Describe a Photograph you Like- IELTS Cue Card

and explain why it is one of your favourite photographs.

Sample Answer 1

Photographs offer us a glimpse into moments gone by and allow us to relive our precious memories all over again. For me, photographs act as a token of remembrance and transport me to places I have enjoyed visiting long after I have left them. One such photograph I like is one I took on the banks of the Rupnarayan River on a short day trip.

The photograph was taken while I was travelling to a resort for Sunday lunch with my parents. The resort was situated right on the banks of the Rupnarayan River near Kolaghat in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. It was the season of autumn, which meant that Saccharum Sponanteum (kaash phool, as it is known in Bengali), a kind of white feathery grass, was growing wild. Traditionally, this grass has been associated with heralding the start of autumn in Bengal and, with it, Durga Puja, which is a festival that most Bengalis look forward to the entire year.

My photograph captures the light cerulean blue autumn skies, sparkling with sunshine, contrasted with the vast swollen river and the river banks studded with Saccharum spontaneum, cascading in the wind. It perfectly captures the beauty of autumn in West Bengal and is a testament to the miraculous beauty of nature. Unlike autumn in other parts of the world, where it is seen as a gloomy farewell to the summer, in India and West Bengal in particular, the short autumn is a joyous time. For many, it is a time of celebration and reaping of the harvest and signifies an end to the impetuous monsoon season, which is filled with flooding and devastation. Bathed in bright blues and greens, my photograph captures this mood of joy and celebration and preserves it for years to come.

Sample Answer 2

Photographs are something that captures our precious moments so that we cherish them when we see them even after years. Photographs are a perfect way to preserve an individual’s important milestones. Here, I’d like to talk about one of the photographs I like.

A photograph is said to be worth a thousand words since it expresses emotion, tells a narrative, and captures affection between our loved ones. This photo was taken a couple of years back before the pandemic Covid-19 hit the country when one of my second cousin’s got hitched in Goa. All of my kith and kins were invited, and we had a gala time during the three-day destination wedding as there were many ceremonies, fun activities, and events. The marriage brought a lot of enthusiasm because it was the first time we gathered together after the demise of my great grandmother.

After the dreamy wedding ceremony, it was the most anticipated moment, taking photographs, all the family members got together in one frame, and a perfect photo was taken with an exquisite and breathtaking beach view, the waves crashing and the breeze gushing in the background.

This photograph froze the precious moments that will be cherished forever because, after my great grandmother’s death, our families were separated due to property disputes. But this wedding got them back together. Now, after 2 years, when I look at this photograph, I can see everyone being euphoric and enjoying the moment forgetting all of their conflicts.

Vocabulary

• Euphoric

Meaning: characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness.
Eg: My parents were euphoric when my sister announced her pregnancy.

• Exquisite

Meaning: extremely beautiful and delicate
Eg: The jewellery owner showed an exquisite piece of jewellery.

• Milestone

Meaning: a significant stage or event in the development of somethin
Eg: The startup achieved a milestone after launching its new product.

• Dispute

Meaning: a disagreement or argument
Eg: There was a property dispute between my father and uncle.

• Kith and Kins

Meaning: friends and relatives
Eg: Andrew invited his kith and kins to his sister’s wedding.

Part 3 Follow-up Questions:

1. What do you think about ‘Photography’ as a career?

Many professions have gained popularity due to technological advancements, and one of the professions emerging as an interesting and thrilling career option is photography. Until a few years ago, photography was considered a passion or hobby, but now photography can generate numerous job opportunities for the youth. Moreover, in today’s fast-paced world, photography plays an indispensable role in different fields such as press, media, social media, fashion, etc. Thus, photography as a career can bring a lot of flexibility and exceptional opportunities for an aspiring photographer.

2. What makes a good photograph?

It is creativity that makes a good photograph. Some individuals are born with a vision to create something extraordinary, whereas others learn to create a vision for themselves. Anyone can click a photograph of nature, but it takes an all-out effort to capture an essence into the same photograph. Therefore, an aspiring individual should possess some creative traits in order to create a good photograph.

3. What are the improvements the latest technologies have brought in photography?

Technological advancements have contributed to significant improvements in photography. With the accessibility of digital cameras and AI-enabled smartphones at cheap rates, photographers can produce higher quality images. Nowadays, people don’t depend on professional photographers to take photographs; it’s a cakewalk for them because they can easily click exceptional pictures from their smartphones and edit them using photo-editing softwares.

4. How often do you take photographs?

I occasionally click pictures of myself. But whenever I’m with my friends and family at an event, I make sure to click a selfie or groupfie with them as I love cherishing moments.

Vocabulary

• Emerging

Meaning: becoming apparent or prominent
Eg: Digital Marketing is one of the fast-emerging professions.

• Passion

Meaning: strong and barely controllable emotion
Eg: Kay possessed a passion for makeup and fashion, so she pursued a degree in fashion.

• Selfie

Meaning: a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media
Eg: Students clicked a selfie with their chief guest.

• Traits

Meaning: a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically belonging to a person.
Eg: John’s intelligence is one of his best traits.

• Cakewalk

Meaning: an absurdly or surprisingly easy task
Eg: Searching for a reliable online institute isn’t a cakewalk.