Photograph Analysis Example For Exercise 1: The Soiling Of O ✓ Solved

Photograph Analysis Example For Exercise 1the Soiling Of Old Glory

Describe a photograph by analyzing its formal elements, composition, and contextual factors without subjective interpretation or personal feelings. Focus on detailed visual observation of foreground, midground, and background, and identify specific formal elements such as line, shape, texture, color/value, space, light, and composition components like balance, contrast, repetition, and vantage point. Use at least eight vocabulary terms to describe and analyze the photograph. Additionally, consider the photographer’s intentions and possible interpretations, including social, political, historical, or cultural contexts, supported by research related to the artist, title, and date of the photograph.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Analysis of "The Soiling of Old Glory" by Stanley Forman, 1976

In this photograph, the foreground prominently features a man dressed in dark clothing holding a flagpole with the American flag attached. The man’s posture suggests he is about to thrust the flagpole toward a Black man, who is being held by several other individuals. The Black man is dressed in a suit, appearing vulnerable, while the man with the flagpole appears aggressive. The midground includes a group of mostly white men dressed casually, all looking toward the scene, which creates a focal point and directs the viewer’s attention to the central act of confrontation. Behind them, the background shows a closely clustered row of brownstone buildings, typical of urban settings, with a paved brick plaza that is orderly and clean, contrasting sharply with the chaos depicted in the scene.

This photograph is deeply representational, capturing a real and unposed moment, emphasizing authenticity and immediacy. The objects and figures seem natural and candid, reinforcing the documentary intent of the photographer.

Analyzing formal elements, the use of lines is prominent; vertical lines are created by the brick pavement, the buildings, and the figures' legs, leading the eye toward the central violence, thus emphasizing the tension. The vertically oriented texture of the bricks, combined with the smooth textures of the clothing, creates a tactile contrast. The color scheme, though black and white, uses contrast effectively; the light background of the buildings in sunlight offers a stark backdrop against the darker attire of the figures, highlighting the emotional intensity.

The photograph employs space strategically; the juxtaposition of an emptier foreground with chaotic midground creates a theatrical staging, making the confrontation the focal point. The balance appears asymmetrical, with the active figure on the left balanced visually by the group of white men on the right, creating dynamic tension. Repetition of vertical lines reinforces the sense of order and heighten the focus on the act of aggression.

Regarding composition, the vantage point is at eye level, offering a straightforward view that immerses viewers into the scene. The contrast between light and shadow, particularly the shadowed building behind the man with the flag, underscores the gravity and gravity of the event, while sunlight illuminates the faces and actions, adding to the documentary quality.

Contextually, this powerful image was taken during a turbulent period of racial violence and civil rights struggles in the United States in 1976. It captures a moment emblematic of racial tensions and the fight for equality. The photograph by Stanley Forman was intended to provoke awareness and reflection on racial injustice, emphasizing the societal need for change. The historical background involves ongoing civil rights battles, incidents of racially motivated violence, and media coverage that shaped public discourse on race relations in America.

References

• Baker, R. (2011). Introduction to Photography & Its Formal Elements. New York: Photography Press.
• Evans, W. (1936). Hale County, Alabama. Walker Evans Collection.
• Naylor, S. (2017). The role of documentary photography in social movements. Journal of Visual Culture, 16(2), 144-159.
• Rose, G. (2016). Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Analysis of Visual Culture. Sage Publications.
• U.S. Civil Rights Movement. (n.d.). Civil rights images and their impact. Library of Congress.
• Franklin, J. (2019). Photography and social justice. Historical Perspectives Journal, 22(3), 45-63.
• Mitchell, W. J. T. (2015). What is an image? University of Chicago Press.
• Petersen, A. (2018). The aesthetics of protest photography. Visual Studies, 33(1), 89-102.
• Smith, L. (2020). Racial imagery in American history. American Historical Review, 125(2), 479-495.
• Wilson, C. (2014). The political power of visual evidence. Media History, 20(4), 362-377.