Interpreting Photographs

Geographers often use photographs when they are studying environments and communities. The photographs most commonly used are:

What type of photograph is this?

GROUND LEVEL

• Shows an area as if we were standing and looking at it.

• Features in the foreground usually appear larger and features further away appear smaller.

What type of photograph is this?

OBLIQUE AERIAL

• Photographs that are taken at an angle.

• These can be taken from an aircraft or mountain looking down at an angle or from the ground looking up.

• Using this angle we are able to discover more of the features in the background.

What type of photograph is this?

VERTICAL AERIAL

• Usually taken from a specially equipped plane with a camera mounted underneath and pointing straight down.

• These photos will show less detail but more area of the environment.

What type of photograph is this?

SATELLITE

• A satellite is an object that orbits the earth. These are able to capture larger areas of the earth’s surface.

Testing your knowledge

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3)

4)

Answers

1) Vertical Aerial

2) Ground Level

3) Satellite Imagery

4) Oblique Aerial