Visual Analysis

At a first glance of the picture, it looks like any other day of a family ordering some lunch at a diner. However, the two signs that say “white” and “colored” each at a different ordering window gives the otherwise normal picture a disturbing vibe. The picture invokes feelings of helplessness and depression, which are strengthened by the way the photographer took the picture. Visual analysis helps people to look at a photo and see how the photographer conveyed the significance of the image. Elements such content, framing, composition, focus, color, lighting, and context are helpful in analyzing pictures and figuring out what kind of message the photographer is trying to convey. The photographer effectively uses several of these elements in

By choosing what is included and what is not, the photographer can strengthen the message of the image to the viewers. The whole diner is not shown in the image to show that window where African Americans order is near the back of the diner. The photographer probably had chosen to leave whites out of the image to show that despite no one being at the main ordering window, African Americans still have to go to the window that is marked for them. This decision gives the African Americans sympathy that they are unable to use the main window like anybody else even when no one is there. By removing whites from the image, a feeling of isolation or loneliness is created for the African

The impact that the image has on the issue of segregation and racial tensions is strengthened by the way that the photographer took the picture. For example, by only having the African Americans in the image, the image’s message that segregation is causing African Americans to become isolated from the rest of the population as they are unable to use the main window at a diner even when no whites are there is strengthened. By choosing to only show African Americans in the image reveals feelings of helplessness as well as sympathy for the African American family which is the main focus of the image. The way that the photographer uses the different visual analysis elements such as content, framing, focus, and angle creates many feelings for the African American family – emotions such as hopelessness, depression, sympathy, and pity. By analyzing an image, the viewer sees how the photographer visualizes the message of their image and how they strengthen that message. From studying the visual elements in the image of segregation at a 1956 diner, it deepens the understanding of one’s view about segregation in the 1950’s and how bad racism had