- Picture Description Vocabulary, Learn English With Africa, November 2015
- Vocabulary for Expressing Opinions, Learn English With Africa, November 2018
- English-Polish Picture Description Vocabulary (Part 1), Learn English With Africa, November 2015
- English Polish Picture Description (Part 2), Learn English With Africa, November 2015
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