Macro A2: Textures
Jerry Uelsmann
Assignment guidance: The aim of this project is for you to learn, understand and demonstrate knowledge and skill in macro photography, with a focus on textures. The project will allow you to develop your skills and apply your knowledge and understanding of macro photography through exploring a range of digital techniques, photographing a range of different textures, exploring surface detail and pattern. This project will enable you to develop your skills further and refine your development from A1. ● You will record your ideas and research in your sketchbook. The research that you culminate will be displayed as a series of final prints in response to the title ‘macro’, under the theme ‘texture’. You must reference the work of other artists/ photographers and make clear links to your own. Critically evaluate both your work and the work of other artists/ photographers. ●
The project will follow a number of camera workshops, demonstrations and experiments. You will be encouraged to photograph as often as possible in order to best further your technical skills and conceptual knowledge. You will complete the following tasks to the best of your ability to ensure a complete project: T1 - Title page: Textures T2 - Artists/ photographers research T3 - Contextual research, further conceptual research T4 - Skills tests - evidence of technical development T5 - Own response photographs T6 - Photoshop edits T7 - Presentation research - explore ways to best present your work T8 - Personal response - Minimum 6 8”x10” final prints or equivalent.
● In order to gain the maximum marks for your coursework it is important to
meet the criteria set by the examining board AQA. The four key words to remember are:
Develop - Experiment - Record - Present “Successful sketchbooks, workbooks and logbooks demonstrate genuine engagement with the subject and the ability to explore a range of ideas and processes. They can shed light on a personal journey of discovery and provide genuine insights into candidates’ intentions and the development and resolution of their ideas. They can also provide insights into the extent that candidates have been influenced by the work of others.”
We will be marking you on your ability to: ● Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding ● Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as your work develops ● Record in visual and/or other forms, ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on your work and progress ● Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.
This assignment is to be done in your sketchbooks and any digital work should be completed in Photoshop whilst working in Mac. ●
Using your initial concept from the nature assignment, consider how you may develop this under the theme ‘textures’. In what context will you be able to draw the two ideas together. Think abstract. Your textures do not necessarily need to represent anything from nature. For example you could begin to explore surface textures in different papers, you may have photographed trees in your nature assignment so your link could start there. Where appropriate use text to accompany your images.
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Further develop and refine your skills in Photoshop. Create a series of swatch boards where you are presenting a range of textures. Crop your images so they remain ambiguous.
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As preparation towards planning your photo shoots, photograph a range of textures from one particular environment. How do using the macro lenses obscure the reality of the area? For example, how many different textures can you photograph in the school kitchen?
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Justify your ideas, make sure the project flows. Always keep a fluid path in your sketchbooks detailing the development of your project.
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Learn how to use the research that you have gained to inspire your own work.
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Develop advanced skills in Photoshop, experiment merging the two assignments together to work towards creating a final outcome that represents a surreal landscape. Seamlessly combine both your images from the nature project with the texture images you have created. * See the work of Jerry Uelsmann and Irving Penn as a starting point for inspiration.
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Understand the exam criteria, the weighting of your coursework in relation to your exam and AS and A2 level grades. Review and refine you work to develop and improve it.
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Be prepared to develop your research outside of school as well, always look for new ways to resource your projects. Attend Art/ Photography club as often as possible, in order to utilise the resources and facilities available to you at the Academy.
TIPS: ●
Visit our online ‘Art Gallery’ to see more examples.
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Go to our YouTube page to watch demo’s and tutorials.
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Plan your assignment carefully using your sketchbook to write, explain and document your intentions and ideas. Utilise the resources available to you.
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Take time to assess your work as it progresses and make changes where appropriate. Be critical of your work and others. Get used to annotating all of your ideas in order to refine and develop your work as it progresses throughout the project.
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Learn how to annotate your work effectively and with meaning so that it can communicate itself to a larger audience.
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Think carefully about your composition. Take a step back and view your work objectively. Take the time to plan your photographs. Explore a range of presentation ideas, consider either a series of photographs in the form of a story or sequence eg. a diptych or triptych. Alternatively a montage or Hockney ‘joiner’ style landscape could be explored.
Do you have a smart phone? If so you can use the camera on your phone to access online resources to help you with this assignment. All you need is a QR code reader app, point your phone web browser to one of readers below: ●
http://reader.kaywa.com
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http://get.beetagg.com
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http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/download.asp
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http://europe.nokia.com/support/product-support/nokia-n80/phone-software/smartphone
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For iPhone users. Go to iTunes and search for: QR Code reader
Once you have a reader/ app on your smart phone. Simply take a quick snap of the code(s) below, and you will be redirected to the required resource, directly on your phone.
WWW.TWAVA.CO.UK