Types of Photographs

‘Types of Photographs Identify types of photographs AA photograph is an image or a picture of an object which is recorded by a camera and then printed on « paper. Photograph interpretation isa process of reading, megsuring and interpreting photographs for obtaining reliable information about natural or buman features and theit environment. In other words, photograph interpretation can be defined as analysis and examination of photographs so as to be able to identify natural or artificial features,

Photographs are classified according to the viewpoint or position from which they are taken They can be taken from the ground or from the air. Ths then basicaly gives us three major types of photographs namely, horizontal, oblique and vertical photographs Horizontal or ground photographs ‘These are photographs that are taken from the ground when the camera is at the same level as objeet(s) being photographed. There are two categories of horizontal photographs as described

below: Horizontal close-up photographs ‘These are categories of horizontal photographs in which the camera focuses on a particular object such as a house, The object of focus is shown very clearly. On the other hand, objects in the background are obscured, and generally, the background isnot seen clearly elo con, cS ae ae eecietetene (4 pet Bera at eee)” ee —agepre Me ye ge * — ~ i 3 Rea Hociontal general-view photographs

ee these photographs. Objects close to the camera appear larger than those far away from the et Ts ww ecu HURON Ss NRE Wy Tne OHIO Choe ww camera is called the dead ground. ded ground ‘ Hortzontal general-view photograph Oblique photographs ‘These are types of photographs that are taken from an angle, usually from the top of a hill, ower ‘or cliff. There are two categories of oblique photographs as described below: Ground oblique photographs

‘These are taken when the photographer is standing in elevated ground, such as top of @ hill building or elif, and holds the camera at an angle pointing towards the lower ground. The photograph can also be taken when the photographer is standing, at the bottom of an elevated ground, with the camera pointing towards the higher ground (See the photograph below). So, Whether the photograph is taken from the fop or bottom of an elevaied ground, the resulting

photograph is called ground oblique photograph, In this kind of photograph, the images closer to the camera are larger than those far away Pe . fh mi ae Pt mae —~ fe ke pe ie a eS: Le eee Ce el bak = Ground oblique photograph Aerial blige photographs These piokgrop are taken cn te ky ih the ior at ni angle owas the pound Ti YH ay, NSE a NAC cep SvO Ng THRE photographs over que 6 large ien of land. They a snl in many wy to he ground

she photngeap: Oboes ona Surcomene apy igh linger tan those Race. An eid oblique phologiph Which doesnot cover the Korb i elles Low nti eign hci whale that whit acai the hacen calle sigh rl blue pooxraph Ss ae LOW aerial oblique photograph

• Sar, ae NE re

% a i. GW Se HIGH aerel oblique photograph Vertical photographs These photographs are the ones that are taken from the air with the camera directly above the scenery, pointing vertically to the ground. The camera focuses on specific features on the ground: though the area surrounding those Features is also shown, ~ "ail ues os een hy ie el ee .

a. ae 4 "ted Poet oS: Fi Ld a “ Pee eet seco MSY

ANE wae Lace

a a ale pie i Differences between Ground, Vertical and Oblique Photographs Differentiate beeen grow, vertical and oblique phcingraphs A photograph has three parts as described below Background -the area farthest from te eamera b Foreground — the area nearest to the camera.

©. Middle ground — the area between the background and the foreground, which is at middle aioe tot the cama. Each ofthe three pats ofthe photograph can farther be sub-divided into thre parts to give nine combinations which fom the nine minor pats ofthe photograph as shown in the table below:

Lat Centre sight

Left background Cente background igh background Left middle ground Centre mide ground ight mid ground Let foreground Contre foreground Right foreground For easy description of locations on a photograph, it is appropriate to use these divisions, It is inappropriate to use such terms as ‘top’ or ‘bottom’ when refeering to arcas or parts of a photograph. Also itis not acceptable 1 use points ofthe compass such as “east’, or “north unless

there is sufficient information to enable one to determine the compass directions of the photograph

Reading and Interpreting Photographs

Features Presented on Photographs

Read features presented on photographs ‘The same as reading maps, reading a photograph means studying and identifying the various objects shown on the photograph. Interpreting @ photograph means examining the objects or a involves translating the information by describing the features shown in the photograph a Determining the title of the photograph.

