PHGCE2A2 Photography2: How to read a photograph · 2020. 3. 14. · PHGCE2A2 Photography2: How to read a photograph Level Details Level GCE Level length 6 weeks Assessed out of 80

PHGCE2A2 Photography2: How to read a photograph

Level Details

Level GCE

Level length 6 weeks

Assessed out of 80 marks

“The ‘I’ of the photographer and the ‘eye’ of the lens contribute to the image”

“A photograph embodies the codes of a three dimensional world - aesthetic, cultural, social”

“A photograph both mirrors and creates a language”

“A photograph portrays meaning and reality”

“A photograph is light writing”

“A photograph is a distinctive cultural product which reflects a cutlure’s way with the world”

“Rather than recording history a photograph stops history and takes its subject out of history”

“A photograph says as much about the photographer as it does about the world being photographed”

[Accessed: 6th June 2015].Book reference Author: Graham Clarke. (ed.) (1997) Title: The Photograph. Publisher: Oxford

Useful website links

Guide to writing about Photographshttp://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/guide-to-writing-about-photographs.html

Glossary of key words and literacy techniqueshttp://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/critical-studies.html

http://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/guide-to-writing-about-photographs.htmlhttp://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/critical-studies.html

Exercise 2a Genres in Photography

If This is Art - Considers how photographers have devised strategies, performances and happenings especially for the camera.This challenges the stereotype that photography is all about sitting and waiting for that perfect moment.Based in the performance art of the 60’s and 70’s.

Once Upon a Time - Story telling in art photography.Tableau photography where the story has been distilled into one single image (based on 17th and 18th century painting)

Deadpan - Distinct lack of visual drama.Usually large scale pieces of work with little central focus or obvious subject matter.

Something and Nothing - Photographing objects and subjects that wouldn’t ordinarily warrant a second look e.g. street litter, abandoned rooms or dirty laundry.

Human Existence - Emotional and personal relationships.A diary of human interaction, a focus of unexpected moments in everyday life.

Moments in History - Documenting social and ecological disaster after the event.Using art photography to present the consequences of political and human upheaval.

Revived and Remade - Photographs that explore and exploit our pre-existing knowledge of imagery.The remaking of famous photographs, adverts, scientific imagery etc.Using old photographic techniques and styles (copyright issues).

Find two photographs for each of the genres above and say how it shows that genre.

Use the Literacy techniques website to analyse their work.

Present the research in your E-Sketchbook

Write up your Learning Blog on what you discovered in the lesson today.


If This is Art - Considers how photographers have devised strategies, performances and happenings especially for the camera.This challenges the stereotype that photography is all about sitting and waiting for that perfect moment.Based in the performance art of the 60’s and 70’s.

Photographer in Focus1. Seidou Keita Unititled 19592. David Goldblatt3. Phillip Lorca diCorcia Head #7 20004. Alfred Stieglitz Fountain 19175. Sophie Calle The Chromatic Diet 19986. Joseph Beuys I like America and America likes me 19747. Gillian Wearing Signs that say what you want them to say and

not signs that say what someone else wants you to say 19928. Bettina von Zwehl Made Up Love song9. David Spero

Find four photographs for each of the photographers above and say how it shows that genre.

Use the Blooms Taxonomy and Critical studies techniques on the Photography department website to analyse their work.

http://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/blooms-taxonomy-questions.html

http://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/critical-studies.html



http://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/blooms-taxonomy-questions.htmlhttp://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/critical-studies.html

Joseph Beuys I like America and America likes

me 1974

Seidou Keita Unititled 1959

David Goldblatt Phillip Lorca diCorcia Head #7 2000

Alfred Stieglitz Fountain 1917

Sophie Calle The Chromatic Diet 1998

Gillian Wearing Signs that say what you want them to say and not signs that say what someone else wants you to say 1992

Bettina von Zwehl Made Up Love song 1998Three part series part 1 wearing clothing of one colour, part 2 physical exersion and part 3 holding breath.

