Level 2

Level 2 How

to

read

a

photograph

Tori Searle- 1210

IF THIS IS 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.

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These photographs show t cause the photographs s vised especially for the cam tive because the photogra people holding signs, that s tive that text has been use pieces look very differnt an in well with the theme of t that photography is all abo

IF THIS

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the theme of ‘If this is Art’ well, this is bestrategies and performances have been demera. I think that these photographs are effecapher has photographed a variety of different say different things. I think that it is very effeced in these photographs, because it makes the nd interesting. I think that this artists work links this is art because it challenges the stereotype out sitting and waiting for that perfect moment.

S IS

A R T

Seidou Ke

eita I think that Seidou Keita’s work links in very well with the theme of this is art- this is because her work focuses upon a variety of different people being photographed who are wearing a variety of different patterned clothing. I think that thisphotograph is effective because I think that it stands out well- I like how his work is in black and white because it is more eye-catching and I think that the black and white effect links well with the photographs that he has taken.

DAVID GO

OLBLATT

I think that thisphotographs that have been taken by Golblatt are effective and link in well with the genre ‘This is Art’. This is because not all of these photographs look like they have been planned and set up- for example the photo of the man sleeping on the bus with anothr individual behind him yawning looks like it has just been randomly captured- this links in extremely well with the idea that the stereotype that photography is all about sitting and waiting for that perfect moment.

Phillip Lorca diCo

orcia Head

Lorca’s work also links in extremely well with the theme of this is art- this is because the people that he has photographed are not models, he did not set up a scene for them to pose and then he was going totake their photograph.

He had set up a camera on a scafolding pole in New York city, when someone walked past because it was motion sensor it would automaticaly take a picture of the person walking past.

Alfred St

tieglitz I think Stielglitz’s work is very unique because he photographs a variety of different things; including crowds of people, people by themselves, objects up close adn buildings from far away. You can tell that these photographs were taken a while ago- or they are made to look like have been because of the colour that they are in. These photos link in well with the theme of this is Art because again he has not waited for the perfect moment and has set up photoshoots specifically he has just taken photographs of what he has seen.

Sophie Calle The Chromatic Diet 19

I find Sophie Calles work very interesting to look at because it is so different from alot of photography that I have looked at before. Calle was on a diet that required her to eat food of all the same colouring that day- one day she would eat completely blue food, the next day pink and the day after orange. I think that this work links in incredibly well with the genre ‘This is Art’ because Calles work challenges the sterotype of what photography is all about- because her work is so much different to many others.

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Joseph I like America and America likes me 1974

Josephs Beuys photographs are very interesting to me because I feel like they are almost telling a story. This particular photoshoot has been taken in ann almost empty room and involves a blanket, a man and a dog. I think that it is effective that the photographs have been put into Black& White because it allows the darker and lighter areas to stand out more- and it gives a sense of old fashion to the photographs.

Beuys

Bettina von Zwehl Made Up Love song

Von Zwehl’s work is interesting to me because of the way that she has presented it- she has presented this particular photoshoot so that the images are in circles and they are not square or rectangular like you would normally see. I like these photographs that Bettina has taken because they are set up so similary (th background, the shape, how the model is standing and what they are wearing), but she has chosen such a wide variety of different looking women.

DAVID SPERO

I find David Spero’s work very interesting to look at because he has photographed such simple things such as a room in a house, or a building but I think that they look so much more interesting than that. His work is very different to any of the other artists that I have looked atso far which I think is a positive aspect, because it means that his work stands out to me more.

Once upon a time ...

JEFF W

I like the variety of Jeff Walls w he has simply taken a photogra models in the photograph. I als graphs and how literally they ex movement has been captured i around by the wind and how the teresting and adds alot to the i

A sudden gust of wind

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WALL

work because none of it is too complicated because aph of a particular environment with one or two so like how simple the names are of the photoexplain what is going on in the photo. I also like how in these photographs- like the paper being blown e milk is exploding. I think that this looks very inimage as a whole.

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Sam Taylor Woo 1998 I think that Taylors work is interesting, this is because he has photographed a number of different people doing a number of different activities (sitting, sleeping, dancing and being blind folded). I also like the variety of different shapes that he has used for his photography- He has used a panaroma style image which has been able to capture the whole length of that room and a number of different people doing activitys in there.

od Soliloquy I

Francis

Five People t same thing 19 I think that this particular photoshoot by Kearney links in well with the theme ‘Once uplon a time’. This is because you can tell by looking at the different photographs and the title of this piece that the photographs are telling a story by just one single image. The title of this photoshoot I think is interesting because this variety of different photographs are very similar becaue all of the models have been photographed from behind and are holding something.

