The document discusses the differences between objectivity and subjectivity in analyzing photographs. It states that objectivity involves analyzing the visual elements of a photo like its subjects, setting, and composition, while subjectivity involves interpreting the photo based on one's own thoughts, opinions, and the potential intentions of the photographer. It provides examples of both objective traits like a photo's location and elements of art, as well as subjective questions about the mood, feelings, and message conveyed by a photo.

1. OBJECTIVITY VS.
SUBJECTIVITY
Fact vs. Opinion

2. Objective
 Not influenced by personal feelings,
interpretations, or prejudice; based on
facts; unbiased: an objective opinion. 1
 Based on the senses - can be heard,
smelled, tasted, touched or seen

3. “…in the photographic camera we
have the most reliable aid to a
beginning of objective vision.
Everyone will be compelled to see
that which is optically true, is
explicable in its own terms, is
objective, before he can arrive at any
possible subjective position.” 3
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Painting, Photography, Film,
1925, reprinted 1969, quoted in Charles Traub, The

4. Objective Traits
The objective traits of this picture include the elements
of art – shape, line, color, etc. They also include the
location the photo was taken, as well as the objects
within the photograph.

5. Analyzing a Photo Objectively
 Subject (people, objects, gender, age, clothing,
facial expressions, posture)
 Setting (indoor/outdoor, urban/rural, time of
day, time of year, background – objects)
 Action (What activity/event is shown? What are
people doing? Are they working in groups or
alone ? Relationship to each other?)
 Other Clues (What other details do you see in the
photo? Examples: tools, vehicles, animals,
buildings, signs. Is it a candid or posed photo?)
 Is there a title? What information does it give you?
 Is there a caption? What information does it give
you?
 What are the elements of art and principles of

6. Subjective
 Existing in the mind; belonging to the
thinking subject rather than to the object
of thought 2
 Ideas, thoughts, opinions

7. “In photography you can never express
yourself directly, only through optics,
the physical and chemical processes. It
is this sort of submission to the object
and abnegation of yourself that is
exactly what pleases me about
photography. What is extraordinary is
that, despite this submission and
abnegation, the personality of the
photographer shines through all the
obstacles. In the end, images convey
Brassai, quoted in Paul Hill and Thomas Cooper,
Dialogue with Photography, New York: Aperture,

8. How do you make a picture
 Three ways:

9. How do you make a picture
 Three ways:
 The
photographer’s intentions when
composing and printing the photograph.

10. How do you make a picture
 Three ways:
 The photographer’s intentions when
composing and printing the photograph.
 Your own thoughts and opinions about the
photograph

11. How do you make a picture
 Three ways:
 The photographer’s intentions when
composing and printing the photograph.
 Your own thoughts and opinions about the
photograph
 Reading what someone else thinks about the
photograph

12. Subjective Questions
Subjective traits of this photo include the
composition, the feeling it evokes, the
intentions of the photographer and the

13. Analyzing a Photo
 What conclusions can you draw from the
people or objects in this photo/
illustration?
 What might the artist have wanted to
communicate with this image?
 How would you describe the mood of this
image
 How does the artist communicate that
mood?

14.  Tobacco Harvesting, Valle de Viñales (Cuba 2002) Manuel

15. References
 1 – dictionary.com
 2 – dictionary.com
 3 - Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Painting, Photography, Film, 1925, reprinted 1969,
quoted in Charles Traub, The New Vision, p. 28.
 4 - Brassai, quoted in Paul Hill and Thomas Cooper, Dialogue with
Photography, New York: Aperture, 1982, pp. 40-41.
 5 - http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/21stcent/lmpersuasion.html