A2 Photography

An overview

WELCOME BACK!

• CONGRATULATIONS ON SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING AS PHOTOGRAPHY!

• THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK SO FAR THIS YEAR.

The next 4 weeks

• “Like” Huish Photography on facebook and encourage new students to take a look too.

• Volunteer for some extra jobs

• Publicise and prepare our End of Year Show

• Find out about A2 Photography

• Get started on Unit 3

• Find out what you need to do for your Summer homework.

Who is everyone?

• The 2 A2 groups in September will be approximately as they are today so its time to get to know everyone

• Find out the name of the people on either side of you

• Introduce yourself and say which Photographer or artist influences you the most and why you like their work

INTRODUCTION

• A2 photography is much more personal than AS. In A2 you have the chance to choose an area of photography that interests you and pursue it with a great deal of independence.

• You will complete 2 units. The AS grade forms 50% of your overall A2 grade so some of you might want to resubmit your Unit 1 coursework.

• The 4 assessment objectives remain the same BUT an extra level is added on top. So, to stay the same (grade) you need to get better! Better means having a greater level of technical expertise, increased depth of critical understanding, greater ability to realise your intentions to a professional finish and so on.

• You do not need any more photographic equipment but will continue to need photographic paper, film, inkjet prints, sketchbooks and mounting materials and an A4 ring binder for your research.

UNIT 3

• This unit is started TODAY and takes up all of the first term, the final deadline is in February.

• It has two interlinked components – an illustrated essay based on your own independent and in-depth research findings and practical explorations; a portfolio of your own original photography demonstrating what you have learnt from your study.

• The personal study can be finally presented in the form of a large Book (including both essay and portfolio) accompanied by an organised research file and sketchbook; or as a video, a website, a bound illustrated essay. There is an example of a Unit 3 study in J3.

UNIT 4

• You will undertake unit 4 from February, it is the Externally Set Assignment and the theme is set by EDEXCEL. We will not know the theme until February.

• It is a practical project underpinned by in depth investigations and contextual research.

• At the end of the 8 week preparatory period you will create a final outcome and evaluation in 12 hours of exam conditions. There is an example of a unit 4 project in J3.

6 GENRES

1. Portraiture

2. Fashion

3. Landscape

4. Documentary

5. Fine Art

6. Film

PORTRAITURE QUESTIONS

• How have photographers attempted to reveal more about the sitter for a portrait than merely their appearance?

• Compare and Contrast how the portrait has changed throughout the history of photography.

• Compare and contrast how the development of photographic portraiture has been influenced by Painting and vice versa.

• To reveal the individual before his camera, to transfer the living quality of that individual to his finished print...Not to make road maps but to record the essential truth of the subject; not to show how this person looks, but to show what he is. - Edward Weston - Edward Weston's definition of the role of the portrait photographer. ("The Portrait in Photography", Reaktion Books, London 1992, Mick Gidley, p136 –

137). Discuss portraits by a number of photographers that seem to articulate Weston’s vision for portraiture and compare them with those that fall short.

• Creativity with portraits involves the invocation of a state of rapport when only a camera stands between two people...mutual vulnerability and mutual trust. - Minor White, (Mirrors, messages, manifestations by Minor White)

Samuel Beckett by Jane Bown, 1976

FASHION QUESTIONS

• How have contemporary fashion photographers been influenced by other art forms?

• Compare and contrast the fashion photography of the 1950s with today.

• Explore the innate contradiction in fashion photography: clients want images of clothes to sell more clothes and photographers want to create art.

LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS

• Photography is an integral part of exploration of the world, will it now be part of saving the world? – how are environmentally conscious photographers using their images to focus attention on climate change?

• Compare and contrast how photographers and artists have depicted the city in the last century.

Ashley Cooper

DOCUMENTARY QUESTIONS

• The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to SEE something, and tell what it SAW in a plain way... To see clearly is poetry, prophecy, and religion, all in one. - John Ruskin Discuss the documentary photographers whose work seems to live up to Ruskin’s ideals

• “Photography cannot change the world. But it can show the world, when it changes”. Marc Riboud. Do you agree with this statement? Discuss with arguments and examples for and against.

