How to read a photography ? Graham Clarke

In  How do we read a photography,Graham Clarke describes that photography can be called a ' photographic discourse' : a language of codes which involves its own grammar and syntax. In other words, it is an complex and as rich as any written language through its own way. 

As Graham said: firstly, we need remember that the photography is itself the product of a photographer. Secondly, the photography encodes the terms of reference by which we shape and understand a three-dimensional world. 

Identical Twins(1967)Diane Arbus

Roland Barthes has suggested an important distinction here between the relative meaning of different elements within the photography frame, distinguishing between what has been termed the denotative and the connotative. By ' denotative' is meant the literal face-value meaning of a sign. And the Connotative can be understand as all the social, cultural, and historical meanings that are added to a sign's literal meaning. Moreover, Barthes has identifies two distinct factors in our relationship to the image. The first, what he calls the studium. While the second, the punctum. The punctum is a 'detail', which punctuates the studium and disturbs it. In this photograph:

denotation: Two young twin sisters are looking at the shot, one slightly smiles and the other slightly frowns.

connotation: Seeing this picture could stir up thoughts of childlike innocence and carefree times, and this photo can show the different attitudes of children when they look at the camera. Maybe the girl who is slightly frowns is thinking about ''who are you, why you take photos of me". 

punctum: the different expression of the twins.

studium: as a docile cultural subject, it can represent family life, sisterhood.

The sisters stand side by side in matching dresses, white tights and a white headband. Both the twins have dark hair and it is cut into the same style. Both stare into the camera, one slightly smiling the other looking quiet sad. They are consciously to the shot.  I feel the image has a somewhat disturbing effect on the viewer. The connotation of the twins being identical to society because this is what we expect to the theory that although things appear to be the same, the reflection of the soul and personality through the eyes and expression can tell a different story. When I first saw this image it reminded me of a scene in a film called The Shining, as I began to research the photograph I found out that the photograph is said to be echoed in the Stanley Kubrick film. In the film there is two identical twins depicted as troublesome ghouls. In conclusion I feel Arbus was trying to capture that each one of us has our own identity and how the eye can be deceiving, things that look the same in theory can be completely different in truth.