These two photographs show rhinos in their habitat. To understand such pictures, one needs to apply different levels of understanding an image. One of the levels is denotation. Denotation is a word describing an image in its meaning concept, idea or object (Rozakis 14). From the above photographs, the denotation is the wildlife. The image itself shows photographs of rhinos, which are obviously found in the wilderness. In addition, though the two photographs show rhino images, they are different. Photograph A shows two rhinos, which are hornless and the background shows bare ground with no vegetation while Photograph B shows horned rhinos and the back ground of the picture shows a rich vegetation.
Connotation is a symbolic cultural postulation that suggests the image (Moore 1). It involves social and cultural values interpretation and ideological assumptions. From the photographs above, Photograph A implies a drought season as the background seems bare. In addition, the two rhinos look as if they are scrambling for something like water. The rhinos are also hornless. This suggests that the rhinos must have poached for their horns. Photograph B shows a very rich background. This implies a good habitat. In addition, the animas look healthy with horns. this connotes that the animals are well conserved and guarded from the poachers.
Ideologically, the two photographs help the society understand the dangers associated with wildlife destruction.
The stylistic content in these photographs is the location (Rozakis 34). The two photographs were shot from different grounds and the photographer was doing so to drive the message home. In addition, the photographer has used different sizes in his work to bring out a clear difference between the two photographs. Photograph B shows a subordinated group as the animals seems discriminated and violated while Photograph B shows a dominant group, as the animals seem to enjoy their rights and superior resources. Photograph A misses power.
The news under these photographs indicates rhino poaching in South Africa (Collie 1). The two photos represent the news very well. What the audience would be interested to know is how poachers get into wildlife habitats and yet it is guarded by the Wildlife services.
Work cited
Collie, Dave. Rhino poaching in South Africa on the increase. 03 Nov 2011.web. 03 Nov 2011
<http://www.earthtimes.org/conservation/rhino-poaching-south-africa-increase/1590/>
Moore, Andrew. Semantics - meanings, etymology and the lexicon. 03 Nov 2011.web. n.d 2000.
<http://www.teachit.co.uk/armoore/lang/semantics.htm>
Rozakis, Laurie.Vocabulary for dummies. John Wiley & Sons. London UK: 2001.print
