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Example of Analysis of Visual Data
Photo 1
Suggested Interpretation
The photograph has been taken on land looking
out towards water, which appears to be the sea. It is a day time shot,
and the weather is warm,
sunny with some cloud. It doesn't appear to be windy. Given the weather
it is likely to be a summer month. It is difficult to know what the subject
of the photograph is. The foreground shows tables and chairs, some with
occupants, but none are the focus of the photograph. Also on shore is
a construction that looks as if it is intended to be used as a bonfire.
The background shows views across to the sea, which may ultimately be
the subject of the photograph. The photograph includes a mixture of individuals,
couples and groups, some appear to be family groups, sitting on plastic
chairs at plastic tables on grass. Most of them are drinking cold drinks
and talking or enjoying the view. Some people are walking towards the
sea through an adjoining field. There are a number of sailing boats on
the sea and in the distance are white cliffs.
Photo 2
Suggested Interpretation
The photograph is taken outdoors in what appears to be a garden, with
four adults sitting around a wooden table on two benches and a chair.
The clothes worn suggest it is a warm day and that it has been sunny,
as one person has sun glasses on his head. Also the adults are drinking
cold drinks, four of which might be alcoholic beverages. It is difficult
to suggest a time of day, though it might be the afternoon or early evening
in the summer. This is a posed photograph which records the group of
four adults (one female and three males), possibly friends, spending
some social time together, possibly in the garden of a public house.
There is also the wheel of a bicycle in the background and given the
attire of the group, it could be that they have either cycled to the
pub for a drink, or are stopping mid-route for a drink and a rest. Given
the number of drinks on the table it suggests the photographer might
be a fifth member of the group, taking the photograph to record the event.
Photo 3
Suggested Interpretation
The photograph is taken at the edge of white cliffs, on a grassy cliff
path probably by the sea. In the foreground are four adults with bicycles.
There is a fifth adult bicycle on the ground suggesting there is another
adult as part of the group, who is taking the photograph. There are trees
in the background and a few people walking along the cliff path. The
sky is clouding and dull, though there may have been sunshine during
the day as two of the cyclists have sun glasses on and the three males
are wearing shorts and t-shirts. The group are the same as those photographed
in picture three, though in a different setting. They are wearing the
same clothes as in the previous photograph, suggesting this might have
been taken on the same summer's day.
Photo 4
Suggested Interpretation
This photograph is a scenic shot, with its focus on a ruin set next
to the sea, framed by trees and hedges. It is a cloudy sky. The photograph
has a bicycle seat in the foreground, which suggests one of the cycling
group in the previous photographs is taking the shot. It is therefore
likely to have been taken on the same summer's day.
Overall interpretation
This set of photographs depict a group of five adults cycling along
a coastal path, in the summer. This is a series of shots taken on one
day, that might be part of a longer cycling holiday. Two of the photographs
show the adults, who are probably friends. These photographs focus on
the activities they undertook in the day, possibly recorded to provide
a memory of events for the photographer and the friends. One photograph
records an ancient ruin and a further might be recording the scenery
and coastal path that the group have cycled along.
To help validate the interpretations the photographer was asked to comment
on the above analysis for accuracy. It is not always possible to validate
interpretations in the way, though where possible it helps establish
trustworthiness.
Photographer's response to the suggested analysis
The cyclists were a group of 5 friends who went to the Purbeck area
of Dorset near Corfe Castle (photo 4) for a weekend in the middle of
September. We camped overnight, but that would not be obvious from the
selection of photos provided. The photos actually span both days, with
the correct sequence of photos being 4, 2, 1 and 3.
Photos 4 and 2 were taken from the garden of a public house in Corfe
Castle, where we stopped for lunch on the Saturday – it hadn't
arrived while the photos were being taken. Photo1 is the garden of the
pub, where we stopped at for lunch on Sunday. There was a long wait for
food, hence no-one could be observed to be eating! The garden was overlooking
the Solent, and the Isle of Wight can be seen in the background. Also,
note the bonfire in the field beyond the garden – ready for bonfire
night? Photo3 was taken on the ride back to the campsite – a refresher
and camera opportunity.
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