David Spero


Once Upon a Time - Story telling in art photography.Tableau photography where the story has been distilled into one single image (based on 17th and 18th century painting)

Photographer in Focus

1. Jeff Wall A Sudden Gust of Wind 19932. Jeff Wall Insomnia 19943. Jeff Wall Milk 19844. Sam Taylor Wood Soliloquy I 19985. Francis Kearney Five People thinking the same thing 1998








Jeff Wall A Sudden Gust of Wind 1993

Katsushika Hokusai Yejiri Station, Province of Suruga, ca. 1832

Jeff Wall Insomnia 1994

Jeff Wall Milk 1984

Sam Taylor Wood Soliloquy I 1998

Tom HunterPossession ordercompare with Vermeer Girl reading a letter at an open window

Francis Kearney Five People thinking the same thing 1998

Francis Kearney Three People thinking the same thing 1998


Deadpan - Distinct lack of visual drama.Usually large scale pieces of work with little central focus or obvious subject matter.


1. Andreas Gursky Prada I 19962. Bridget Smith Southwark Sea cadets, Walworth 20073. Lewis Baltz Fairfax 19734. Matthias Hoch Leipzig #475. Dan Holdsworth Untitled (A Machine for Living) 19996. Richard Misrach Salton Sea7. Thomas Ruff Portrait (A Volkmann) 19988. Joel Sternfeld








Andreas Gursky Prada I 1996

Bridget SmithSouthwark Sea cadets, Walworth 2007

Lewis BaltzFairfax 1973

Matthias HochLeipzig #47 1998

Dan HoldsworthUntitled (A Machine for Living) 1999

Richard MisrachSalton Sea

Thomas RuffPortrait (A Volkmann) 1998

Joel Sternfeld


Something and Nothing - Photographing objects and subjects that wouldn’t ordinarily warrant a second look e.g. street litter, abandoned rooms or dirty laundry.


1. Peter Fischli and David Weiss Quiet afternoon 1984-852. Richard Wentworth3. Nigel Shafran Sewing Kit 20024. Jean-Marc Bustamante Something is missing 19975. Wim Wenders Wall in Paris, Texas 20016. Peter Fraser Materials 20027. Wolfgang Tillmans Suit 19978. Laura Letinsky Untitled #40 Rome 20019. Uta Barth Nowhere near series 199910. Richard Billingham Rays a laugh series 1994








Peter Fischli and David WeissQuiet afternoon 1984-85

Richard Wentworth

Nigel ShafranSewing Kit2002

Jean-Marc BustamanteSomething is missing1997

Wim WendersWall in Paris, Texas2001

Peter Fraser Materials 2002

Wolfgang TillmansSuit 1997

Laura LetinskyUnititled #40 Rome2001

Uta BarthNowhere near series1999

Richard BillinghamRay’s a Laugh series1994


Human Existence - Emotional and personal relationships.A diary of human interaction, a focus of unexpected moments in everyday life.


1. Richard Billingham Untitled 19942. Tina Barney Tim, Philip & Phil 19963. Mitch Epstein Dad IV 20034. Colin Gray Untitled 20025. Breda Beban The Miracle of Death 2000








Richard Billingham Untitled 1994

Tina Barney Tim, Philip & Phil 1996

Mitch Epstein Dad IV2003

Colin GrayUntitled 2002

Breda BebanThe Miracle of Death2000


Moments in History - Documenting social and ecological disaster after the event.Using art photography to present the consequences of political and human upheaval.


1. Willie Doherty God Has Not Failed Us 2. Anthony Haughey Minefield Bosnia 19993. Fazal Sheikh Halima Abdullai 20004. Allan Sekula Conclusion of search for the disabled and drifting sailboat ‘Happy

Ending’ 1993 -20005. Martin Parr Bristol, Unitied Kingdom 1998








Willie DohertyGod Has Not Failed Us

Anthony HaugheyMinefield Bosnia1999

Fazal SheikhHalima Abdullai2000

Allan SekulaConclusion of search for the disabled and drifting sailboat ‘Happy Ending’ 1993 -2000

Martin Parr Bristol, Unitied Kingdom 1998


Revived and Remade - Photographs that explore and exploit our pre-existing knowledge of imagery.The remaking of famous photographs, adverts, scientific imagery etc.Using old photographic techniques and styles (copyright issues).


