Connotation and Denotation

The dictionary definition

Denotation: What is actually shown. 

Connotation: What can be inferred or concluded from the denotated images.

Smurf Sighting by Nate Hallinan 

Denotation: A fictional blue creature with a mushroom attached to his head which looks like a hat and what looks like mushroom pants and shoes. He is walking in a forest with a speared slug and berries on his back.

Connotation: The so called Smurf is walking alone with a speared slug and berries suggesting he was out hunting/gathering and coming back.  He looks like he is walking boldly suggesting he was successful while hunting. By the mushroom which is attached to his head and his surrounding one could say he lives in the forrest and evolved to have camouflage.

Imprisoned for Life

Denotation: Three birds sitting in what looks like a cage. One has "For Life" on its chest and has its wing around the smaller bird who is crying next to him, The third bird has just pooped and has what looks like crumbs on his face and is wearing a striped hat. There are also a pair of bird feet facing up towards the top of the picture.
Connotation: The bird feet on the bottom suggest that there is a dead bird on the bottom of the cage. The small bird who is crying could be crying due to the lost of a friend or for being "imprisoned for life".    The third bird's hat resembles a prison hat which in addition to the bars in the background implies that they are in jail and due to his expression the dead bird doesn't bother him. The biggest bird with the tattoos resembles a thug-like boss character which generally comes to mind when thinking of prison. The gray/black background gives the picture a darker feeling.

Both images were found on Nate Hallinan's website:
http://www.natehallinan.com/