Kearney

thinking the 998

Andrea

Gursky’s work links in extremely well with the genre Deadpan- this is because he has photographed large scale pieces such as a supermarket and a rack of shoes and there is not a particular point that you need to focus upon.

Dead

Gursky

dpan

Bridge Smith’s work also links in well with the theme of Deadpan because again there is not a certain point in the photograph that you should be focusing on. Your eye is drawn to the image as a whole and the different areas of the entire image.

et Smith

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Baltz’s work is very simple because he has photographed empty walls with doors, a shop window and a car but I think it is still interesting to look at.

You can tell that these photographs have been taken a while ago because they are in Black& White which I think looks very effective adn interesting.

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This artist has photographed large scale buildings and room which links in well with the theme of Deadpan. I think that Matthias’ work is interesting to look at because you are able to focus on the whole of the image instead of just one certain point.

He has photographed pretty simple rooms but it has been made to look interesting because of the quality of the picture- all of the colous stand out extremely well.

Ma tth

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(A Machine for living) 1999

I think that Holdsoworth has taken good use of using his camera at different angles to take these pictures. This is because you can tell that some of them have been taken from below an object, some have been taken from a height and some have been taken straight on. His work links in well with the theme of Deadpan, this is because he has photographed a scene that does not have a main focus to it.

Dan Holdsworth Untitled

I like Richards work and think that it is interesting and different to many other photographers that I have previously looked at. This is because he has photographed a scene that looks very damanged- which makes it look much more exciting. It is not a perfect environment that he has decided to photograph, he has decided upon something that looks interesting and has clearly had something happen to it- to result in it looking like this.

Rich ard Misr ach Salt on S ea

s a m o Th a r t r Po

Thomas Ruff’s work is simple but yet still interesting, I like how he has used a plain background and the woman in the photograph is looking directly at the camera and she does not have much of an expression on her face. I think my making these photographs simple it dosent make the piece look messy and you are able to focus on the whole of the piece.

f f u R s t i a

Joel Ste

ernfeld Sternfeld’s work link in well with the theme of Deadpan- this is because he has again photographed a large scale environment so that you are interested in the piece as a whole and not just focusing upon one part of the image. I like the variety of places that he has photographed because he has chosen somewhere as simple as a field with a few houses in the background- outside a supermarket, on an areoplane field and with a burning house in the background.

Someth and Not I find this theme one of the most interesting because it is focusing upon objects that are so simple and nobody really takes a minute to look at them. But he has made them look so much more interesting by the way that he has set them up. For example I like the way that he has balanced objects ontop of eachother, becuase they would be so simple by themselves but putting them together has made the image as a whole alot more exciting and interesting.

Peter Fischli Weiss Quiet afternoon 1984-85

hing thing

& David

Richard Wentwo

d orth

Wentworth’s work also links in very well with the theme, has has photographed ordinary things such as markings on the road that are not normally looked at for a long period of time but because he has photographed them it makes you think they are more interesting, so it makes you look at the piece for longer.

Shafrans work is interesting to look at because of the environments that he has chosen. He has chosen somethibg as simple as a living room, and food in a supermarket.

N i g e l Shafran Sewing Kit 2002

Something is missing

1997

I like how Jean-mark has photographed an environment through a fence. I think that this adds alot to the photograph and as the fence is blurry you are able to see clearly through the gaps in it which I think is effective.

Jean-Marc Bustamante

Wim Wenders

I like the use of bright colours in Wim Wenders work. Alot of different colours have been used in his work link pink, blues and greens. They are simple things such as a street shop, and a man unlocking a door. But because the colours are so bright it adds alot more to the photographs.

Wall in Paris, Texas 2001

Peter Fraser

Materials 2002

These photographs link in well with the theme ‘Something and nothing’, this is because such a basic item has been chosen to photograph but it is made to look so interesting. I think this is because a bright green colour has been placed in an environment that is dull so it stands out well and it makes you want to look at it more.

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Tillmans

1997

Tilman’s work covers a wide variety of different aspects. I think his most interesting piece is the suit outfit haanging from a pole. I find this the most interesting because it is so different to so many other photographers work- no-one would think to hang some clothes up so they would look like the are making an outfit and then to photograph it.

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Unititled #40 Rome 2001

I like the use of a number of different bright colour in Laura’s work, also how she has decided to photograph such basic things like a messy table after all the food has been eaten. This links in extremely well with the theme of something and nothing because because she has decided to photograph something that people will never normally focus upon; they wont give it a second look and will just past by it.

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Barth

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Nowhere near series 1999 Barth’s work is exciting to me because I like the use of lighting and shadows that she has created. She has taken a photograph of something as simple as a curtain or a wall- but the lighting on that has made the piece look much more interesting.

Billingham’s work is very real and shows almost the ‘ugly truth’ of what life looks like. Most photography is based upon people look perfect but his work is based upon human existence and I think that it portrays that very well, looking at emotional and physical relationships. Linking in very well with the theme of ‘something and nothing’ because pictures of everyday activities such as; arguing, sitting on the sofa, or sitting on the floor would not normally look interesting in a picture and no one would normally think to give them a second look.

Ray’s a Laugh series 1994

Human Existen

Richard Billingham

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Tina

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I like Tina Barneys work because I think that it is very interesting to look photographs of people who are not posing and who are just doing normal basic everyday activities. It links in very well with the theme of Human existence- this is because a variety of different groups of people have been photographed, and between them they will have a number of different personal and physical relationships.

1996

Barney

Mitch Epstein Dad IV Epstein’s work has a very good link with human existence- again he has focused upon taking photographs of such simple activity like a man swimming or a couple looking out to sea. I think that it is interesting and effective how he has decided to use an older man in his photographs.

This is because you do not normally see older people in photographers work- and I think that this is an excellent way of portraying human existence.

Colin Gray Untitled 2002

Colin Gray’s work shows alot of raw emotion- you can tell this because of the expressions on the models faces. I think that this is an excellent way of portraying human existence because it is of focusing upon a number of different moments that are unexpected in everyday life; for example someone getting sick,

Breda Beban The Miracle of Death 2000

I dont think that Breda Beban’s work has such an obvious link with the theme of human existence because it does not involve an actual images of people interacting. But if you think deeper into it all of the photographs in this series are photographs were a human would interact and perform such basic activities. Such as cooking in the kitchen, lying in a ade or unmade bed, sitting on a chair or simply just looking out of their window.

Moments in History Willie Doherty God Has Not Failed Us

Dohertys work links in very well with the theme moments in history- this is because as well as the images that he has taken he has linked them with a quote that he has placed on top of the image.

I think the use of images and text combined together is very interesting- this is because it adds more to the piece as a whole and you are able to look at something and also able to understand it more because of what the text is saying to you.

Anthony Haughey Minefield Bosnia 1999

Haugheys work is looking at the consequences of human upheavelhis photographs have been taken in bosnia. He has photographed something so simple as the grand, or a plant and also a reef. This links in very well with the theme of ‘moments in history’ this is because he has decided to photograph a tragic event that happened in bosnia.

Fazal Sheikh Halima Abdullai 2000

I like the use of black and white in these images. I thinkk that it creates an inetresting effect, and a good link with the theme of moments in history. this is because you can tell that this is the theme that these photographs link with because black and white is associated with the olden days.

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

I like the use of colour here and how these photographs have been taken at sea. This is because I think that it creates a good picture because the sky is always captured and it can either look stormy and cloudy or the sun can be breaking through- which i think is very effective. i think that it also links in well with the theme of moments in history because this series of photographs is focusing all around the search for the disabled and drifting saiboat- which is an event that happened in the past, and now it is being photographed and changed into art history.

Martin Parr Bristol, Unitied Kingdom 1998

I think the use of bright colours in martin parrs work is effective because it drawns your eye into looking at the image in more detail because it is so bright. He has photographed a rather random choice of objects and activities such as a young boy eating an ice lolly, someone holding a cigerette and a dog wearing sunglasses. because there is some humour to these photographs I think that they are made to look much more exciting.

d n a d e v i v e R

Cindy Sherman Untitled

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Gillian ing Self por as my father

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rtrait Brian

Susan Derges River 23rd November 1998

John Divola Installation Chairs 2002

Vibeke Tandberg Line 1999

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Clyde

Butcher

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Ian Ruhte

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Shape of framing- Di

iane Arbus

Focus- Lee-Friedlande

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AARON SISKIND- S

SURFACE

COLOUR- WILLIAM

M EGGLESTON

T I M E

EADWEARD MUYBRIDGE

Sophie

calle

Light quality

describes the source, amount, and direction of lighting in a photograph. Light can come from natural sources, like the sun. It can be altered or created by humans, by using such things as flash bulbs or lamps. It can also be diffused by clouds or by humans putting a veil of cloth over a lamp. The direction of light is also important when looking at photographs: it can come from above, behind, or from one side. Bright, dim, cloudy, directional, diffused, and flash are some terms used to describe lighting.