Identifying and intepreting physical features © Identifying and interpreting human activities & Suggesting possible location ofthe scenery in the photograph Determining the title A suitable title of the photograph can be obtained by studying the photograph carefully The information obtained in the photoaraph determines the choice ofthe ttle.

Features shown on the photograph can be natural or man-made. It is important to study the photograph carefully and identify these features Photographs show landscapes, activities on land, water surfaces or sky or a combination of all of these. The information contained in the background, middle ground and foreground should be carefully studied. Such information, when combined with one's geographical knowledge ean be used {0 establish the title of the photograph,

Estimating time and season we know where the photograph was taken, it may be possible to tell the time of the day when the photograph was taken. If it was taken in the tropics on a sunny day, long shadows imply that the time of the day was either early moming or late afternoon, Ifthe shadows are shor, it rmplies that the time of the day was just before or afternoon, In the temperate regions, both in the southern and northern hemispheres, the sun never gets overhead at noon. It remains at an angle.

The shadows are also shortest at noon and point northwards in the northem hemisphere and southwards in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, based on the knowledge of the zones of the earth and the movement of the sun, one can tell when the photograph was taken and be able to «determine a part of the hemisphere an which it was taken We can also draw conclusions about weather, season or even climate of the area at the time the

photograph was taken A bright clear sky with dry vegetation may suggest @ dry period or season. Thick vegetation, young crops and or flowering plants inthe field and a sky full of cloud ‘cover or rain suggest a rainy season or period. In temperate regions, clear sunny conditions with healthy vegetation and flowering plants or plants with fruits indicate a summer season, Plants with young leaves, others in bloom and fiekls full of grass could be an indication of spring

season. Foggy sky with leafless trees and some snow on the ground is an indication of winter The type of clothing worn by people appearing in the photograph and the nature of houses can be a clue to the prevailing weather or the type of climate, When people appear to be wearing heavy clothing with faces almost completely covered, hand gloves and heavy boots, it isan indication ‘of cold weather, likely to be winter in temperate regions.

When the weather is hot, people wear light clothing and some may even wear broad-rimmed hats. If people are seen basking in the sun by the swimming pool it also indicates a warm sunny, hot weather. When houses appear to have slanting roofs, it is an indication that the region experiences a lot of precipitation, either ramfall or snow. Slanting roofs facilitate easy flow of ‘water or snow from the roof of the house. Simple houses with flat roofs indicate a region that

‘experience little precipitation or that is dry in most of the year. Activities going on in the field could also suggest the type of 2 season. If people are seen planting crops, it is planting season. The rainy season is either near or it has just started. If people are seen weeding, itis the growing season for crops and there is reduced rainfall If people are photographed harvesting the crop, itis the harvesting season and is probably dry

season because harvesting normally takes place during dry season with a few exceptions. The time of the year could also be indicated by a combination of phenomena in the photograph fa Bie — rae = x oa C ZG , ea ,

P Zee

Maize harvesting Estimating direction This refers to identifying the position of the photographer after studying the relative sizes of lice in the pograph Is poesible 1 exiznate he direction on 8 pholograph using hadows This is possible if the time and place where the photograph was taken are known. For example, it a phbtograph show a tee howe shadow i onthe cight andi is indicted that it was taken wii th ric and th mora, he the odoyap ir ws bg Sul The suman the

sv areata in the opi sls Of he ploingtaph Iie sini the et, th ton wi ey Be cat Westwind Vc Ve, Te 6 pig towne ya te pBotigagh Was tne in the aeraoon (ining a the su Wasi tho wa the potograger was facing westwards. Wih such infomation, itis then pose o fix compass pois on a shoo.

The otter aleraive for identifying the position of the phatograper or cameraman is by erring te sizeof object.n the photog. The objects close tothe photographer appear ie oa way Thc et pacny pr wre a a Wats a Ahotojraght cree. Thier, th prt OF he poet Anowing huge jet te pe oe to whee i posse wo Sealy ie prog Bw eae Fy aid Lealy, Can you tll th position ofthe photographer?

