Cartographic Skills » Photographs, Sketches and Annotation

Maps and photographs work together

A map shows a place from above, using symbols. A photograph shows what a place really looks like. The exam often gives you both, so you need to use them together. A map can tell you where a photograph was taken. A photograph can show you what the symbols on the map look like in real life.

Key terms:

• Sketch map: a simple hand-drawn map that shows only the main features of a place.
• Ground photograph: a photograph taken from the ground, at eye level.
• Aerial photograph: a photograph taken from the air, for example from a plane or a drone.
• Satellite image: a picture of the Earth taken by a satellite in space.
• Annotate: to add short notes to a diagram, map or photograph to explain it.

Comparing maps

You may be given two maps of the same place. One may be an older map and one a newer map. Or they may be at different scales. To compare them, look for what is the same and what is different.

• Find features that are in both maps, such as a river or a main road.
• Find features that are in only one map, such as a new housing estate or a new bypass.
• Use evidence. Say which map shows the change, and what it shows.

A good answer uses both maps: "On the older map the area north of the river is fields. On the newer map it is covered with buildings, so the town has grown."

Sketch maps

A sketch map is quick to draw and only needs the important details. You may be asked to draw one, to label one, or to interpret one that is already drawn.

A sketch map does not need to be a work of art. It must be clear, and the labels must be easy to read.

Three types of photograph

Choose the right type for the job. To see how large a flood is, use a satellite image. To see the type of rock in a cliff, use a ground photograph.

Describing a landscape from a photograph

The spec asks you to describe human and physical landscapes from photographs. That means you should be able to describe these things:

• Landforms: the shape of the land, for example a steep valley side or a flat plain.
• Natural vegetation: the plants that grow naturally, such as woodland or grass.
• Land-use: how the land is used, for example farming or housing.
• Settlement: where people live, such as a village or a town.

You should also describe geographical phenomena, such as a landslide, a flood or a coastline being eroded.

It helps to split a photograph into three parts: the foreground (closest to you), the middle ground and the background (furthest away). Then describe each part in turn.

Drawing a sketch from a photograph

A sketch from a photograph picks out the important features only. Follow these steps:

1. Draw a frame the same shape as the photograph.
2. Lightly mark the horizon and the main lines, such as the edge of a cliff or a river.
3. Draw only the main features. Leave out small details.
4. Add labels and a title.

Labels and annotations

You may be asked to label or annotate diagrams, maps, graphs, sketches and photographs. They are not the same thing.

• A label names a feature: "Beach" or "Farmland".
• An annotation adds explanation: "Steep slope, so few buildings are built here".

Keep notes short. Draw a line from the note to the exact feature. Do not draw lines that cross. On a graph, you can annotate a peak, a sudden fall or an unusual result. On a map, you can annotate a pattern, such as a cluster of buildings beside a river.

Exam-style question

A photograph shows a coastal town. There is a sandy beach in the foreground, houses behind the beach and cliffs with grass in the background.

(a) Name the type of image taken from space that would show the whole coastline of a large area. [1 mark]

(b) Describe the land-use shown in the photograph. [2 marks]

(c) Explain the difference between a label and an annotation. [2 marks]