UNIT 2 :THE ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTINENTS►

UNIT 1: INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO IMAGES

  • UNIT 1: INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO IMAGES

    Key Unit competence:
    By the end of this unit, I should be able to interpret photographs, video and 

     images.

     Introductory activity
     In the previous units, it was shown that maps are very important tools to 
    indicate and to describe physical and human features. Identify and describe 
    other techniques used in geography to locate and display physical and 

    human features.

     1.1. Definition and types of photographs
     Learning activity 1.1

     Describe  the difference between the two photographs provided below:

    1.1.1. Definition
     A photograph is a picture of an object or environment taken by a camera at 
    a particular time in a given place. Photographs are techniques of recording 
    geographical information. They enhance the understanding of reality. However, 
    when a photograph is taken, some parts of the object or environment are seen 
    while others may not appear clearly. A hidden ground or area which cannot be 

    seen by a camera when a photograph is taken is called a dead ground.

     1.1.2. Major types of photographs
     There are two major types of photographs: Terrestrial / close or ground 
    photographs and Aerial photographs.

     

    1) Ground Photographs


     Also called terrestrial or close photographs, ground photographs are 
    photographs taken from the ground level. They record targets exactly what a 
    person would see if he or she was standing on the ground level. A ground 
    photograph gives a horizontal view, great details of the landscape and covers a 

    small area. 

    There are two types of ground photographs:
     i) Ground horizontal photograph: This is a photograph taken when a 
    camera is held horizontally to the ground.
     ii) Ground oblique photograph: This is a photograph taken when the 

    camera is titled at an angle facing the ground.


    2) Aerial Photographs


     Aerial photographs are images taken from aerial station such as aircrafts, 
    satellites and other flying objects. They cover a wide area where features are 
    greatly reduced. They show the top of the object and do not view objects in a 
    perfect horizontal perspective. 

    There are two categories of aerial photographs: 
    i) Vertical aerial photographs are images taken when the camera is 
    directly located above or overheading the target objects,  or when it is 

    perpendicular to the ground.


     ii) Oblique aerial photographs: These are photographs taken when the 

    camera is titled at an angle below 90 degrees.

     Application activity 1.1

     Identify the types of the photographs A and B below and describe them

    1.2. Sections of a photograph and interpretation of 
    physical and human aspects
     Learning activity 1.2
     Observe the photograph below and answer the following questions:
     1) Identify the physical and human features shown on the below 
    photograph.
     2) Indicate the respective parts where these features are found in the 

    below photograph. 

    1.2.1. Sections of a photograph
     From a horizontal perspective, photographs have three parts described below:
     • The foreground: It is the part of the photograph located nearest to 
    the camera.
     • The middle ground: It is the central part of the photograph.
     • The back ground: It is the farthest part of the photograph that includes 
    the horizon.
     From a vertical perspective, photographs are also divided in three parts: left, 
    centre and right.

    Combining both horizontal and vertical perspectives, the photographs can be 

    put into the following categories:

     1.2.2. Interpretation of physical and human aspects on 
    photographs and video images
    Physical and human aspects on photographs and video images can be 

    interpreted as follows:

     A. Interpretation of physical aspects
     i) Climate: Climate in a photograph is indicated by rainfall and temperature. 
    Heavy rainfall can be observed by presence of dense forests and crops 
    like sugar cane, rice and tea while high temperature may be observed by 
    the presence of poor vegetation, people wearing light clothes etc. 
    ii) Relief: The landforms depicted on a photograph include mountains, 
    hills, valleys, escarpments, plateaus and plains. A hilly or mountainous 
    landscape is indicated by the presence of steep slopes, presence of 
    terraces, snow and glaciers on the top. Plateaus and plains are identified 
    by a uniformly flat land with sloping edges and pools of water or irrigated 
    land. Wide valleys with meanders and flood plains also suggest the 

    presence of plain land.

