Understanding pictures
Subtitle: theories, exercises, and procedures
By: by Stuart A. Oring.
Publisher: ISIS Visual Communications
Published: 1992
Place of publication: Owings, MD
Language: eng
Number of pages: 233
Subjects: Photographic criticism.
First sentence: While this book has been written from the perspective of "fine art photography," the theories, concepts, and procedures that it describes to other forms of visual art as well.
Description: My book provides a comprehensive approach to understanding pictures and includes exercises to help the reader in his or her quest to accomplish this goal.  The material includes both traditional and non-traditional methods--some of which is derived from the philosophies of Minor White and Ralph Hattersley (who were my mentors and teachers) at Rochester Institute of Technology). Some of the material is based upon original research, and proven its value as an  accurate tool to reveal insights into the psyche of the artist.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-82).
Table of contents: pagenum: iv
title: Introduction and Preliminary Exercises; pagenum: 1
title: On Understanding Pictures; pagenum: 2
title: An Active Method for Studying a Photograph; pagenum: 3
title: Picture Story Analysis; pagenum: 3
title: Picture Story Exercises; pagenum: 3
title: An Approach to Reading a Photograph; pagenum: 4
title: Why Photographs Should Be Read; pagenum: 4
title: A Passive Method for Reading a Photograph; pagenum: 5
title: Exercises; pagenum: 9
title: Sketches; pagenum: 11
title: Active and Passive Exercises; pagenum: 13
title: Total Analysis; pagenum: 13
title: Exercise; pagenum: 14
title: Interviewing and Recording the Viewer's Experiences; pagenum: 14
title: Collation of the Viewer's Experiences With Your Own; pagenum: 15
title: Children's Exercise; pagenum: 15
title: Verbal Association Exercise; pagenum: 15
title: Multiple Images; pagenum: 16
title: Sequence Exercise; pagenum: 16
title: Effect of Images on Images Exercise; pagenum: 17
title: Effect of Words on Images Exercise; pagenum: 17
title: Methood for Putting Together a Sequence; pagenum: 18
title: Things to Keep in Mind When Reading Photographs; pagenum: 18
title: A Sense of Presence; pagenum: 19
title: Visual into Movement Exercise; pagenum: 19
title: Four Broad Classes of Photographs; pagenum: 20
title: Concepts about Light; pagenum: 21
title: Concepts about Space; pagenum: 21
title: Concepts about Form; pagenum: 22
title: Concepts about Tone; pagenum: 23
title: Concepts about Value Patterns; pagenum: 24
title: Concepts about Objects; pagenum: 24
title: Concepts about Balance; pagenum: 25
title: Concept of Essence; pagenum: 25
title: Essence and the Dominant Image; pagenum: 26
title: Concept of Experience; pagenum: 26
title: Concepts about the Camera; pagenum: 32
title: Photography Compared to Painting; pagenum: 33
title: Previsualization; pagenum: 33
title: The Subconscious Mind in Photography; pagenum: 34
title: The Unconscious Creative Cycle; pagenum: 34
title: Chance and Happenstance; pagenum: 36
title: Expressive and Creative Photography; pagenum: 36
title: Public and Private Images; pagenum: 37
title: Things for What They Are and What Else They Are; pagenum: 37
title: Channeling the Spectator's Associations; pagenum: 38
title: The Record of an Inner State; pagenum: 38
title: Mirror Images; pagenum: 38
title: Probe Images; pagenum: 38
title: Dream Images; pagenum: 38
title: Message Images; pagenum: 39
title: The Equivalent; pagenum: 39
title: Process of Equivalence; pagenum: 40
title: Communication by the Equivalent; pagenum: 41
title: Equivalent and Coreform; pagenum: 41
title: Private and Public Equivalents; pagenum: 42
title: The Photographer's State of Mind; pagenum: 42
title: Photography of an Inner State of Mind; pagenum: 43
title: Heightened Awareness; pagenum: 43
title: The Blank Mind; pagenum: 43
title: Experiencing the Photograph; pagenum: 44
title: Statement vs. Effect; pagenum: 44
title: Form, Thoughts, and Emotions; pagenum: 44
title: Photographs Function as Symbols; pagenum: 44
