Mario Giacomelli's Scanno Boy Photograph: Critical Denotative Aspects (Case Study Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Subject DD MM YYYY Scanno Boy Mario Giacomelli’s Scanno Boy photograph discloses to the viewer the photographer’s sole intention to focus their attention on the boy in the middle distance of the image. The photographer subjects the image to a narrow depth of field that focuses on the boy while the women’s faces are blurred. To photographer vignettes the image stressing to the viewer the significance of the boy in the photograph amid a blurred surrounding. The boy walks gazing straight at the camera in an upright posture displaying his confidence to the viewer. On the contrary, the women in front are deliberately avoiding looking at the camera showing their lack of confidence and suggestive psychological and emotional distress. While the Scanno Boy photograph focuses on a confident boy walking oblivious to his surrounding, the gloomy and disinterested faces of the women are suggestive of a society battling social issues. The Scanno Boy photograph reviews critical denotative aspects as well as compelling connotative elements that help the viewer understand the photograph’s underlying meaning (Clarke 30). Various denotative aspects of the picture can be noticed at a glance. The photographer’s narrow depth of field capture allows the focus of the photograph to the walking boy. The boy, though in a middle distance, is looking directly at the camera. Two women are walking in front of the boy. The woman on the left is older than the woman on the right. Both women are walking away from the camera while the boy is walking straight towards the camera. The women are avoiding eye contact with the camera choosing to look on the ground. The women are wearing heavy dark clothes while the boy is wearing light clothes with a sweater and a white instead of a heavy jacket like the women. Behind the boy, two women are also seen walking together in heavy black clothing. The Scanno Boy image is a black and white photograph suggesting the period that the photograph was taken. The photographer uses the extended exposure technique that captures the walking boy in a stationary position while the women are blurred. The central location of the boy in the image also emphasizes the significance of the boy in the photograph. The bright contrast of the photo allowing the viewer to distinguish the colors indicates a large aperture of the camera the photographer uses that allows more light to enter in the camera. A connotative analysis of The Scanno Boy image gives the viewer a more profound understanding of the photograph. The photographer places the central focus of the image on the boy. In an upright posture, the boy gazes directly at the camera suggestive of his confidence. The boy’s body language where he walks with his hands in the pockets is an indication of his actions to subconsciously hide his pres...