Analysing and describing images

Images are everywhere. Visual culture includes advertising, art, photography and design, news images, infographics, film, television, and social media platforms such as Instagram. It is becoming increasingly important, in everyday life and in our studies, that we can ‘read’ and interrogate images in the same way we do text or data. This allows us to make sense of the visual culture that surrounds us; to look, feel, describe, articulate and be critical of what we see.

How do we ‘read’ an image?

We are absorbing a great deal of information when we look at an image. To analyse an image, it can be helpful to start by describing what we see, noting the simple, easily described elements. 

• What is the first thing you notice? Where is your eye drawn?
• What is the image of? Is it a clear image? Is it obvious what it is?
• How is it composed? What is in the foreground, and what is in the background?
• Think about the use of colour, tone, materials, objects and characters
• Note the use of layout, space, line, scale and perspective
• What is the original made from? What techniques have been used?
• If the image contains a mix of text and images, what is the balance of these and the relationship between them? How is typography or font used and what meanings does this convey?
• How would you describe the style of the image?
• Does the creator use any devices (repetition, symbols) and how do these work in the image?

To practice, look at the image below and try to describe what you see.