Analysing a photograph takes some times because all its dimensions must be investigated.
Here is a list of questions for properly analyzing a photograph among a series or not, resulting from a simplified summary of analytical methods found on the Web. The 4 first sections must stay as much as possible objective i.e. no judgement but indisputable facts. The fifth one is more subjective.
1) contextual analysis
- what was the intention of the photographer? what is the subject?
- how did the photographer work?
- what are the circumstances?
- what posture?
- what equipment used?
- if the photograph is part of a series,
- is the series coherent? are there any repetitions? any gaps ?
- what is the nature of the look at the subject?
- are there any cultural, historical or symbolic references?
- what is the place of the photograph in the series?
2) descriptive analysis
- does the subject appear clearly?
- what is the distance to the subject?
- what is the nature of the photograph? realistic, artistic, conceptual, documentary,...?
- how is it composed?
- are there several plans? are there links between plans?
- is there an impact effect?
- how is the photo framed? how is the subject situated?
- are there any lines of force?
- Are there flat areas, negative spaces?
- Are there any contrast effects? blur / sharpness? dark / light?...
- have special effects been used? have textures been applied?
- how is the light distributed? is it hard or soft? specular or diffuse?
- do shadows play a role? reflections? transparencies?
- how are the different elements organized in relation to each other? what is the nature of the relationships between the elements?
3) narrative analysis
- what does the photo tell?
- is there a particular writing research?
- is a symbol used?
- what effect does it produce or want to produce?
- is the photo sufficient in itself or is it intimately linked to a series?
- what is it that makes us linger?
4) comparative analysis
- Are there other ways of treating the subject ?
- is the photograph part of a particular school ?
- is there a bias taken by the photographer?
- is there an innovative dimension? a desire to break with the past?
5) subjective analysis
- has the photographer achieved his objective?
- are there any anomalies ?
- what improvements can be made?