    Relief on vertical aerial photographs can be interpreted by observing the 
    following:
     • Flat areas can be identifiable by the presence of meandering rivers, 
    straight roads and gentle bends.
     • Plateaus can be indicated by presence of flat topped hills.
     iii) Vegetation: This is the plant life that covers the earth surface; it is both 
    natural and artificial. When describing vegetation on a photograph, the 
    aspects to consider are the type of vegetation whether grassland, scrub 
    or thicket; the tree species such as baobab, acacia, eucalyptus; the 
    density of the vegetation whether trees are close together or scattered; 
    and the nature of the vegetation whether human made or natural.
    iv) Drainage: Drainage is shown by the presence of water bodies on a 
    photograph, such as streams, rivers, lakes, swamps, seas, and oceans. 
    Others are man-made water features like wells, ponds, valley dams and 
    boreholes. In photographs, drainage is interpreted in the following ways:
    • Rivers appear with meandering channels with swampy vegetation along 
    them.
     • Swamps appear with luxuriant vegetation dominated by papyrus reeds.
     v) Soils: The types of soils can be identified by observing the types of 
    crops grown there because there are crops that grow well in specific 
    types of soils, for example, tea and coffee grow well in fertile volcanic 

    soils. Where erosion took place, the soils are exposed. 

    B. Interpretation of human aspects
     Photographs and video images can be very useful in the interpretation of human 
    activities such as:
     i) Forestry: A forest is evidenced by the presence of both artificial and 
    natural forests.
     ii) Agriculture: Agricultural activities can be observed by the presence of 
    food crops and cash crops as well as animals like cattle both exotic and 
    traditional breeds.  
    iii) Transport and communication: Both transport and communication 
    networks are evidenced by presence of motor vehicles, bicycles, roads, 
    ships, airports, and communication facilities such as telephone lines and 
    masts.
    iv) Mining: This is shown by Open pits, people undertaking mining or a 
    mineral processing plant show that there is mining taking place in that 
    area.
    v) Industry: Industrialization is shown by the presence of industries emitting 
    smoke from huge chimneys.
    vi) Trade or commerce: the commerce is evidenced by trading centers 
    with congested buildings and at times presence of markets.
    vii) Settlement: It is evidenced by the presence of houses in different 

    patterns.

    Application activity 1.2
     Observe the photograph below and describe the physical and human 

    aspects represented on it.

     1.3. Relationship between physical and human aspects on 

    photographs and video images

     Learning activity 1.3
     Describe the relationship between physical and human features represented 

    on the photograph below:

    Photograph showing physical features (down-left) and human 
    features (up-right):     the arrow indicates the position of a river which 

    drains the valley that appears on the photograph.

    Some photographs and video images help in illustrating the relationship 
    between human and physical aspects. Basing on the figure provided above, the 
    relationship between human and physical aspects can be explained as follows: 
    i) Relief and transport: Transport routes occur on gentle slopes and 
    avoid steep slopes and valleys since it is very expensive to construct 
    roads in hilly areas.
     ii) Relief and agriculture: On steep slopes, less agriculture takes place 
    while on gentle slopes most agricultural practices are observed. The low 
    lands are usually reserved for growing of vegetables, sugar cane, rice, 
    and other crops that need enough water.
     iii) Relief and settlement: Settlements are commonly found in gentle 
    slopes and are few in steep slopes and valleys because of the problem 
    of severe soil erosion and flooding in valleys.
     iv) Drainage patterns and settlement: Settlement occurs in well 
    drained areas and avoids lake shores or river banks because of floods 
    and associated problems.
     v) Drainage and transport: Transport routes are usually found in well 
    drained areas. For example, roads cannot be constructed in swampy 
    areas due to excessive water. Water transport occurs on water bodies 

    like rivers, lakes, oceans and seas.

     Application activity 1.3
     Observe the photograph below and describe how physical features have 

    influenced human activities in the area.

    Skills Lab
     With help of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values acquired in this unit, 
    suggest ways of conserving the physical features and promoting economic 

    activities in your school environment for sustainable development. 

    End unit assessment

     Study the photograph provided below and answer the following questions:

    1) Identify the economic activities taking place and describe their 
    importance to the people living in the area. 
    2) Suggest ways of conserving the area in the background of the 
    photograph for environmental sustainability.
     3) Identify the human features which are predominant in the foreground 

    of the above photograph

    UNIT 2 :THE ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTINENTS►