Film & Media Department
BTEC National Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production (Television and Film) Assessment Task Assignment Title: UNIT 57 Photography and Photographic Practice Start Date: September 12th 2011 Interim deadline: 09th February 2012 Final deadline: 15th March 2012 Assignment Objectives: 1 Understand different applications of photography 2 Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques 3 Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose 4 Be able to reflect upon photographic work. Task Introduction Photography, or photo-imaging, is a major industry of the media sector in its own right with a wide variety of applications, from the production of personal records such as wedding photographs or family portraits to technical applications such as industrial or medical photography. Many other media industries, such as the press, television, film and interactive media, use (and often rely on) photo images to support their products. Professional photographers can also operate independently, working to commissions or producing exhibition work that derives from their own interests. Digital technology is rapidly changing the way in which images are produced and digital imaging is becoming increasingly prevalent within the industry. Many professional photographers now shoot exclusively in a digital format, and are required to do so by their clients. However, there is still a place for traditional methods of photography, since prints and slides can easily be scanned and converted to a digital platform. The unit will enable learners to experiment with a range of technology and techniques and should allow for both digital and film-based production. Learners will be able to explore the capabilities of digital image production and how digital cameras and processes can be controlled and manipulated to produce the desired effect. The unit will also allow learners to develop their analytical skills and visual literacy, and gain a contextual and cultural awareness of photography.
Task 1: Understand different applications of photography (P1, M1, D1) MAKE A STIXY/POPPLET - covering the following types (or APPLICATIONS) of photography: Advertising, Documentary, Photojournalism, Fashion, Portrait, Architectural, Fine Art, Crime/Forensic, High Street Studio Photography. For each photo explain: • • • •
Type/Genre of Photograph (or application) Name of photographer (if you can find it) and name of Agency representing them (mostly for Photojournalists – e.g. Reuters) Context – e.g. newspaper, magazine, billboard, gallery etcetera (please give examples here – ‘The Sun’, ‘Vogue’, ‘BBC website’, ‘Tate Modern’) Purpose of Photo – what it is for (e.g. Photojournalism is to inform us of current events at home and abroad that are ‘newsworthy’ e.g. in August the London & UK riots)
Write roughly 100 words per type/genre/application Research the type of photograph and add images by different photographers to illustrate. Mention for some of the photographs the notion of ANCHORING – that text gives the photo a very specific meaning – e.g. Photojournalism of conflict in Libya will tell you that this person is fighting with the rebels – whereas in the Martin Parr book there is no individual anchoring under each photo, leaving it more open to interpretation. Task 2: Understand different applications of photography (P1, M1, D1) Make a presentation on the following photographers: • Walker Evans & FSA photographers, • Vietnam & Crimean war photographers, • Stephen Shore & William Eggleston Add key images and explain which application they may belong to and which context they could exist within for Merit and Distinction explain how the photographers and their images may belong in different contexts and how these can change over time.
Task 3: Understand different applications of photography (P1, M1, D1) Research 2 of the following photographers: • • • • • • •
Irving Penn, Bellocq, August Sander, Nadar, Astrid Kirchher, Julia Margaret Cameron, Philippe Halsman)
Add key images and explain which application they may belong to and which context they could exist within for Merit and Distinction explain how the photographers and their images may belong in different contexts and how these can change over time.
Task 4: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1 & M1) Carry out research into: Exposure Aperture Shutter Speed ISO Add an explanation of how all of the above together affect the photographs you take and the quality of them
Task 5: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1 & M1)
Using DSLRs take some photos recreating Phillipe Halsman’s "JUMP SHOTS" & recreating the "DEPTH OF FIELD" PHOTOGRAPHS we looked at. Import these photos and edit them using PhotoShop – crop them, adjust the contrast & brightness, colour saturation and hue, levels and shadows and highlights.
Task 6: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1)
Present the original and edited versions of the JUMP SHOTS AND DEPTH OF FIELD photos - with ANNOTATIONs using key terms (aperture, shutter speed etc) & how these allowed you to take the photos successfully. Annotation should also include how you edited the photos to improve contrast, composition, colour and other elements. Task 7: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) In the dark room make Photograms/Rayographs and create prints using the antique Glass plates. For the Glass plate make a ‘test strip’ & then expose the paper based on the correct timing, develop the photograph – using the developer, stop & fixer for the correct amount of time. Write up both of the above processes and evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the prints you have made using correct terminology Task 8: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1)
Using the IPod touches take photos to fit the brief of “alternative portraits” – use the various photographic ‘apps’ to add ‘special effects’ to your photos. Write up the process of using the IPod touches and how successful you think your images were.
Task 9: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) Upload the images to your Flickr account and make a contact sheet of the images you have taken Annotating the images you want to keep and those you will reject. Choose 4 photos that you think were the best for the brief of “taking alternative portraits” and upload to your Weebly. Explain why these are your favourites and why you think they fit the brief - thinking about aspects such as colour, composition, angle (high or low), shot distance (CU, LS, ELS, ECU etc) - writing 2 or 3 sentences for each photo. Task 10: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) Take portrait photos of the people and of the architecture of Thomas Tallis school using SLR and medium format cameras – load the film and take 4 photos using each of the different cameras Write up the processes of loading films and taking photos focusing on key terms and the different experiences of using the different cameras Task 11: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) Develop the films used in the dark room: • Take the film form the cartridges and load onto the spools • Place the spools in the Paterson tanks • Mix up the developer to the correct proportions and the correct temperature • Develop the film using the Paterson tanks • Wash the film in the Paterson tanks
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Hang out the film to dry
Write up this process in detail and review – in particular - the difficulties of the process Task 12: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) Scanning the negatives you have developed and using Photoshop ‘develop’ the negatives: • •
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Scan the negatives at 300dpi, 800dpi and 2400dpi Crop one image from the contact sheet of negatives at each different ‘dpi’ and upload all 3 to a your website annotating to explain the differences between the different ‘sized’ images (file size, pixel size, ‘actual’ size) Using PhotoShop as your ‘darkroom’ edit this photo – use the shadows and highlights, contrast and brightness, exposure and levels tools Present the final image with the unedited version and analyse using the formal elements
Task 13: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) Take a series of photos in the new Tallis building using DSLRs focusing on the composition and framing of your shot and the colour. Make a contact sheet using Adobe Bridge and annotate these images into ‘rejected’ and ‘selected’ images. Task 14: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) • • • • •
Make a page/subheading on your website for Double Exposures Find 5 examples of Double Exposures on Flickr Find 2-3 examples of famous photographers who used double exposures upload these examples of Double Exposures that you have found to a “Slideshow” on your Weebly site Explain 3 ways you could make a double exposure - one using an SLR, one using a Box Brownie or TLR, one using a digital camera or digital scans
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Upload your screenshots of the process of making Double Exposures to a “Slideshow” on Weebly - add annotation underneath them giving a brief review/evaluation of how successful they were
Task 15: Know how to use photographic equipment and employ photographic techniques (P1, M1, D1) Upload your 3 Double Exposure images to Flickr. Add them to a “SET”. Embed the slideshow of this “set” on your Weebly page. Then Evaluate / Review ONE of your double exposures using the FORMAL elements: • • • • •
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composition foreground & background (can you tell where the foreground and background are? how does this affect your way of looking at the photo?) colour - saturation and hue monotone (they should be a mixture of monotone and colour - try to explain how this works and changes the images ‘effect’) Focus (is it all focused or does it now appear blurred? did you mix a focused and blurred photo? why?) Is it hard to find the focal point of the photo i.e. the part that draw your attention when you first look at it? Contrast - is there high contrast between light and dark?
