Photo Analysis

Step 1. Observation
A.	Study the photograph for 2 minutes. Form an overall impression of the photograph and then examine individual items. Next, divide the photo into quadrants and study each section to see what new details become visible. My first impression of the first photograph is that Presdent Obama is looking strange. The lighting casts a stark shadow across the one side of his face and he has an intense look on his face. He is dressed pretty casually. The background is unfocused. His head is titled and his ear is visible and a prominent feature of the photograph, which makes it appear as if he's listening
B.	Use the chart below to list people, objects, and activities in the photograph. mouth, with his lips pursed together. People Objects Activities President Obama constrained forehead, pursed lips, leaned forward blurred background blue, white, green -is POTUS outside or just have his back to a window? Shirt Business Casual - more relatable, but also serious
Step 2. Inference
	Based on what you have observed above, list three things you might infer from this photograph. 1. The President is not giving a speech - he is present to listen to others, and he is listening intently and with concern. He is stationary - he isn't going anywhere - leaned forward, engaged, and gives the impression that he is sitting down. 2. He is either in an outdoor setting or sitting indoors with his back to a large window (more likely, considering the stark lighting. 3. The president is part of a group - I would infer that he might be listening to a small, intimate group of concerned citizens.
Step 3. Questions
A.	What questions does this photograph raise in your mind? Where is he? Who is he listening to? What's in the frame around him - what did the photographer leave out? What is that in the background - why did the photographer decide to keep that out of focus? Who is he listening to? What setting is he in? Where is he? What's in the background?
B.	Where could you find answers to them? If I knew who took the photo, or what day I could google the name of the photographer and "Gulf Coast oil spill" with the date and hope to find more photos taken from that space. I could also read the article that accompanied the photograph for more clues. I could look at alternative news sources to see if I could find other photos that match the background or his shirt.

 

Step 1. Observation
A.	Study the photograph for 2 minutes. Form an overall impression of the photograph and then examine individual items. Next, divide the photo into quadrants and study each section to see what new details become visible. My overall impression of this photo is that President Obama looks confident and in control. Upon further inspection, The other men (almost all older white men) look like they are businessmen and they look happy. The Uniformed man looks like he is from the Coast Guard and is looking at the President. There are several people on the tower of the ship that look as if they are "on the look-out"
B.	Use the chart below to list people, objects, and activities in the photograph. People Objects Activities President Obama Leading a group - seems comfortable and in control Men to POTUS' right business casual - seems happy. walking slightly behind President Man in light green shirt business casual dress looks more concerned - seem like he is trying to catch up. Looks like he is talking. Man in uniform Coast Guard uniform, maybe? looks official The only one who is actually looking at the President, Asian looking man behind light green shir t looks concerned, trying to keep up. - interesting he is the only non-white. Tower of ship People with binoculars - flag flying, very center of phto - slightly over Obama's right shoulder. Concrete blocks Flanks the people on both sides - so they can only walk one way Coast guard or Industrial looking "stuff" Slightly blurred, but still in focus enough to see that the government (and industry?) is "doing something.
Step 2. Inference
	Based on what you have observed above, list three things you might infer from this photograph. 1.) The president is meeting with Oil Industry leaders and the Coast Guard surveying the clean-up efforts. 2.) The government and Industry is working together to address the spill. 3.) The president and industry leaders are confident and happy about the progress of the clean-up.
Step 3. Questions
A.	What questions does this photograph raise in your mind? 1.) Who are the people that surround the President and what kind of influence do they have on him? 2.) What is the Coast Guard's role in the clean-up - are they just "overseeing" the process. 3.) Who took this picture? What has their presentation of the Gulf Oil Spill been and what bias are they showing?
B.	Where could you find answers to them? Looking at multiple alternative news sources would be my first stop in researching what this photo is presenting. I would also look at the different articles from this newspaper to try and identify an overall bias. I could also look at the publisher of the paper, and their parent company and then find what other companies they own or have a stake in.