How to read a photograph/ Punctum (task)

Stadium is the main element that grabs your attention the most from a photo, However, Punctum is a rare detail that makes the viewer feel something for a photo and pushes the photo even further. It is described a the 'pricks and bruises'


Here is a few examples of Staduim and Punctum images by James Lomax who is a British walking photographer.

Here Lomax takes a picture on London bridge explaining that your first impressions it that 'its fat and non - involving'. However, he points out that there is a man gazing into the camera, which he then discribes it as 'And as with the Cartier-Bresson shot it depicts a network of gazes, this time with direct reference to photography.'

Again here is another image taken from Lomax, what you can see immediately is 4 kids. However, Lomax draws explains that your attention is soon drawn to the steel drum behind the kids, which Lomax explains as 'But then you see the steel drum above their heads, and understand the image in a slightly different way – still cute, but also representing the psychology of the situation and, by association, suggestively changing the meaning of the yellow rope. It’s this punctum I wanted to emphasise by calling the image ‘Unimpressed’

Within this task I picked up how a small detail within an image can give a new story or add more information to the image itself. Because my essay is looking into society, using punctum could help me when trying to get my issue across in a subtle but effective way.