title: Physical Procedure; pagenum: 45
title: Procedure for the Analysis of Photographs; pagenum: 47
title: Empathy and Projection; pagenum: 47
title: Associations and the Subconscious; pagenum: 47
title: Characteristics of the Experience; pagenum: 48
title: The Experience and Communication; pagenum: 48
title: Blocks to Understanding; pagenum: 49
title: Instant Criticism; pagenum: 49
title: Plain Sense of the Image; pagenum: 49
title: Wrong Anticipation and Misreading Facts; pagenum: 49
title: Memory Jogs; pagenum: 50
title: Compulsive Reactions; pagenum: 50
title: Stock Answers; pagenum: 50
title: Verbalization; pagenum: 50
title: Doctrinal Adhesions; pagenum: 50
title: Sentimentality; pagenum: 51
title: Feeling of Inadequacy; pagenum: 51
title: Apathy; pagenum: 51
title: Either - Or; pagenum: 51
title: Avoidance of the Issue When Under Pressure; pagenum: 51
title: Emotional Blocks Through Analysis; pagenum: 52
title: Types of Responses and What They Indicate; pagenum: 52
title: Identification of Subject Matter; pagenum: 52
title: Multivalence; pagenum: 52
title: The Person Who Doesn't Want To Do Self-Searching; pagenum: 53
title: Oblivious Responses; pagenum: 53
title: Rejection; pagenum: 53
title: No Commment; pagenum: 54
title: I Like It - I Don't Like It; pagenum: 54
title: I Just Love It; pagenum: 54
title: The Changers; pagenum: 54
title: The Bluffers; pagenum: 55
title: It's Been Done Before; pagenum: 55
title: Neutral Responses; pagenum: 55
title: Literal Description; pagenum: 55
title: Technical Analysis; pagenum: 55
title: Description of Graphic Design; pagenum: 56
title: The Historical Viewpoint; pagenum: 56
title: Pertinent Responses; pagenum: 56
title: Clues to Image Involvement; pagenum: 57
title: Sense of Presence; pagenum: 57
title: Deduction from Visible Clues; pagenum: 57
title: Recognition of an Immediate Symbolism; pagenum: 57
title: Conversion into Signs and Symbols; pagenum: 58
title: Anthropomorphizing; pagenum: 58
title: The Photograph as a Source of Experience; pagenum: 58
title: Exploration of the Mirror Nature of Photographs; pagenum: 58
title: Responses as if The Photograph Were An Eqauivalent; pagenum: 58
title: Intellectual Responses; pagenum: 59
title: Evaluation of Responses; pagenum: 59
title: Study of One's Own Photographs; pagenum: 60
title: Collation of the Photographer's Experiences; pagenum: 60
title: Prediction of Visual Experience; pagenum: 60
title: Evaluation of Photographs; pagenum: 61
title: Checklist for Reading a Picture; pagenum: 62
title: Understanding Pictures by means of Synchronicity Systems; pagenum: 62
title: Using the I Ching; pagenum: 64
title: The Photo-Analysis Spread; pagenum: 65
title: "Idea-Feeling" and the Mental Atmosphere of the Photographer; pagenum: 66
title: Steps in the Creative Photographic Process; pagenum: 67
title: Checklist for Using Synchronicity Systems; pagenum: 68
title: Checklist for Actively Studying a Photograph; pagenum: 70
title: Active Analysis by Memory Association; pagenum: 77
title: Bibliography; pagenum: 83
title: Appeendices - Examples of Analysis and Advanced Procedures; pagenum: 83
title: Appendix A - Analysis of a Documnentary Photograph; pagenum: 92
title: Appendix B - Analysis of a Creative Realistic Photograph; pagenum: 101
title: Appendix C - Analysis of an Abstract Photograph; pagenum: 111
title: Appendix D - Synchronicity Systems Comparison Analysis; pagenum: 130
title: Appendix E - Facts Concerning Synchronicity Systems; pagenum: 134
title: Appendix F - How to Correlate Your Analysis; pagenum: 137
title: Appendix G - Checklists; pagenum: 147
title: Appendix H - Advanced Dream Analysis Procedures; pagenum: 161
title: Appendix I - Advanced Procedures (Non-Synchronicity Systems); pagenum: 205
title: Appendix J - Advanced Procedures (Synchronicity Systems); pagenum: 223
title: AppendixK - Supplementary Reading List (Advanced Procedures); pagenum: 232
title: Appendix L - Insight Producting Methods for the Master; pagenum: 239
title: Appendix M - Supplementary Bibliography