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Paper ID:IJSREM67250

Learning to See Through Photography: Exploring the Development of Visual Thinking among Visual Arts Students

Stream/Area:

-

Subject:

-

Paper ID:

IJSREM67250

Volume:

10 |

9 |

Sep 2026

Pages:

1-8

Publication Frequency:

Monthly (12 issues per year)

DOI
Digital Object Identifier
10.55041/IJSREM67250

License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.

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Authors

RKT

Renuka Kantilal Thange

Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan,Assistant Professor,School of visual Arts

Research Scholar, Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan, Assistant Professor,School of visual Arts, Bharati Vidyapeeth,Pune-Satara Road, Dhankawadi, Pune, India

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Ap

Apeksha pawar

Assistant Professor,collage of fine Arts

Assistant Professor,School of visual Arts, Bharati Vidyapeeth,Pune-Satara Road, Dhankawadi, Pune, India

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Dp

Dr.Anupuma patil

Assistant Professor,collage of Arts.

Assistant Professor,collage of Arts, Bharati Vidyapeeth,Pune-Satara Road, Dhankawadi, Pune, India

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AR

Aishwarya Rane

Assistant Professor,collage fine Arts.

Assistant Professor,School of visual Arts, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune-Satara Road, Dhankawadi, Pune, India

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Abstract

Photography is not only a medium for recording reality but also a way of observing, interpreting and communicating the visual world. In Visual Arts education, students often learn photography through technical concepts such as camera operation, exposure, composition and lighting. However, developing technical skills alone may not necessarily develop the ability to critically observe and interpret visual information. This paper explores how photography can contribute to the development of visual thinking among Visual Arts students. Drawing on existing literature on visual literacy, photography education and visual analysis, the paper examines photography as a practice through which students learn to observe details, identify relationships, interpret visual information and make purposeful creative decisions. Classroom-oriented examples such as observing ordinary subjects, photographing one subject from different viewpoints and analyzing photographic images are discussed. The paper further proposes a six-stage Visual Thinking through Photography Model consisting of Observe, Notice, Analyses, Interpret, Create and Communicate. The model positions photography as an active process of seeing and thinking rather than simply capturing images. The paper argues that integrating photographic practice with visual analysis and discussion can support students in developing stronger observation, interpretation, critical thinking and visual communication skills. The study concludes that photography can play an important role in Visual Arts education by helping students move from simply looking at images towards understanding how images create meaning.

KEYWORDS

Photography Education Visual Thinking Visual Literacy Visual Arts Education Observation Visual Communication Creative Learning

Cite This Article

Renuka Kantilal Thange, Apeksha pawar, Dr.Anupuma patil, Aishwarya Rane, "Learning to See Through Photography: Exploring the Development of Visual Thinking among Visual Arts Students," International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 10, no. 9, pp. 1-8, Sep 2026. https://doi.org/10.55041/IJSREM67250

Full Article/Conclusion

Photography can play an important role in developing visual thinking among Visual Arts students. It provides students with a practical means of observing, analysing, interpreting and communicating visual information. The central argument of this paper is that learning photography should not be limited to learning how to operate a camera. Students should also learn how to look, what to notice, how to interpret what they see and how to communicate their understanding through images. The proposed Visual Thinking through Photography Model—Observe, Notice, analyze, Interpret, Create and Communicate—provides a simple classroom framework for connecting photographic practice with visual thinking. Through repeated photographic activities, students can learn that the meaning of an image is influenced by choices of viewpoint, framing, light, timing, context and intention. They can also learn that the same subject can produce different meanings when approached from different perspectives. Photography therefore becomes more than a method of recording reality. It becomes a way of thinking visually. Future empirical research can test this proposed model with Visual Arts students through interviews, visual-analysis tasks, reflective journals and comparative analysis of student photographs. Such research could provide further evidence about the development of observation, interpretation, critical thinking and visual communication through photography education.

References

Abas, S. (2019). Reading the world – teaching visual analysis in higher education. Journal of Visual Literacy, 38(1–2), 100–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/1051144X.2019.1574120 Chai, C.-L. (2019). Enhancing visual literacy of students through photo elicitation. Journal of Visual Literacy, 38(1–2), 120–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/1051144X.2019.1567071 Cruz, B. C., & Ellerbrock, C. R. (2015). Developing visual literacy: Historical and manipulated photography in the social studies classroom. The Social Studies, 106(6), 274–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/00377996.2015.1083932 Khoza, B. J., & Tshuma, N. (2022). Photography education in resource-constrained contexts: Exploring the potential of mushfaking. International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.4018/IJMBL.313974 Procter-Legg, T., Klassen, R. M., Snell, R. J. S., Stevenson, N., & Thompson, I. (2026). Conceptions of visual literacy in school-age education: A systematic review. Journal of Visual Literacy, 45(2), 137–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/1051144X.2026.2680316 Thompson, D. S. (2019). Teaching students to critically read digital images: A visual literacy approach using the DIG method. Journal of Visual Literacy, 38(1–2), 110–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/1051144X.2018.1564604 [Author(s)]. (2025). Photovoice for reflection-based learning of creativity and innovation. Journal of Visual Literacy, 44(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/1051144X.2025.2514887 [Author(s)]. (2026). Developing visual critical thinking through the use and creation of multimedia resources. Journal of Visual Literacy. https://doi.org/10.1080/1051144X.2026.2627846

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Publication Date

9/13/2026

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