Photo Analysis

The photo was taken in post-lockdown, when schools have just been opened. Judging by their body language and facial expressions, this was probably the first day of schools being opened. In the photo, we can see two young pupils hugging each other, signalling that they are two friends who are now reunited after months of staying at home.

Although we can see only part of a child's facial expressions, we can judge that she is emotional from the positioning of her head and eyes. The bags and the accessories including the mask highlights how young the children in the photograph are, and shows the effects of lockdown towards younger people.

The photograph was taken in a medium length shot, this is used to showcase both the setting and the people in the photo. The mise-en-scene is blurred to contrast and to highlight the two girls, making them the main focus in the image. Because of this, we can see the significance of the two people in the photo and the strong message they represent: how emotional it can be to finally see loved ones after months of staying at home.

The quite strong natural lighting situated at the back of the photo overlaps with the two children. This also contrasts with the natural-appearing background with a dark. This connotation could signify happiness and an end of a hard time, and that there is a sense of hope and unity.

This photo could also have a polysemic nature. Judging at a first glance, here can be a sense of uncertainty whether the children hugging could be the first time in a while or the last time in a while. To simplify: we could be unsure if this could be pre-lockdown or post-lockdown, before or after schools have been closed.

Possible captions for this photo could be:

'Two classmates finally reunited after months of lockdown'

'Pupils emotionally greet each other on the first day of schools re-opening'

The official anchorage for this photo states: "Pupils from Marden Bridge Middle School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, greet each other on their first day of term as schools in England reopen on 2 September after the coronavirus lockdown."