John Thomson's China – Lesson 02
Handout 02-B | Printer-friendly PDF file
Creating a Message through Paired Photographs
You have already considered how photographers can present a message or point-of-view through juxtaposition within a single photograph. Juxtaposing two contrasting or contradictory photographs is another technique for constructing or suggesting a particular meaning or point-of-view. To culminate your study, you will present two photographs that, through their contrasts, convey your message or point-of-view. You have a great deal of freedom on this assignment. You can:
A. Work with a preselected set of images from John Thomson’s China to create a message about China and the West.
B. Work with two images of a historical or current event that you have found through an Internet search.
C. Use a camera to construct two photographs that use contrasting or contradictory images to convey a message.
Directions
1. Choose one of the above options and create a three-sheet presentation or PowerPoint.
2. Place your first image on sheet 1 or slide 1. Write a short response to each of the following questions alongside the photo.
What is the content of the photo—who and what is pictured?
What point-of-view or message is conveyed by the photo?
3. Place your second image on sheet 2 or slide 2. Write a short response to each question alongside the photo.
What is the content of the photo—who and what at is pictured?
What point-of-view or message is conveyed by the photo?
4. Place your images side-by-side on sheet 3 or slide 3. Write a paragraph alongside or below the paired photos that describes your intent in pairing these images. What do you think the two images say when shown together that they did not say individually?
5. Be prepared to share your work with the class.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology © 2012 Visualizing Cultures