Describing Photographs:

1)

A- Barrett defines description as the immediate evaluation of an object. This means that the viewer will take in as much information as possible just from his or hers first glance. From here descriptive information can be gathered such as the artists name, the photos whereabouts, date, or many other useful facts that will help form a persons judgement.    

B- Barrett uses the example of photographer that focuses on shooting nudity to explain subject over subject matter. A subject matter is simply what one can view in a photograph. Example of this would include landscapes, buildings, or people. The subject is the purpose behind why the photograph was taken. For a landscape it could be to represent a national pride or a building could be advertising for the worlds largest new establishment.

C- Form is the structure of a given photograph. This are the details that can be studied more precisely into how or why the artist did what he did. You must use formal elements to understand form. These elements include angles, lines, and dots just to name a few.

D- Medium can be understood as identify what exactly it is that one is looking at. A medium allows a viewer to decipher what the artist was intending but also why he or she created it. A medium can be a painting, sketch, or a photograph in this case.

E-  Style is the way in which a piece of art was created and how it then becomes recognizable to the viewer. For example, someone could identify the style of a painting or photograph which would give them insight into the time period, artist, or political reasoning for creating the art.

2) 

A-  Comparing and contrasting is a way for viewers to study art. It can include comparing and contrasting the artwork to another piece of art or to its owner or to another artist. This all will help for abetter understanding of who, what, where, when, why, and how questions that are always applied to art.

B-  The internal and external sources of information are crucial when describing art work. Internal sources would include more of the psychological reasonings behind the art or who inspired the art. Internal sources could also include the person that a piece of art was inspired after. External information includes most of what critics choose to write about. This would be the artist, colors, location, where it was made, and so on.

3)

A- Barrett’s position on the idea of description and interpretation is wise. He believes that both go hand in hand and that you cannot have one without the other. To describe something you must interpret it but to interpret something you often describe it. He does mention that it isn't impossible to have one without the other but seemingly difficult. 

B-  Barrett believes that description should be separated from interpretation. Most often, a critics opinionated interpretation can smear the opinion of another viewer negatively when reading his or her description. 

4) 

Barrett has strong feelings towards how a photograph should be described, interpreted, and released to the viewer. I believe he was trying to create the point that a critic must take away his or her bias and simply take the photograph for what it is primarily, and that would be art. Subconsciously I believe he was arguing that critics today rely solely on their opinion as a way of making profit or heightening their name. Photography has a lot more to offer then just being studied for practical matters. Overall I agree with Barrett. I believe a viewer must take away all bias but also find a way to make the art connect to them in away of creating a personal identity in the photography world.