Why choose one image over another? During your studies at the BAC, you will develop critical skills to determine which books and articles will help you as you write research papers or develop a thesis. Critical skills need to be developed for the use of visual content as well.
If you're researching climate change, you want to review images that best represent your viewpoint to professors and peers.
With regard to architectural drawings, you want to evaluate qualities of different plans. For example, do the images contain a scale, is there enough detailed information or programming within the drawings, and are there diagrams or details that explain a crucial physical aspect of the building.
Rather than taking the first images you find; think critically, compare, and choose the best images that will help you understand a building, site, or concept or choose images to help others understand your presentation or research.
For example, below you have small screen captures from two types of maps of the North End in Boston. The map on the top is from an historical fire insurance map. The road map on the bottom is more contemporary. Your choice between the two will depend on what you hope to express visually.
Fire insurance district atlas (1874) by F.W. Beers & Co. From the Boston Public Library's Leventhal Map Collection. No copyright restrictions.
Official Road Map by GEO. H. Walker & Co.from the Boston Public Library's Leventhal Map Collection. No copyright restrictions.
