Exercise: Analyse a photograph

"Castell Coch" - AlCallow Photography 2014

My first impression is that this is a strong image. The main focus is plainly on the castle itself but gives good indication of the castles surroundings. The weather, with the blue skies and white clouds, make the image more appealing, along with the luscious greenery from the trees framing the image. The castle itself is rather spectacular and almost 'fairytale' looking with it's round turrets and towers, and the implied lines of the driveway up to the drawbridge and the gate make it very appealing.
The genre is quite clearly a landscape image. The photograph is showing the castle and it's immediate area and there could be no way to view this as anything other than a landscape shot.
Looking at the image I would say that it's initial intended use would be advertising or it could be a gallery print. The fact the image is solely subjective on the castle, it could be used as a tourist brochure image to attract visitors to the castle. The image is pleasing to the eye, especially as it was taken in such good weather. And it's not the usual castle ruin, the image could really spark interest for people who would like to see it for themselves.
The immediate situation facing me as the photographer was to capture an angle that fit the whole castle into a suitable framing. With all the trees in the outside of the image, the viewpoint was a task in itself, trying to find an angle that not only captured a suitable image of the front of the castle but one that did not have obstructions from trees or overhanging branches. As it is a tourist spot, I also had to make sure that no cars were visible in the image, as I was stood in the main driveway. I wanted the image to be solely about the castle without any vehicles or people if possible.
This is a planned photograph as it has a specific subject and as I have already mentioned, I wanted a particular view, free from people etc. The 'planning' was to capture a pleasing view of the castle but, as I had never visited it before, I was unable to really plan any further details as I was unable to guess the layout of the castle, or the whereabouts of the facilities or the weather beforehand. So it was planned in knowing that I was shooting the castle but everything else was unplanned.
There wasn't really any technical details relevant to this image. Looking at the image, it could've been taken with a large camera, a small camera or a camera phone. There is a significant stillness and even clarity of the image but there isn't really anything to move and the sun allows plenty of light into the image, so there was not really much to comment on under that heading.
The style of the photograph goes hand in hand with the genre really. The shot is a landscape shot but with a sure subject so the style is quite traditional in that respect. And it is strong in that style. I wouldn't say, as the photographer, that I have a style or any mannerisms so looking at the photograph, I would say that it doesn't have any.
The photographers intent was to take a visually appealing shot of the castle to highlight it's unusual character. Most of the castles in my local area are in a wide range of ruined state, but this is unique in it's state of repair and it's overall design, so I wanted to show this and I think it's done well to do that.
Is there sufficient information available? Well this image is exactly how it was shot, without it being tampered with, except maybe for minor adjustments to the saturation and to straighten it slightly. I wouldn't look at this image and say that there was anything about it that had been altered or changed dramatically.
As a viewer, I would say this is a successful photograph under the three questions, but asking if it's good is another story as I tend to be extremely self critical when it comes to my own work. However, under the three questions and pretending that it isn't my own work, I would say that yes, it is good. The photographer set out to produce a visually pleasing photograph of Castell Coch to highlight it's unique beauty and to draw attention to it. The photographer chose a good viewpoint with acceptable focal range as to capture the subject in its surroundings without losing detail and without the need to amend anything and the photographer succeeded to show this in the image.
If I was a tourist to the area, interested in this subject area and saw this photograph, I would want to visit it.