Reading Comprehension

Strategy #6: Reading photographs

Photographs are commonly interspersed within much of our students' reading materials and have tremendous power to communicate information. "Reading" photographs along with the related text presents a unique set of challenges for students. However, we can guide them to use questions to decode, evaluate, and respond to photographic images.

Example Photo 1

The photograph above is provided as a reference as you work through application of the following steps.

1. The Five "W" Questions:

A common approach to understanding what photographs communicate is to ask the Five W's: who, when, what, where, and why. While the "Five W's" may seem simplistic, they are a starting point for better comprehension.

Have your students utilize the Five "W" questions starting with this basic comprehension set:

Who or what is in the photograph?
When was this photograph taken?
What is happening in the photograph?
Where was this photograph taken?

Adding the fifth W, "Why?" builds on basic comprehension to encourage critical analysis for visual literacy:

Why did the photographer select these particular elements to include in the photograph?
Why did the photographer emphasize certain elements and not others?
Why did the photographer take the picture at this moment?
Why did the photographer take the picture from this angle?

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