Finally add a detailed description of how you made the Double Exposures using Photoshop Task 16: Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose (P3, M3) BEGIN TO DEVELOP IDEA FOR YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT - think about YOUR interests and what type of photos you would like to take (e.g. fashion, documentary, advertising, fine art, architectural) for your own WORK - RESEARCH 3 photographers (linked to the type of photography you think you are interested in) - provide an image (or more) for each of these photographers - be prepared to briefly talk about your idea(s) and why you like/are influenced by the photographers you have chosen
Task 17: Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose (P3, M3)
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Take some trial shots of a theme/subject that inspires you Upload these to Flickr and arrange into 2 sets – ‘rejected’ and ‘selected’
Task 18: Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose (P3, M3) Based on your trial shots make a brainstorm presentation (Popplet, Powerpoint) detailing 3 different ideas for your photographic series – annotate the strengths and weaknesses of each Task 19: Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose (P3, M3) Trial shots notes/annotation Choose 2 of your photos you have already taken • • •
use PhotoShop to adjust and improve your photos - by cropping, adjusting colour and contrast annotate the original photo with notes about why they needed improving annotate the new photo with notes about what you have done and how this has improved them
Task 20: Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose (P3, M3) RESEARCH PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH SIMILAR WORK/A SIMILAR THEME TO YOUR IDEA: • Famous Photographers • Behance.net (student/freelance) - in the ‘field’ box on the left hand side filter your search by choosing ‘Digital Photography’, ‘Photography’ or ‘Photojournalism’ • Flickr
Add your research images and information from Flickr, Behance AND of famous photographers to Keynote or PowerPoint The information should include: • why you like the photos • this could be the content (what is the photo of?) and form - composition (how the subject(s) are arranged) and contrast/colour, etcetera • How will the photos influence/inspire you – either based on the content or form 1. Save your Keynote/Powerpoint as a PDF 2. Make a planning sub-page on your Photo Techniques page on weebly upload the PDF to Issuu and embed on your planning page Task 21: Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose (P3, M3, D3) For the TRIAL SHOT photos you have taken so far - make a PowerPoint with the following pages: • separate them into “rejected images” AND • “selected images” - i.e. ones you are happy with • add some brief annotation to each of these pages - why you have rejected or kept the images (for both categories this could be - composition, framing, blurred or in focus, over or under exposed…) • make another couple of pages on your Powerpoint for the 2 trial shots you have edited – titled EDITED TRIAL SHOTS - along with annotation The annotation on those 2 photos you have edited should include 1. Improvements you have made to the composition and contrast/colour and how this has been used to help express your theme 2. How are you trying to portray / represent your subject? What does it (your photo/subject) denote (i.e. what is it a photo of - shop, house etcetera) & what do these things connote (imply, suggest)? In other words what do we associate with them? What does your subject matter make you or viewers of your work think of?
Task 22: Be able to plan and produce photographic images for a specified purpose (P3, M3, D3) TAKE your series of Photos – making sure you take a minimum of 50 photos over a period of time – arrange these into ‘rejected’ and ‘selected’ shots on your Flickr and present 10 PRINTED edited FINAL SHOTS as your portfolio Task 22: Be able to reflect upon photographic work. (P4, M4, D4) Reflect upon your photographic portfolio and analyse your finished series of photos in terms of The form: • • • • • •
Composition Foreground & background Colour - saturation and hue Focus Contrast Aesthetics
And content: • • • •
Codes – mise-en-scene, colour, POV Metaphor Connotation – what associations do you make with your subject? What does it suggest/imply to you/your viewers? Representation – how are you representing your subject?
Task 23: Be able to reflect upon photographic work. (P4, M4, D4) Present your finished portfolio for feedback. Produce a questionnaire for your peers Aiming to cover:
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Whether you realised your intentions? The extent to which your photos are fit for purpose? The quality of your technical qualities – exposure, framing and composition The skills and knowledge you gained – what have you learned about photography (exposure, aperture, shutter speed, composition and framing, use of colour)
Reflect on your feedback Task 24: Be able to reflect upon photographic work. (P4, M4, D4) Reflect upon the process of creating your photos - How well did you grasp the Production processes - Technically how competent do you believe you were? - What was your creative ability and did you fulfill this?