Critically analyse a whakaahua | photo

Simple text, accessible version

Respond to the following prompts and questions.

What am I learning about?

I am learning about … [complete the sentence].

Āta tirotiro | Observe — what can I see?

Think about

I can search this photo for clues such as:

• style of clothing, pose and actions

• treasured cultural items, resources or customs

• signs, flags, symbols or words

• buildings, landmarks, tools or technology

• time of day/year, season or date.

Does the caption tell me the title, photographer, date or location?

Is this photo part of a personal or public collection?

Prompts and questions

1. Looking closely at this photo, I can see [record which of the following you see]:

   • people

   • places

   • taonga

   • objects

   • events

   • clues about time period.

2. This photo’s caption tells me … [complete the sentence].

Urupare | Respond — my feelings, ideas and thoughts

Think about

How does this photo relate to me, my whānau, my community, my tūrangawaewae or where I live?

What is the atmosphere or mood of this photo?

I can think about what would happen if this photo was taken:

• one hour earlier/later

• one week earlier/later

• one year earlier/later.

Questions

1. What are my impressions of this photo?

2. How does this photo make me feel and why?

3. What do I think happened just before/after this photo was taken?

4. What would this photo show me if taken at a different time?

Whakaaroaro | Reflect — my critical questions

Reflections about photographer and purpose of photo

Think about

Can I find clues about the photographer's age, beliefs, culture, ethnicity, gender, religion or social status?

Was this photo taken to record history, to inform/misinform or persuade?

Relationships or interactions shown in this photo could be with people, place, taonga or objects etc.

Questions

1. What do I know about the person who took this photo? What is relevant and why?

2. Why was this photo taken and who was the intended audience?

3. Are there any important relationships or interactions shown in this photo?

Perspectives shown

Think about

Can I identify the photographer's perspective?

How would the perspectives reflected in this photo be viewed in society today?

• Whose voices are missing and why?

• What might the missing voices tell me?

Prompts and questions

1. What attitudes, beliefs, customs, experiences or ideas are shown in this photo?

2. Whose perspectives are reflected in this photo?

3. I agree/disagree with these perspectives because … [complete the sentence].

4. I still want to know about the perspectives of … [record name] because … [complete the sentence].

Usefulness of photo and further research

Think about

As a piece of evidence, I can think about this photo's:

• strengths

• limitations.

Questions

1. How could this photo be useful to what I am learning about?

2. Is it a trusted source? Why/why not?

3. What fact-checking or further research do I still need to do?

Manatārua | Copyright — what are the usage and copyright guidelines for this photo?

Think about

I need to find out what I am:

• allowed to do with this photo

• not allowed to do with this photo.

Prompts and questions

1. What cultural considerations do I need to take into account?

2. I can check the usage and copyright guidelines for this photo.

3. The correct way to cite this source is … [complete the sentence].