Photography Tutorials - Online Resources

Below are links to photography techniques and tutorials:

Smashing Magazine - 50 Incredible Photography Techniques and Tutorials

Deadlines

AS Final Coursework Deadline: Tuesday 30th April 2013
You must hand in your coursework sketchbook and final piece during your lesson on Tuesday 30th April. THERE WILL BE NO EXTENSION BEYOND THIS DATE.


AS Sketchbook Contents: Monday 4th February 2013
Your must have points 1 - 10 of the sketchbook contents listed on the blog completed and in your sketchbook by the above date. You must hand in your completed sketchbook to date at the beginning of the first lesson you have, depending which group you are in, on the 4th or 5th February.

Photographers

Below is a list of photographers you might find useful in your research.

Steve Pyke
Sally Mann
David Bailey
Diana Arbus
Eugene Atget
Harry Borden
Paul Graham
Man Ray
Jane Bown
Julia Margaret Cameron
Cindy Sherman
Martin Parr
William Klein
Henri Cartier Bresson
Tina Modotti
Weegee
Dorothea Lange
Mari Mahr
Edward Steichen
Lee Miller
Nick Waplington
Richard Billingham
Leo Friedlander
Alfred Stieglitz
Brassai
Jo Spence
Angus Mcbean
Brian Duffy 

Image Analysis Guidance

Throughout the course not only will you need to complete detailed analyses of images taken by established photographers, you will have to analyze the images within your own portfolio of work. Use the following to help you structure any analysis you do:

1.    Write a brief introductory description of the image you are analysing: - ‘This image was taken by the well know photographer Cindy Sherman. It is a self-portrait of the photographer herself taken with a domestic environment’.

2.    Begin the analysis by identifying what you find most striking about the image. Say what it is that particularly makes it stand out for you.

3.    Talk about how the image is framed. Firstly, write about what is included within the camera frame (what you chose to go into the photo when looking through the view finder). Secondly, discuss how objects in the photo itself have been used to direct the viewer’s eye to specific points in the image.

4.    You will need to write about the composition of the photograph. Explain what is in the foreground, mid-ground and background and what impact they have on the image e.g. depth, confinement. This should lead on to depth of field.

5.    You need to discuss how much of the image is in focus. The more of the image that is in focus, the broader the depth of field. A narrow depth of field is when only a small portion of the image is in focus. Light levels directly affect depth of field. The more light the greater the depth of field and vice versa.

6.    You can talk about lighting in different ways – high contrast lighting (extremely dark shadows and really bright light), low contrast lighting (a greater range of tones that subtly change from light to dark) and the amount of warmth created in the photo by the use of colour and diffusion (orange sun set, cold diffusing mist).

7.    You must talk about the quality of the image you are analysing. The more light that is available when a photo is taken, the crisper the photo. Lines between shadow and light will be well defined, colours will be more saturated and the quality will be ‘extremely good. Lower light levels will result in a ‘grainy’ image with objects being less defined from the objects around them. The colours will also be desaturated.

8.    Shots and angles need also to be addressed. What size shot is used? What angle has the image been taken at? What meanings have been created through the use of these shots and angles.

AS Photography Exam Checklist

Date and location of Exam          

Monday 23^rd April

Room 24, Lowe Hill

What You Need To Bring To The Exam

1. You must have all the photos you plan to submit as a final piece at the end of the exam taken BEFORE the 23^rd of April. You have the option to take photos in the studio during the exam, but will not be allowed to take additional photos offsite on the 23^rd.

2. If you have chosen to use a sketchbook, you must bring this to the exam room.

3. You must bring with you to the exam the memory card and card reader you were asked to purchase at the start of the course. If there are any problems with the work during the exam you will at least have a back up.

4. You will be provided with the equipment to process and fix your work, but you need to supply the materials to mount your photography e.g. mounting card, presentation booklet, photo-paper. You do not need to buy adhesives or laminates.

5. You must ensure that, by the end of the exam, you have completed the following on your blog or in your sketchbook:

• ·      Brainstorm sheet
• ·      Explanation of initial idea
• ·      At least 10 research images with detailed analysis for each
• ·      Review of research, detailing what was useful, what wasn’t useful and how you will          use it to inform your experimentations
• ·      8-10 experimentation photos with detailed analysis for each
• ·      Review of experimentations, detailing what was useful, what wasn’t useful and how you will use it to inform your final piece
• ·      Brief plan of final piece, if required
• ·      Review of final piece and how it fulfils your intentions

Candidates 2011 - 2012

AS Coursework Blogs
Karla Edwards
Lydia Eykelestam
Alicia Jamieson
Tom Jarvis
Ellie King
Amy Patchett
Jacob Sznober
George Taylor
5273

AS Exam Blogs
Karla Edwards
Lydia Eykelestam
Tom Jarvis
Ellie King
Amy Patchett
Jacob Sznober
George Taylor
5237

A2 Coursework Blogs
Flora Ballantyne
Sophie Gillott
Brooke Hamilton
Amy Patchett
Lily Robinson
Jess Slater

A2 Exam Blogs
Flora Ballantyne
Sophie Gillott
Amy Patchett
Georgie Pilling
Lily Robinson
Jess Slater

AS Photography Coursework

-->

AS Art and Design: Photography

Structure of assessment

F413 Coursework Portfolio 60% 100 marks

One unit of coursework based on themes and subject matter developed from personal starting points. All work will be selected, evaluated and presented for assessment by the candidates. Critical contextual understanding may be demonstrated through written, visual, oral or other appropriate forms.

