This student chose to analyze a black and white photo from the early 20th century showing a man hanging from the Statue of Liberty. The student believes the photo conveys a strong message about the hard times America faced in the 1930s Great Depression and 1940s fight against communism. The large size of the photo allows the viewer to understand the scene clearly. The cropping focuses attention on the center of the image, and the contrasting black and white adds realism and a sense of dread. Analyzing elements like time period, composition, emotions conveyed, and texture helped the student prove this photo effectively delivered a meaningful message.

1. Alanis Meadows
FYS 12:00-12:50
Professor Blanco
March 6, 2016
Photo Analysis Essay
In my FYS class we are doing a Photo Analysis assignment. The picture I chose to do this on
is of a man hanging from the Statue of Liberty. I chose this one because I feel like it conveys a
stronger message and has more meaning than the other options we had. I feel like the picture I
chose is from the early 20th century. By that I mean, I think it is from around the 1930’s or
1950’s time period. During both of those time periods America was going through tough times.
In the 1930’s there was The Great Depression. In the 50’s the fight with communism was going
on. I feel like both of those crucial times may have impacted the photo. I feel that The Great
Depression time period could’ve influenced it to be was it is because times were so hard, and
people may have wanted to commit suicide. When the stock market crashed it was probably
deadly to some individuals. I feel like the 1940’s may have impacted it because communism was
thought to be the death of liberty.
This picture I chose is a large one and I feel like if it were smaller it would be more difficult
to understand. I say that because if the image were smaller everything would be closer together
and more difficult to identify. Also it the image were smaller I wouldn’t be able to clearly see
what was going on. So in the end I feel like this picture communicates better because of its size.
The main focus of the picture I chose is the Statue of Liberty and the man hanging from her. The
two of them are very close together but there is nothing else in the image. The two of them are

2. also asymmetrical as to give an accurate showing of the human form and the statue’s form. I feel
like the picture is orientated the way it is so that nothing takes focus from the center of the
image.
This photo is cropped to where it cuts off most of the statue’s podium. I think that the picture
was cropped the way it was so that viewer immediately pay attention to the center. The center is
where the actual image is. I feel like the cropping helps communicate the significance of the
picture and I feel like it helps the viewer focus in on the picture. This picture is completely in
black and what. The dark provides shading and dimensions to the white and image. The darkest
place is the area between the statue and the man. I feel as if the contrast between the colors
causes a sense of dread and depression. It gives the picture more character. Like I previously
said, this image has no color. The way the black and white goes together makes contrast in the
image. The black heightens the white areas and makes the picture look more realistic.
This image does have a clearly defined shape. It doesn’t have noticeable, heavy or dark lines
but the shading defines the shape. The emotion it gives off is as I earlier said dread and sadness.
Since there are no heavy lines, it makes the picture look very realistic which makes the image
seem scary. There is a lot of texture in this image. The texture makes the statue and the man
stand out. The image’s texture also makes it look interesting. I say that because the photo looks
real. The texture makes it look like it could be either a real photograph or a drawing.
My gut reaction to this picture was disturbance, fear and sadness. My impressions formed
because of how it all came together. The picture by itself is terrifying but when it is made to look
realistic, with strong texture and detail the picture gets scary and sad. The sky is very bland and it
looks cloudy which first gave off a sad emotion but then when I looked at the whole thing I saw
that it was very disturbing.

3. I chose this photo because I felt like it conveyed a stronger message and meaning than the
others. I proved that through talking about the time period it was created and what was going on
during that time. I also proved it by talking about the size and spacing in the image. As well as
speaking of the color, texture and how it was cropped. I mentioned the emotions I felt the image
conveyed and gave a description of the image itself. I’m glad I chose to analyze the photograph I
did.