Look for clues in the clothing and hair styles, furniture, automobiles, buildings, street fixtures, and other objects in the photograph. Look at clothing and hair styles, setting, body language, and objects to help determine social, economic, or political status, country of origin, and so on. Evidence may include a timepiece or shadow length. Compare several photographs, if you can, taken by the same photographer. Compare two photographs taken of similar events.
Photographs tell stories.
Write a caption for the photograph or research the event and write a newspaper article about it. This 20 minute video from ADL describes Catherine Noren's attempt to rediscover her heritage through old family photographs. Over 1,250 photographs are available in the photo galleries.