To be internally set, internal assessments to be sent to OCR by mid May and externally moderated in June.
Deadline: 1st February 2013

F423 Controlled Assignment 40% 100 marks

One unit that comprises an externally set assignment presented to the candidates at the start of the preparation period for the controlled test that will be a continuous period of focused study of five hours.

All work will be selected, evaluated and presented for assessment by the candidates. Critical contextual understanding may be demonstrated through written, visual, oral or other appropriate forms.

To be externally set on 1st February, internal assessments to be sent to OCR by mid May and externally moderated in June.

The same mark scheme is used to assess both units and this is attached at the end of this document.

F413 ASSIGNMENT

Stage 1

Choose one of the following themes as the starting point for your work:

Moving

Journey

Order

Repetition

Childhood

Reflection

Conflict

Hidden

Light

Everything you do from now on must be recorded on your blog.

Stage 2

Now you’ve chosen your theme you need to develop a personal investigation which will be the basis of your work.  It is entirely up to you how you interpret the theme.

A good starting point would be to do all of the following:

Ø  Produce a mindmap of your chosen theme

Ø  Look up the word in a dictionary and write down the definition

Ø  Look up the word in a thesaurus and write down all the suggestions

Once you have done this you need to decide on an initial focus for your work.

For example, if the theme was Nature, depending on their personal interests, people could choose as their focus:  global warming; the concept of Mother Nature; nature versus nurture; lifecycles; the seasons; urban versus rural; or organic to suggest just a few!

At this stage you do not have to think of what your final outcome will be, just decide on a focus which interests you and which you can begin to research and develop ideas for.

Once you have decided on the focus for your investigation write a brief statement of what you intend to do.  This should basically take the form of a flow diagram showing how you initially think your work is going to develop.  However, this is not set in stone and you could find that at some point in your work things take on a completely different direction to that which you initially planned.

The important thing is that there must be a logical flow to your investigation where things clearly link together.  A study which just constitutes different random pieces of work will not score highly.

Once you’ve done this show it to your teacher who will discuss it with you and might raise issues you hadn’t considered.  Once you’ve had this discussion you are ready to begin your work.

Stage 3

Get on with it!

At this point it’s important to have a clear understanding of how your work is assessed as you need to make sure that your work is detailed and meets all the requirements in order to achieve the best possible result.

Your work is assessed in four areas:

Develop - AO1 Develop their ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

Experiment - AO2 Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes reviewing and refining their ideas as their work develops.

Record - AO3 Record in visual and/or other forms, ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on their work and progress.

Present - AO4 Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, make connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.

So what are the sources you can use?

Well that depends on what your personal starting point is, but things it must include are:

Ø  Analysis of existing images

Ø  Analysis of appropriate photographers.  For example if the topic is nature you might analyse the work of photographers who specialize in photographing landscapes or animals.

Don’t just think about photography though!

Ø  You might need to research a topic and draw out the issues or facts from the topic which you want to explore further.

Ø  You might analyse works of art such as paintings or sculptures if this is relevant

Ø  You might visit a particular location to get information

Ø  You might go to a museum or art gallery or photography exhibition

Whatever research and investigation you do, this must be detailed in your sketchbook; and you need to reflect on your research.

You must clearly indicate what are the important aspects that you are going to explore further or use to incorporate in or influence your work.  For example your analysis of the work of a particular photographer might identify a particular technique which you are going to utilize in your own work.

YOU MUST NOT SIMPLY CUT AND PASTE FROM THE INTERNET OR COPY FROM A BOOK.  USE YOUR OWN WORDS!

AS Unit F410–F416: Coursework Portfolio

For this unit candidates need to produce a portfolio of work that derives from initial starting points, topics or themes that are determined by the centre.

The focus here is to produce, and select for submission, work that shows how the candidate has both:

Ø  developed their knowledge, skills and understanding;

Ø  explored, researched and acquired techniques and skills.

The portfolio is assessed holistically through all the AOs, but there is an emphasis when marking on AO1 (develop) and AO2 (experiment).

Candidates are expected to:

                   

Ø  record observations from sources relevant to intentions;

Ø  develop ideas and techniques appropriate to their chosen specialism(s);

Ø  produce work that is appropriate to their intentions.

Candidates should be aware that in practical or written work all references and sources should be correctly acknowledged.

The portfolio can comprise:

Ø  a single, sustained project, theme or course of study;

Ø  a number of smaller projects;

Ø  a combination of work presented in sketchbooks and/or mounted on sheets, or any other appropriate format.

The portfolio must be presented in an appropriate format and aim to have sufficient work to satisfy all the Assessment Objectives.