1. Cindy Sherman Untitled #400 20002. Gillian Wearing Self portrait as my father Brian Wearing 20033. Susan Derges River 23 November 19984. John Divola Installations Chairs 2002








Gillian Wearing Self portrait as my father Brian Wearing 2003

Cindy Sherman Untitled #400 2000

John DivolaInstallation Chairs 2002

Susan DergesRiver 23rd November 1998

Vibeke TandbergLine #1 -51999

Exercise 2b The Hidden Structure of Photographs

Find examples of each of these key terms using the Photographer in Focus suggestion.

Size - the way we order the world, taking the immense and reducing it in scale.Photographer in focus - Clyde Butcher, Ian Rhuter

Shape of framing - Portrait, landscape, Renaissance understanding of perspective, Greek understanding of aesthetics and rule of thirds.Photographer in focus - Diane Arbus

Focus - element of choice, a hierarchy of significance, a reductive process, a world in miniature. The subject is framed by the photographers values.Photographer in focus - Lee-Friedlander

Surface - The illusion of three dimensions on a two dimensional surface.No matter how close we look at the surface the detail remains constantRoland Barthes “ We can never enter a photograph’s depth”Photographer in focus - Aaron Siskind

Colour - reflects the photographers interpretation rather than realism. Is black and white photography considered more authentic?Photographer in focus - William Egglestonhttps://youtu.be/3jZ_HkaTXh8

Time - A photograph fixes a moment in time. Photographer in focus - Eadweard Muybridge

Find one photograph for each key term and put it in your E Sketchbook.

Record your thoughts on their work in relation to the key term e.g. how does Clyde Butcher show size in his work.

Use your mobile phone to record your thoughts then place the audio file (mp3) onto the image of the photograph.

Present your findings in your E-Sketchbook


https://youtu.be/3jZ_HkaTXh8

Exercise 2c The Visual Elements

Click on the link below to view the visual elements for Photographyhttp://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/visual-elements-in-photography.html

Select one of the photographs that you have researched so far.Choose from your favourite genre (2a).Using the visual elements analyse the photograph.

Light Quality - Texture - Focus - Angle of view - Framing composition - Colour

Present your findings in your E-Sketchbook

Describe your thoughts on the chosen photograph in relation to the key terms. Write a minimum of 500 words


http://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/visual-elements-in-photography.html

Exercise 2d Harvard referencing

Document all the websites that you have used so far for this level using the Harvard Referencing system.

Harvard Referencing Quick Guide

What is referencing?

Referencing is a system used in the academic community to indicate where ideas, theories, quotes,facts and any other evidence and information used to undertake an assignment, can be found.Why do I need to reference my work?

•

To avoid plagiarism, a form of academic theft.

•

Referencing your work correctly ensures that you give appropriate credit to the sources and authors that you have used to complete your assignment.

•

Referencing the sources that you have used for your assignment demonstrates that you have undertaken wide-ranging research in order to create your work.

•

Referencing your work enables the reader to consult for themselves the same materials that you used.

ExamplesWebsite referenceWebsite author: BBC NEWS. (2008) Website title: Factory gloom worst since 1980. [Online] Available from:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7681569.stm.

Example[Accessed: 19th September 2015].Book referenceAuthor: FONTANA-GIUSTI, G. (ed.) (2008) Title: Designing Cities for People: Social, Environmental and Psychological Sustainability. Publisher: Earthscan.

Add these to your E-Sketchbook essay.


found.Whyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7681569.stm

Exercise 2e Time-lines

Create a time-line based on the two main photographers that you have chosen to study.

The time-line should include

Historical eventsPolitical eventsSocial eventsCultural eventsGeographical references

Add the timeline to your E-Sketchbook essay.