• ~ «La

peg x oe

Poy Mh Ay. Be ee

Estimating the size of features photograph BP; or boa . aN . teas SN yp Eley a, pastas Meet “S omatsee wma po ae pir height ofthe elif or re, This is done by fist estimating th height of the person and comparing A ruler placed against the face of a rock can be useful in estimating the thickness of the rock layer, Since the length of the ruler is known, its actual length as it appears in the photograph can be used to estimate how many ruler lengths there are in the whole rock layer

{tis difficult to determine distances and areas accurately in photographs. ‘This is because objects in a photograph are not of uniform size and height. Objects in the foreground always appear larger than objects of the same size in the background.

Natural and Manmade Features in the Fore, Middle and Background of the Photograph ‘dentfy natural and manmade features in the fore, middle and background of the photograph Many physical features shown in the photograph can be identified and interpreted, These features include relief, drainage, and vegetation, among others.

Relief Before interpretation of other physical features, itis important to first identify relief features on the photograph. Start by giving a general idea about the area shown in the photograph. In deseribing landscape and landforms, itis important to go even further and describe the forces and processes thai ate responsible for their formation and modification. "This is an essential aspect of relief interpretation, Relief features in the photograph may include the following features:

Flat landscapes These landscapes occur both in lowland and highland areas, They are called plains in the lowlands and plateaus in the highlands. Plains altitudes are less than $00 metres while plateau altitudes are more than $00 metres above sea level 11 is impossible to tell the average area of the land directly from a photograph. However, other features appearing in the photograph, such as part of the sea, crops and other economic activities

may be used in estimating the altitude. Where there is an accompanying topographical map of the area, it would then be easier to state the height ofthe land from the map, Where there is no sufficient information to tell the height of the land, relief may be described as fat, One can then suggest that it is probably a low-lying plain or a plateau surface, Some flat areas may be described as flat lowlands or highlands Hilly arcas

A hilly landscape is shown on photographs as having varied relief of hills and valleys that are not isolated on a flat landscape. Where hills appear to have the same height across the entire landscape, such a landscape is probably a dissected plateau. Streams have cut valleys across former flat land and some interlocking spurs may be visible towards valleys. Ridges, ‘escarpments and conical hills may easily be identified according to their appearance.

Mountainous relief This kind of relief stands at an altitude of more than 2000 metres above sea level. As such, not all rising features identified on photographs are mountains, ‘The relief of mountainous areas is characterized by very steep slopes often with no human settlements. The slopes may have vegetation covering them, which could be forests.

‘At much higher levels, snow might be seen. The type of trees growing could give a elue about the altitude of the land. IFthere are crops growing or animals reared, these could also give a clue as to the altitude. Certain crops such as wheat and apples are high-altitude crops, Likewise, animals such as merino sheep and dairy cattle ate also reared in high-altitude areas within the tropies.

Identifying relief features on vertical aerial photographs is not straight-forward, The following guidelines could assist in identifying different types of relief 1, Flat areas would appear as areas with light colour tone except in regions covered with dense vegetation such as forested areas, Rivers may have big meanders while roads, footpaths and railways are generally straight, with gentle bends in some places,

• Hilly areas could be identified by examining river streams. The streams could be joining

‘one another and getting wider downstream, Hilly areas are the source of rivers. The colour tone in hilly areas is generally dark. Drainage Drainage features such ay rivers, lakes and seas may easily be identified in all types of photographs. Different aspects of rivers ean be studied on a photograph, These include the shapes of river valleys, stages of development and various features. Based on the presence of certain features, one can tell the mature of the rock over whieh the river flows. For example, the

presence of rapids and waterfalls is an indication that the river is flowing over steep land, River meanders are an indication that the river is in it mature or old-age stage. Interlocking. spurs indivate that the river valley is made of alternating layers of hard and soft rocks ea =, Nit A meandering river Drainage pattems are easier to identify on vertical aerial photographs. The colour tone of areas covering deep water appears darker than those of shallow water. The various functions of the

