What makes a good photograph?

Look at the following images and consider:

• Is this a good photograph?

• If so why, if not, why not?

• Describe the photograph. What do you think the photographer has done to make the image so iconic?

• What kind of photograph is this? (Reportage/documentary, portrait, landscape, abstract, multiple image, interior, photomontage, still life)

The Terminal , 1892 Alfred Stieglitz (American, 18641946)

Edward Weston Pepper No. 30 1930

Ansel Adams Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico 1941

Louis Jacques Daguerre, Paris Boulevard 1839

Imogen Cunningham Agave Design 2 1920

BRANDT, Bill Halifax 1937

Eugene Atget Avenue des Gobelins c.1926

Robert Mapplethorpe, Ken Moody and Robert Sherman , 1984

Iriving Penn Rhythm (c.1950?)

• Of the following list of photographers, select two artists and one work by each. Save the image on a file and write some brief notes on the images you selected. You will share you findings with your peers.

• Peter Peryer

• Annie Liebowitz

• Cindy Sherman

• Gilbert and George

• Joel Meyerowitz

• Christopher Bucklow

• Alexander Rodchenko

• Ronnie Van Hout

• Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

• Henri Cartier-Bresson

• Barbara Kruger

• Starn Brothers

• Maggie Taylor

• Anne Noble

• Discuss the following points in your notes:

• • Subject what is the photograph of?

• • Composition how has the photograph been arranged?

• • Light how has light been used, what effect has been created?

• • Focus what are we meant to be looking at, how has the photographer achieved this?

• • Mood what sort of feel has been evoked?