Exercise 2f Glossary of words

Read the glossary of terms from the department website.Pick out ten words that you could use in your essay.Write a sentence for each word to show that you understand its meaning and can apply it effectively. Base your sentences on a photograph that you have been researching.

Add these sentences to your E-Sketchbook essay.

Record your sentences as audio files using your mobile phone (mp3 file) and apply to your E Sketchbook.


Glossary of key words and literacy techniqueshttp://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/critical-studies.html


Exercise 2g Similarities and differenceshttp://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/comparing-photographs.html

Compare two photographs that you have been researching for your essay.

Include the images, titles and names of the photographers

Step 1: Choose your two photographs carefully. This is not an easy choice. the images should be representative of the photographers work and should link in to the genre that your are researching into.

Now you have some decisions to make. Do you compare

Two photographs by the same photographer.Two photographs by the same photographer but done at least ten years apart.Two photographs by two different photographers.Two photographs with very different subject matter.Two photographs with similar subject matter but completed at different times in history.Two photographs that use different techniques due to the technology available to the photographer at that time in history.Two photographs that seemingly have no connections at all.

Step 2: Spend ten minutes writing down all the things that you can see in each photograph that are similar. Create an audio file (mp3) and add to your E Sketchbook.

Step 3: Spend ten minutes writing down all the things that are different about these two photographs. Create an audio file (mp3) and add to your E Sketchbook.

Step 4: Categorize the words from step 2 and 3 into Category 1: Literal differences and similarities - objects, environmentsCategory 2: Technical differences and similarities - black and white, colour, large format, digital, infrared, telephoto, macroCategory 3: Symbolic differences and similarities - emotions, human issues of wisdom, sorrow, pain, happinessCategory 4: Cultural differences and similarities. - costumes, interactions with others, age, knowledge

Step 5: Now write four paragraphs one for each of the categories to bring all your research together.

http://chartersschoolphotographydept.weebly.com/comparing-photographs.html

Exercise 2h A plan of action for your practical work

Answer the following questions in your E-sketchbook Level 2 essay.

You have chosen which genre of photography to focus on for your essay? Exercise 2a

You have selected which two photographers to research into for your essay?

What are you interested in photographing in response to what you have researched?

What ideas or techniques could you explore in relation to the genre chosen?

How can you develop the ideas in a wide variety of ways?

What camera techniques could you apply to the photo shoots?

What set up techniques could you apply to the photo shoots?

What props, objects, people and environments do you need to source?

What is going to add impact to your photo shoots?

Is you idea a one trick pony or can it be developed further without repeating the same thing?

Is your idea too stereotypical (make up running down the face to represent sadness) or have you really thought about your intentions.

Are you working on a literal interpretation, technical interpretation, symbolic interpretation, cultural interpretation? Explain why.

PHGCE2A2 Photography2: How to read a photograph

Assignment 2 PHGCE2A2 Write a 3000 word essay based on your chosen genre in Photography. Explore the genre from an historical and contemporary point of view including a wide range of research both first hand and secondary sources.

YES / NOI have read the Level descriptionI have read all the exercisesI have completed all the exercises and put the evidence in my E-Sketchbook.I have researched into different genres in PhotographyI have found good examples for each of the key termsI have analysed a photograph using the visual elementsI have used the Harvard Referencing system to document my researchI have created a time-line based on my two chosen photographersI have used ten words from the glossary of terms in my essayI have compared two photographs using the key questions from the department websiteI have put together an effective action plan for my practical work.I have included audio files in my Level 2 sketchbook.I have completed a 3000 word essay based on a genre in Photography and put it in my E-SketchbookI have all the evidence of my exercises from this level in my E-Sketchbook.I have documented my learning using the Learning Blog

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PHGCE2A2 Photography2: How to read a photograph · 2020. 3. 14. · PHGCE2A2 Photography2: How to read a photograph Level Details Level GCE Level length 6 weeks Assessed out of 80