Visual Literacy Activity 2:

What information do I use to look at photographs ?

Many times we find unfamiliar photographs. They might have been taken by our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or even photos we took many years ago. Often, we may have to figure out where and when the photographs were taken and even who the subjects of the photographs are. We often have to use a variety of clues to make sense of pictures. Isn't this also true of pictures in books? We are using our skills of visual literacy and critical thinking when we analyze the content of photographs and pictures.

1. Here are several sets of photographs from the American Memory website. Your group can view them using PowerPoint or you can print them out.
   
2. Then use the photograph sorting activity form to decide where you think the photograph might have been taken.
   
3. You will decide if each photograph was taken in Harvey, Illinois, United States, or a foreign country. Write yes, no, or ? (if you have no clue) in each box of the table.
   
4. Then write what clues you used. For example, you might have used the vegetation when you noticed a large saguaro cactus growing in the yard when you decided that the picture was probably not taken in Harvey or Illinois but yes in United States and prior knowledge because you knew that cacti only grow where it is hot and dry.
   
5. Mark all the boxes that apply. For example, if you think a photo might have been taken in Chicago, you would write yes in the box for United State and Illinois and no for Harvey and foreign country.

Which group of photographs would you like to analyze? Each group below has a different set of photographs.