river ean also be identified. Vegetation Photographs show all types of vegetation in the photographed area, Planted (artificial) and natural forests appear to be distributed unevenly, with planted forests usually m clear straight lines. In planted forests trees tend to be of the same type, size and height because they were planted at the same time, ‘The plant characteristics that may appear on the photograph can be used as a guide to the general

ries oF vegan, for exauple avian oF seas vege: The folowing idetnet should be used when describing vegetation on a given photograph Identify the types of vegetation, for example, forests, thickets, grasslands and swamp plants, Devs the: plang giving deta such ax beg shape and-apparance‘of aves. Whese possible, give the names of species of plants, ¢. jacaranda, cacti, cucalyptus trees, ete. Planted esitem GHGind 5 ting hen. the, mail one by, hie bien, Pope

interpretation of vegetation calls upon application of geographical knowledge outside the icin we Pa aera Oren ol eae de, ae eects hae ee Bato oe Se er ee ee ety Mee } ; Sener mat } Fee x ® tiie te Hit At igh aly bat er if " i ty WALI fail HAY So eo ee A planed ores Soil A clue on the type of soil in a photographed area may be given hy the types of crops grown and appearing on the photograph. Rice, for example, grows well in clay soil. Tea and coffee requite

volcanic soil. Coconuts and cashew nuts thrive well in coastal regions with sandy soits, and a variety of horticultural crops thrive in loam soils. Proper interpretation ofthe soil requires an application of one’s general knowledge of geography leamt in classroom as well as knowledge from other disciplines, Climate Weather and climate are not shown directly on photographs, Features contained in a photograph ‘can be used to make conclusions about the climate of a photographed area. The type of crops

grown end vegetation on the photograph can be used as a clue to establish the climate of a place. Vegetation types and erops can also provide evidence about the seasoa or climate of a place. For

example, the presence of many cacti signifies an arid or semi-arid region, and hence a desert or

semiadesert climate ‘Crops such as sisal are grown in hot areas that receive low rainfall while sugarcane thrives in warm to hot climate with high rainfall. The type of clothing people in the photograph are \wearing can give an indication about the weather and possible climate Interpreting Features Presented on the Photograph Imerpret features presented on the photograph Human activities on a photograph are depicted by various forms of land use. ‘The uses of land

may in form of agriculture (crop cultivation and animal husbandry), forestry, settlement, wilde conservation, mining and construction of infrastructures, among other uses Agriculture This includes crop cultivation and livestock rearing. It is practised at subsistence and commercial levels. It is easy 10 identify agricultural activities on ground photographs, To be able to identify those features on vertical aerial photographs, it requires close examination of the features,

Some evidences that can be used to establish the kind of agricultural activites taking place in an area shown on the photograph are summarized in the table below: ‘Type of farming Evidences to look for Some houses are permanent while others are temporary +The lands often divided into small plots owned and cultivated by individual farmers © Mixed farming is practised Subsistence crop + Simple larming tools such as hoes, mattocks, pangas and rakes are used

farming + Fields are separated by hedges

• Indigenous and exotic animal breeds are kept

Subsistence livestock » Animals are grazed on grassland or semiarid vegetation farming + Large hords of local cattle (zebu), goats and sheep

• Large fields divided into paddocks
• Presenze of cattle sheds near firm houses
• Windmills for water supply
• Presence of water tanks, ponds or reservoirs in the dry areas
• Evidence of livestock inftastuctures such as cattle dips or spray races, abatoi, cafe

bomnas slaughter slab ct

• High grade exotic or crossed cows with Inge udders

Commercial livestock + Milking parlour with milking machines, and milk processing plans farming Indoor grazing units

• Preseace ofcash erops on an extensive area
• Evidence of modem farming methods, «farm machinery

Commercial crop + ‘Facilities far collecting erops,e. sheds and stores farming + Presenge of access or feeder roads within the farm

