Reading and Interpreting Photographs

Is the process of reading, measuring, translating and explaining the meaning of objects identified on that photograph.

It involves the following;

• Determining the title Estimating time and the season
• Estimating direction Identifying and interpreting physical features Identifying and
• Interpreting human activities
• Estimating the size of features Suggesting possible location of the scenery in the place

Determining the Title

Can be obtained by carefully studying the photograph, information determines the choice of the title. Photos show landscapes, activities on land, what is on the surface and the sky. The information contained in the foreground, middle ground and dead ground can help in determining a suitable title

Estimating Time and Season

TIME

It is possible to estimate the time of day when the photo was taken if we know where the photograph was taken If the photo was taken during the morning its evidence is through the shadow

1. During the Morning: The shadow of the object lies in the western side because the sun rises from the east
2. During the Evening: The shadow lies in the eastern side because the sun sets on the west
3. During the Afternoon: The shadow lies around the object because the sun is over head of the object

SEASONS

1. A bright sky with dry vegetation may indicate a dry period or season.
2. Thick vegetation young crops or flowering plants in the field and a sky full of rain clouds indicate a rainy season
3. Clear sunny conditions with health vegetation and flowering plants or plants with fruits indicate summer season
4. Plants with young leaves others bloom and field full of grass indicates spring season
5. Hazy sky with leafless trees and some snow on the ground indicates winter season
6. Also when people appear to be wearing heavy clothes with faces almost completely covered, hand gloves and heavy boots it indicates cold weather, likely winter in temperate regions
7. People wear light clothes and some may even have broad-rimmed hats indicates hot weather
8. When houses appear to have slanting roofs it indicates the region experiencing a lot of precipitation, which facilitates the easy flow of water from the roof of the house
9. If people appear to be planting then it is planting season the rain's eithers are about to come or have just started
10. If the people appear to be weeding it is growing season for the crops and there is reduced rainfall
11. If people appear to be harvesting a crop it is harvesting season and probably dry seasonbecause harvesting normally takes place during dry weather.
12. If people appear to cultivate and plant various crops, it indicates rainy season because such process is normally done during rainy season so as the rain can support the plant growth.
13. If people appear to harvest the crops, it indicates dry season because harvesting is usually done during the dry season.

Estimating Direction

This refers to identifying the position of the photographer after studying the relative sizes of objects in the photograph. It is possible to estimate the direction on a photograph using shadows. This is possible if the time and place where the photograph was taken are known.