• "There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and to shame the devil…" – Walter Lippmann. Discuss examples of documentary photography that have ‘shamed the devil’.

• How have periods of economic decline been captured by photographers in the last century?

• Photographing poverty – what’s the point? Discuss.

• The use of photography to promote action or change in Social Advertising. Discuss with specific examples. Ogilvy, Saatchi

• Does a photo ever make a difference? How have photographs contributed to political or social change? Discuss with specific examples.

• What is documentary photography? Compare and contrast the approaches of 3 key practitioners in the field.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/6152050/Ten-photographs-that-changed-the-world.html

FILM QUESTIONS

• A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet. - Orson Welles . Discuss with examples.

• How has film-making been influenced by photography? Provide at least 3 examples.

• Explore how cinematographers have taken influence from photography and other art forms in the development of a film’s aesthetic.

The Shadow Line Edward Hopper

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2004/apr/25/art hopper influences cinematographers

FINE ART QUESTIONS

• What impact did the invention of photography have upon Impressionism and Post Impressionism? Which contemporary photographers take their influence from these movements?

• What impact did photography have on Surrealism? Discuss how photography provided an ideal format for the visualisation of surrealist concerns.

• How have artists used photography to explore issues of identity?

• A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet. - Orson Welles . Discuss with examples.

• How have photographers used experimental approaches to explore what cannot be seen by the human eye?

EXHIBITIONS

Eyewitness: Hungarian Photographers. Kertesz, Moholy-Nagy etc Royal Academy, London 20th June to 2nd October Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography Tue 12 April 2011–Sun 17 July 2011 Victoria and Albert Museum, London Tracey Emin: Love is What You Want Wednesday 18 May - Monday 29 August Hayward Gallery, London Pipilotti Rist 28 September 2011 - 8 January 2012 Hayward Gallery, London Photography: New Documentary Forms 1 May 2011 – 31 March 2012 Tate Modern, London ARTIST ROOMS: Diane Arbus 16 May 2011 – 31 March 2012 Tate Modern, London Level 2 Gallery: Burke + Norfolk: Photographs From The War In Afghanistan 6 May – 10 July 2011 Tate Modern, London

Watch Me Move: The Animation Show 15 Jun-11 Sep, Barbican Art Gallery Glamour of the Gods: Hollywood Portraits Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation 7 July - 23 October 2011 National Portrait Gallery Paul Graham 20th April – 19th June 2011 Whitechapel Gallery Thomas Struth 6th July – 16th Sept 2011 Whitechapel Gallery

WHAT TO DO unit 3

• Read the questions associated with each theme and look at the Powerpoints

• Analyse one question from each theme and brainstorm thoughts and ideas

• Make suggestions for alternative questions for each theme

• Choose your theme and question by end of Week 2.

WHAT TO DO exhibition

• 2 students to make posters and leaflets for the exhibition

• Team to put in and address envelopes and compile mailing list and press release

• Put up your display for the exhibition on Wed 29th June PM or Thursday 30th June

• Write your artist statement and put up next to your display.

• Attend the Private View

Additional Opportunities

• Volunteer for Open Evening – Wed 6th July

• Volunteer for Summer Ball Paparazzi job – 30th June evening

• Volunteer for commission

WHAT TO DO

• Find an image and add to the display for your chosen genre. • Buy an A4 ring binder and hole punch or plastic pockets! • Analyse your question in depth • Write a list of possible sources to research • Begin to gather research materials • Put up your disply for the exhibition • Write and put up your artist statement • Review the exhibition and hand in on 7th or 8th July. • Plan to visit a museum, gallery or exhibition • Collect enough images to create an A1 moodboard over the

summer

Group discussion. Essay questions.

• What would you write about? Issues, themes, facts, ideas etc

• Who would you write about? Artists, photographers, film-makers, cinematographers etc– lists and reasons

• Where could you research this further? List books, magazines, journals, films, TV, websites etc

• Where could you see Primary source materials for this topic? List exhibitions on around the country from now until November; museums, galleries, archives etc

• What sort of things could you photograph for this topic? List locations, props, models and so on