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Definitions of Photograph
– Photograph is picture produced by using a camera or satellite or radar, and then made visible and permanent by chemical treatment, or stored digitally.
– Photograph is a picture taken by means of chemical lights prepared on a special paper.
– Photograph is a picture made using a camera, in which an image is focused on to light-sensitive material and then made visible and permanent by chemical treatment, or stored digitally.
– Photograph is an image of a person, object, or view that is produced by using a camera and film
– Photograph is a picture obtained by using a camera and film that is sensitive to light
– Photograph is a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material
– Photograph is an image or a picture of an object which is recorded by a camera and then printed on a paper.
– Photograph is an image of an object which is recorded by a camera and then printed on paper.
Photograph interpretation is a process of reading, measuring and interpreting photographs for obtaining reliable information about natural or human features and their environment.
In other words, photograph interpretation can be defined as analysis and examination of photographs so as to be able to identify natural or artificial features.
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| A Photograph of Hills |
Types of Photographs
1. Ground (Horizontal) Photographs
2. Oblique Photographs
3. Vertical Photographs
1. GROUND LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHS
These are the photographs taken on the level grounds when the optical camera axis is horizontal to the object. Or, these are photographs that are taken from the ground when the camera is at the same level as the object being photographed.
Objects are large and clearly shown in these photographs when they are close than those far from the camera The fore ground and the horizon is seen but the back /dead ground is not seen There is no fixed scale. They are sometimes known as Terrestrial Photographs
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| Ground (Horizontal) Photographs |
Characteristics of Ground Level Photographs
1. They show only the (front) side view of an object
2. It is taken when the camera is near the to the ground
3. Its scale decrease from the foreground to the background
4. They have the optical camera axis horizontal to an object
Uses of Ground Level Photographs
1. They are used for the identification of the objects because the features are shown clearly
2. They are for ordinary photographs
2. OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHS
These are the photographs taken from hills looking down with camera towards the ground. Sometimes they are taken from low flying planes, towers or from tall building. Or, are the photographs taken when a camera is slanting at an angle less than 90°.
They are taken when the photographer is standing on an elevated ground and hold the camera on an angle towards the lower ground. They normally cover the horizon.
Types of Oblique Photographs
1. Low oblique Photographs
2. High Oblique Photographs
A) LOW OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHS
These are the photographs taken with camera tilted not to include the horizon the photograph. Or, these are taken when the photographer is standing in elevated ground, such as top of a hill, building or cliff, and holds the camera at an angle pointing towards the lower ground.
The photograph can also be taken when the photographer is standing at the bottom of an elevated ground, with the camera pointing towards the higher ground.
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| Low oblique Photographs |
Characteristics of Low Oblique Photographs
1. It covers a small area
2. It does not show the horizon
3. It shows the top and front views of the objects
4. They are taken from an elevated area at 45°(for example: from the top of the mountain)
5. The features in the fore and middle ground are shown clear
Uses of Low Photographs
i) They are used for the identification of the objects because the features are shown clearly
ii) They can be used for geographical research
B) HIGH OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPH
These are photographs taken with the camera tilted to include the horizon. Or, these photographs are taken from the sky with the camera tilted at an angle towards the ground.
The photographer may take the photograph from a helicopter or lowflying aeroplane. These photographs cover quite a large area of land.
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| High Oblique Photograph |
Characteristics of High Oblique
1. They show large area
2. They are taken at 60°
3. They show the horizon
4. They show both the front and top view
5. They are important in map making
Oblique Photographs can be Low Oblique (if the horizon is not visible) or High Oblique (if the horizon is visible)
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| Low Oblique versus High Oblique Photographs |
3. VERTICAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS
These are photographs taken with camera whose axis tilted vertically to the ground at right angle (90°). These are photographs taken from the aircraft with the camera directly above the object pointing vertically to the ground.
Only the top view is seen. Instruments used to capture pictures are called air crafts or the satellites
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| Vertical Photographs |
Characteristics of Vertical Aerial Photographs
1. They show large areas
2. They are taken from the air
3. They are taken when the camera is placed vertically towards the object
4. They can be used in map making
5. They contain a lot of detailed information of a given photographic region since they print everything
Uses of Vertical Aerial Photographs
1. They are used for plotting contour lines
2. They are used for map making
3. They are used for military purposes
4. They can produce variety of scales like small scale and large scale
5. They are used for pilot studies before conducting field trip
6. They can be used for investigation or researches
7. They can be also used for rapid survey of unknown area like thick forests and high mountains
Differences between Oblique/Ground Photograph and Vertical Photograph
1. Vertical photographs show the top view while Oblique photographs show the top and front view
2. It is difficult to identify objects in Vertical photographs than in Oblique photographs
3. In Vertical photographs, all important features are seen while in Oblique photographs some important features are not seen.
4. Oblique photographs are less expensive than Vertical photographs
5. It is difficult to recognize the image of the Vertical photographs while the image or picture of Oblique photographs is easily recognized
6. It is easier to determine the scale in Vertical photographs than in Oblique photographs
Comparisons between Photographs and Maps
1. Both photographs and maps are important in learning geography
2. They both have scales
3. Both are used in military for techniques
4. Both show the physical and relief features on the earth
5. Both are used by planners when planning for something or a project
6. They both represent the three dimensional World on the flat surface
Differences between Maps and Photographs
The Value or Importance of Photographs in Geography and Daily Life
1. Photographs store information for future generation
2. They act as main house of information of a place
3. Photographs are used to prepare the topographical maps
4. They provide quick and instant information than maps
5. They replace verbal description and save time
6. They show real feature of the earth and provide a good visual impression for observation and interpretation
7. Photographs are also used in geographical research
