Denotative vs Connotative: Denotative refers to the literal meaning and significance in the images. A denotation is "what we see" in the picture or what is "there" in the picture. This is done by recognising basic elements in the photograph such as gestures, expressions and objects i.e. a table, person. Connotative is a second level of meaning to the image; the meanings brought to the image are based on rules or conventions that the reader has learnt. Connotation attaches additional meaning to the denotative and what is implied by it .It is the immediate cultural meaning from what is seen in the picture, but not what is actually there.
Diane Arbus- Identical twins: In this photograph you can see two identical twins in the same clothing with the background being a white wall and a path running across the bottom of the image. Although the twins are dressed identically, the closer I looked at the image the more differences I saw: their expression, hair, collar, eyebrows, headbands. This suggests that even though they may look the same they are two different people with different identities'. The path runs at a slight angle, and that 'angle' reflects precisely Arbus's approach to her subject-matter. This photograph does not meet its subject in a parallel sense, but looks at it askew, even askance.