Determine the source of light (sun, lamp, flash?). What is it?

From which direction does the light come? Does the light come from above the subject? Below it? From the side?

What kind of light do you think this is? Is the light harsh with strong shadows, or is it diffused with soft, light shadows?

Texture

is how the surface of an object appears to feel or actually feels to the touch.Texture can be described as rough, smooth, soft, etc.Texture is shown in photographs by the way the light falls on an object and through value changes. The paper on which the photograph is made also determines texture.

What objects in the photograph show textures? Describe those textures.

Is the texture of objects something that you noticed right away or do you notice it after looking for a while? Why?

Focus

is the sharpness or clarity of subjects in the photographic image. Soft focus is created when a photographer manipulates the camera to achieve blurry, gentle edges.

Photographers use the aperture (lens opening) and limitations of the lens to create sharp detail, soft edges, or both; this is called selective focus.

What is in sharp focus?

Has the photographer kept everything in sharp focus?

Has the photographer kept only a few things in focus?

Explain Has the photographer made this image in soft focus?

What mood or feeling has the photographer created by using soft or sharp focus?

Angle of view

is the position from where the photographer took the picture. A photographer can point the camera from below, above, or straight at an object. In other artistic media, this is often called point of view. When looking for subjects, especially in nature, a photographer often shifts the angle of view to make interesting images. Angle of view can also express emotion or mood. It can give the viewer a sense of being small if looking up, or a sense of being big if looking down.

What is the angle of view for this image?

Is the camera angle in the photograph at eye level, lower than eye level (ground level) or above eye level (birds eye view)?

Is the viewer looking straight on or from one side or another?

How does the photographer’s angle of view make you feel about the subject?

Framing

is how a photographer carefully presents a subject. Unlike painters, who usually begin with a blank canvas, photographers begin with everything in front of them. Once a subject is found, a photographer decides what to include in the picture frame. The photographer then composes the image to draw a viewer’s attention to the subject in a way that best expresses the artist’s idea of it.

What do you think the photographer chose to include or exclude from this scene in order to draw your attention to the center of interest?

In what ways did the photographer use framing in this image?

What in the photograph helps frame the center of interest?

COLOUR

Artists use color to achieve many effects. Color gives viewers a sense of mood, place, and time of year. Color can also move your eye around a composition and create a sense of space on a flat surface. Some artists achieve very saturated (strong, intense) color in their images, while others intentionally use subdued or muted colors in their subject matter.

Are colour photographs more real looking than black and white photographs? Why or why?

What can a photographer achieve with colour that she or he cannot with black and white pictures?

How would this scene be different if it were in black and white or in colour?

How do you think the photographer has captured wither saturated or muted colour?

Harvard referencingGenre- REVIVED AND REMAID

Vibeke Tandberg- http://www.gerhardsengerner. com/Artists/vt_works05.htm

http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/works/faces-1-12/ http://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Line-I/022723C6FEAB6C79 http://www.gerhardsengerner.com/Artists/vt_works05.htm

Glossar

Hue: Another term for colour.

Macro: A lens specically designed to take close up pho JPEG: A digital image le format which compresses le si Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the image s Burning in: A form of local control of print density b print to make them darker while shading the remainder Filter: A glass, plastic, or gelatine disc or square t Shutter speed: The duration of time during which the s the lm) during a shot.

White Balance : The way in which a camera measures and as all other colours - appear normal to the eye of the Luminosity: The quantity of light reected by or emitte Brightness: Subjective impression of luminosity.

ry

otos. ize by the removal of unused colour data sensor to create an image. by which you increase exposure in some parts of a of the print from the enlarger light that ts on the front of a lens. shutter is open (thereby allowing light to reach

d records prevailing light so that whites - as well e viewer ed from a surface