Conducting a Visual Analysis
What is a Visual Analysis?
A visual analysis is a method of reading and interpreting images. It helps understand hidden ideologies and meanings by relating the photograph or any other visual material to relevant ideas, narratives, or experiences. Many different writing styles can be used to write visual analyses.
Why conduct a Visual Analysis?
Visual analyses promote the employment and development of critical thinking skills. The analysis of different elements of a photograph allows for a better understanding of its context and meaning. It also encourages the viewer to comprehend the photograph as a medium for wider social and cultural meaning, and enables the viewer to apply new understanding and knowledge to their own work.
Steps for the Visual Analysis of Photographs
Observation
- Scan the photo. What do you notice first?
- What type of photo is it (portrait, landscape, aerial, action, architectural, family, selfie, posed, etc)
- Describe the physical qualities of the photograph
- Use visual and descriptive language to describe the photograph.
- List the people, objects, and activities you see.
- For this step, there’s no need to consider any symbolic or interpretive elements of the photograph.
Analysis
- Try to make sense of the photo (who took it? Where is it from? When was it taken? What is the historical context of the photo? Why was it taken?)
- Consider the observations you made in the last step.
- Think about how each observation contributes to the photograph as a whole.
- What effect do the individual elements and the whole picture have on the viewer?
Interpretation
- Formulate arguments based on what you’ve observed and analyzed.
- Research facts about elements of the photograph or historical context
Visual Analysis of Artworks and other Visual Materials
Observation
- Focus on visual elements such as color, line and space.
- Look closely and identify the visual attributes of the artwork.
- Use visual and descriptive language to describe the piece.
- For this step, there’s no need to consider any symbolic or interpretive elements of the piece.
Analysis
- How does the viewer’s eye go through the work?
- Address the artist’s choices and what effect they have.
- Don’t worry about whether or not your analysis contradicts the artist’s actual intention– this step is more about understanding the visual logic and revealing the legitimacy of multiple viewpoints and perspectives on the piece.
- Think about how each observation made in the last step contributes to the work as a whole.
Interpretation
- Formulate arguments based on what you’ve observed and analyzed.
- Do research on elements of the visual material (such as the artist or the historical context surrounding it).
Activity
Watch the two YouTube videos below to learn about analyzing images and performing a visual analysis.
Sources & further reading:
Visual Analysis 101.
Visual Analysis of a Photograph.
National Archives. Analyze a Photograph.