• A single erop covering extensive stretches of land, e.g, sugarcane, tea, cofle, 5

wheat

• Processing factories
• Presenve of storage facilities, eg silos

Plantation farming» ~—=—-Many labourers inthe fields 7 inns pce am Te ay a Re Ng © msec a narod of mals cwsing erm fine mechan oh Sani ead evapo Noval hei evidence ine able fe vngle ype of ming wil be avalible na ingle photograph. However, information available tay suffice to draw conclusions about the type of in, Apart fiom the types of farming, there are other aspects to be considered when describing and iia anoaiindc rn Wahid

• farming characteristics and the areas where such a type of farming is practised;

< ecaaiiiger aa ataccean ne ypeRt tae ee 8 een peyote vanessa CA Ssunraece mig iT Me gy we oe rk ees 2 Eneentesiaiy _ a a ae AS ue Sugarcane plantation Settlement A settlement comprises ofa group of buildings in an area where people live and carry out social and economic activities However, some settlements are made up of institutional, industrial and commercial buildings most of which may not comprise of living houses. Settlements may be of

two types, tiamely, rural and urban settlements. In photographs, rural seltlements ean be indicated by the following features:

• Many semi-permanent and a few penmanent buildings such as grass-thatched houses or

iron-roofed houses with mud or brick walls b. Evidence of farming, cattle herding or fishing activities © Unplanned or unevenly distributed dwellings or presence of villages Planned settlements in rural areas are associated with institutions or plantations ee oS Sco nie * \ Me ({ } (hs

TAA Sa

Rural seitloment Urban settlements can be identified by the following features: a Permanent buildings, which dominate the arca_ b. Regular street patterns Buildings with several storeys (iy ali aa pros alan mie aen ce High auere cf peopia ff ihey we shown ont jotogra), ‘Many mor vehicles oa the road, which may lead to taf jams Peat cities sucha ks, raed, warenounes aid cnthinrs

• a Mpeg

Son ere a : ean, eager ee

Sa SS Se

Ce eS = . Seog a hea PES oe Be pS SSS See eer se =e aes. = Rca magne PMs aia eating os, = lithe ses he Urban setlement Yo ane aa ee ie We i cata gle papa ones WS aU sufficient evidence to lead one to make a distinction as to the type of settlement. Settlement peri cab ently resized eapetaly Em te ground oblique an ers pocorn, Industrial and mining activities Various features signalling the presence of industrial and mining activities may also appear on

photograph It is important that one is Familiar with a wide variety of photographs on which these features are shown, ‘The following evidence can be used as a guide in identifying industrial and mining activities on a photograph: a. Factory buildings with tall chimneys that might be issuing a lot of smoke into the air b. _ Nucleated settlements in the neighbourhood, likely to be the labourers* houses ¢ Tall chimneys emitting flames and a network of pipes with large tanks in the distance

could indicate an oil refinery d_ Large warehouses close to a building that looks ikea factory & Large open pits, large excavators and lorries carrying loads of rocks could indicate open cast mining FA large area with derricks (ol rigs) could point to an oilfield where oil is mined Lumbering Lumbering activities could be indicated by the presence of the following features/activities a. People cutting trees using manual or power saws

b. People loading timber onto lorries or tractor trailers © Logs floating down the river Logs piled near a saw mill € Large forest clearings with tree stumps and piles of logs j ~ be otit Age ° = ARP Ee ee SS Pg: as eR ayo er \Y be Setar: Lett) “

• OO ne ig atel’ Sesiisies —

: OK Bee ee ee Se ee SR ees = A pile of logs ‘Transport and communication means of transport ean also be identified on a photograph. The following are some of the clues

• Motor vehicles and roads

b. Arilway line with or without a trai; or just the presence ofa named railway station c. A large tamaracked or murram road with buildings on one side, a control tower, Aeroplanes may be seen, of just the presence of « named or symbolized airport may be indicated ‘on a photograph Presence of ports, boats, ships or large water bodies Animas camying loads on their backs Facilities for communication may be indicated by the presence of telephone lines, telephone

booths, satellite dishes, buildings with masts and wires connecting the masts, post office, radio or television station, newspapers or newspaper stands, etc. Other human activities represented on photographs can also have relevant clues that enable one to identify the presence of given communication facilities