Midterm Project

Historic Photo Analysis

Your midterm project involves analyzing a single photo in-depth for technical aspects and societal context. You will do this in three parts: choosing a photo from history, writing an analysis paper, and then presenting key information to the class in a video or live presentation.

Part 1: Find a Photograph

Points: 3
Due: One week before main project deadline
Format: Emailed to the instructor (lisalynn@wsu.edu)

First, you will choose a photograph to analyze, then get the photo approved by the instructor. (Submit your idea early, because students must all choose different examples and only a limited number from the same photographer will be allowed.)

Your chosen photograph should have:

  • News value and fit within a broad definition of photojournalism
  • A person or people depicted in the photo
  • Been taken no earlier than 1945 and no later than 1 year ago
  • A known photographer (you need to know their name at minimum)
  • Sufficient background information available/obtainable to answer analysis questions
  • Be a photo that resonates with you or matters to you
  • Not be a photo you’ve previously researched for any educational project

These are good starting points for finding a photo:

Part 2: Written Analysis

Due: Monday of Week 8
Points: 45
Format: Word document submitted to Canvas

Your analysis of the photo will be adapted from the Perlmutter framework, an analysis framework used in academic papers, with researched information about the photo’s origins, meaning and impact. The total analysis should be 800-1500 words.

You will analyze the content of the image itself, plus the background of the photographer, the story behind the subjects in the photo, and the public reactions to the photo.

Please use the Word template to make sure all information is included: Com320MidtermTemplate.docx

The template includes these questions:

Content Identification & Image Composition

  • What does the image show? What are the major elements? What details stand out?
  • What is distinctive about the composition of the photo? Does it make use of any visual composition or gestalt rules? Is it appealing to look at?
  • Does the image make use of any symbols, stereotypes or other visual cues?
  • What emotions are conveyed in the content? Are there unmistakable emotions in the photo, or does the viewer need to interpret the content?

Production & Function

  • The rest of the W’s: Who made the image? When? Where? Why was the photographer there to capture this particular moment?
  • What was the photographer’s professional or personal background prior to this moment?
  • What is the story behind the subject(s) of the photo? What can you find out or assume about the interaction between the photographer and subject(s)?
  • What can you find out about how the image was technically produced? (Type of camera, film vs. digital, etc. If you cannot find specifics, provide context about what was typical at that time in history.)
  • Where was the photo first published? How did it initially reach a public audience?

Ethical Considerations & Historical Context

  • What is the justification for taking this photo? What is the justification for publishing it?
  • What was the reaction to the photo at the time it was published? Was it controversial for any reasons, either at the time or later on?
  • What happened to the photographer and subject(s) in the time after this photo was published?
  • How does the image reflect the context of the time in which it was taken? Is it viewed differently today?

Research Sources
You do not need to include formal citations in your writing, but you must have a “Sources” section at the end of your paper with consistent citation formatting (MLA recommended). You should have at minimum three reputable sources, though more will likely be necessary to fully verify all facts with multiple sources.

Visuals
Your paper must include a large version of your photo prominently at the beginning. The photo is likely protected by copyright, but it is OK to use it in your research paper because of Fair Use. You may also want to use other images, such as a photo of the photographer or example of their other work, but only the main photo is required in the written paper.

Submitting Your Work

Submit your completed paper as a Word document to the assignment dropbox in Canvas.

Part 3: Summary Presentation

Due: Monday of Week 8
Points: 12
Format: 1-2 minute in-class presentation or video presentation

You will summarize your photo analysis in a lightning presentation either recorded as a video or presented in class. Your presentation will be 1-2 minutes in length, and will include multiple visuals. Essentially, you are condensing your full analysis to the most important and interesting information to share with others. Depending on your photo, you might focus on the composition or technical aspects, the ethical concerns, what happened afterward because of the photo, etc. You don’t need to include everything you know as long as it meets the following requirements.

Your presentation should include:

Visuals

  • The photo you are analyzing (we need to see it long enough to fully take it in)
  • At least three related photos, such as similar photos taken by other photographers, examples of the photographer’s other work

Speaking or audio script

  • Why you selected this photo
  • The name and a little information about the photographer
  • The location and date of the photo
  • Three interesting facts that people would likely not know about the photo just by looking at it today

If you choose to record a video presentation, it should be submitted as a YouTube or Vimeo link along with your written analysis. The assumption is that if you do not submit a video link, you will present in-person during class. If you are presenting in class, you can submit the link(s) you need for your presentation here, and they will be easily available during presentations: Form for submitting presentation links

List of submitted links

There are numerous options for producing a video presentation. You can put together a slideshow presentation and record it using screen-recording programs such as Quicktime, Screencast-O-Matic or VLC Media Player. You can use video editing software such as Adobe Premiere, Adobe Spark or iMovie to combine images with an audio recording.

The content of your video is more important than the production quality. You are welcome to experiment with advanced editing if this is an interest of yours, but videos are only evaluated on whether they successfully present the required information and visuals.

This video from the Museum of Modern Art is not exactly the same as this assignment, but it’s a good example for combining audio and images in a succinct presentation:

Submitting Your Work

Present in class OR upload your completed video to YouTube or Vimeo and submit the link for your published video on Canvas.