A3 Photographer Research

A3: Portraiture – Photographer research, development, and links.

Guidance, support and help for A01 & A04

A3: Portraiture – Photographer research, development, and links.

• For this assignment you are required to conduct a range of tasks (below). The purpose of this assignment is to help you prepare for the final exam ‘Controlled Test’.

•

The outcome of this assignment will provide you with evidence for the two assessment objectives (A01 & AO4).

• CLICK HERE to learn more about the assessment objectives.

Task 1: Research and explore ‘Portrait’ photographers and artwork.

You can perform a search for relevant photographers in a number of ways: • Visit the library and explore the ‘Photography’ section.

•

Visit a gallery or exhibition showing ‘Portraiture’ work on display.

• Conduct a web-search using a popular search engine E.g. National Portrait Gallery / The Photographers Gallery

During your exploration, try and find examples of art work which you find interesting/inspiring. With a little more research you should identify and record some ‘key’ facts and information about the work you source: • Who made the work?

• What is the work about?

• How influenced-by circumstances in life?

•

Typical subject matter of photographs made by this photographer?

• What the photographer is trying/tried to communicate?

• Typical style of work?

• What they themselves said/say about their work (quotes)?

• Save copies of the work(s) for presentation and development.

You should also find and record your knowledge and understanding of the photographer(s). Try to include: • Where the photographer(s) lived • When the photographer(s) lived work • Significant contribution(s) to photography (or the art world).

More importantly, you need to include your OWN thoughts and opinion about the photographer(s), and, their work.

• How does the work make you feel?

• What do you think the work is about?

• Does the work hold any symbolism, or deeper meaning?

• Was the photographer(s) happy in their life?

• Try to form arguments for, and against your opinion to give your work depth.

A3: Portraiture – Photographer research, development, and links.

Task 2: Presenting your research After you have conducted thorough research and exploration, you need to ‘present’ your findings inside your sketchbook/journal.

Consider: • Making a title-page • An introduction page (what your research/ work is about) • An information page (to provide facts and knowledge about the photographers(s).

• Examples of work page - To provide examples of artwork created by the photographer.

• A 'Link/ Connection' page - To explain how/ why you believe that your chosen photographer(s) 'fit in' with your current project (Portraiture), and also more importantly, how your chosen photographer(s) and/ or their work has inspired you to create your own 'Personal Response' (A4: Personal Response).

• A conclusion page - Providing a short 'summary' of what you have learnt/ discovered during your research, and how your own work may develop because of this.

Before you present any of your work, try to make your sketchbook/ pages interesting by using background effects, colours etc.

• Give some thought and care to how your information is displayed.

A3: Portraiture – Photographer research, development, and links.

Task 3: Working from your photographer(s) examples.

Select 3-4 examples of artwork created by your chosen photographer(s), using a page for each example try to replicate the work.

Experiment in the style of these photographers with your idea.

Experiment with different Photoshop tools Experiment with different processes- scanning, photocopying, digital manipulation, and printing.

Place your examples on the page, and then along-side or near-to, include your own version.

• Develop your own work further by using your chosen photographer(s) style, technique, subject and/ or medium to create an original development piece.

• Produce 2-3 alternative development pieces, exploring different possible outcomes.

Try to include at least one alternative development using ICT/ software, for example 'image manipulation' using Adobe Photoshop.

All development work should include a strong level of annotation/ comments.

• • • • • • •

Why did you do it?

How did you do it?

How does it relate to your theme/project?

Were you influenced by a photographer? How/Why? Was it successful?

How would you improve it next time?

Comment on atmosphere, mood, colour and composition.

Your sketchbook / journal must flow and make sense!

A3: Portraiture – Photographer research, development, and links.

Task 4: Links/ connections with your own work This is 'preparation' for A4/A5: Personal Response. The work that you produce/ create for assignment 4 (Expressive Portrait) and assignment 5 (Montage) should have a clear link/ connection to the work that you do for this assignment (A3).

Using new sketchbook pages, dedicate these to the initial planning and preparation for your next assignment. Consider: • Making a title-page - 'Links to my Portrait Response' • A mind-map page - which illustrates how your own work will 'link' to the photographer(s) that you explored during this assignment (A3).

• Include an example of art created by your chosen photographer(s), which has inspired your own idea/ work. Explain why this work was/ is inspirational, and what elements you will try to use within your work, and why.

• Create/ produce some initial examples/ studies that illustrate how your idea/ work is linked to the work of your chosen photographer(s).

CLICK HERE to visit the 'LINKS' page on the department eLearning site, for help in getting started with your research.

Ali Mahdavi

Alyz Tale

Tomihiro kono

Jill Greenberg