Looking at Photographs

What gives a photograph its power? Why do some images stay with us while others do not?

In this very visual class, we’ll explore what makes photographs compelling. We’ll analyze journalistic and fine art photographs from early daguerreotypes to contemporary digital images, draw on ideas from critical sources as varied as Roland Barthes and Susan Sontag and think about how photographs create meaning, emotion, and impact.

Through guided discussions and close looking, you’ll learn practical tools for understanding composition, context, and intention and how to apply those insights to your own photography (or art collecting).

In our final session, we’ll gather for a conversation about the photographs that participants choose to share.

The class fee includes a contribution toward class admission to the George Eastman Museum for our Saturday field trip, helping ensure that everyone can participate (Museum members attend free).