define “identity” and explain how identity can be influenced by “place”, or belonging, your environment or upbringing /gender identity /cultural identity /social identity / religious identity / geographical identity / political identity / lack of / loss of identity / stereotypes / prejudices etc
2. Add a mindmap and moodboard of ideas and starting points, inspiration
Choose a range of photographers that you feel explore identity as a theme and create a CASE STUDY on Claude Cahun and then compare Cahun to a chosen artist (that will have an influence on your final outcomes re : MOCK EXAM)
3. You should have 2 x photoshoots complete and imported to Adobe Lightroom by the end of this week ready for the start of the Controlled Conditions next Monday 24th January…
Remember when EXPORTING from Lightroom you must adjust the file size to 1000 pixels on the Short edge for “blog-friendly” images (JPEGS)
BUT…for editing and printing when EXPORTING from Lightroom you must adjust the file size to Short edge for “high resolution” images (JPEGS) like this…
A5 Short Edge = 14.8 cm
A4 Short Edge = 21.0 cm
A3 Short Edge =29.7 cm
This will ensure you have the correct ASPECT RATIO
Ensure you label and save your file in you M :Drive and then coip across to the PRINT FOLDER / IMAGE TRANSFER
For a combination of images, or square format images you use the NEW DOCUMENT + PRINT PRESETS on ADOBE PHOTOSHOP to help arrange images on the correct size page (A3, A4, A5)
The process for your project should include blog posts1-5 by the end of this week
Mood-board, definition and introduction (AO1)
Mind-map of ideas (AO1)
Artist References / Case Study (must include image analysis) (AO1)
To get you started we are going to learn some more studio methods…using a variety of simple lighting techniques. Oliver Doran will be joining us, and running a few MASTERCLASS sessions . Here is his website for you to explore..https://www.oliverdoran.com/
Fox Talbot was an English member of parliament, scientist, inventor and a pioneer of photography.
Fox Talbot went on to develop the three primary elements of photography: developing, fixing, and printing. Although simply exposing photographic paper to the light produced an image, it required extremely long exposure times. By accident, he discovered that there was an image after a very short exposure. Although he could not see it, he found he could chemically develop it into a useful negative. The image on this negative was then fixed with a chemical solution. This removed the light-sensitive silver and enabled the picture to be viewed in bright light. With the negative image, Fox Talbot realised he could repeat the process of printing from the negative. Consequently, his process could make any number of positive prints, unlike the Daguerreotypes. He called this the ‘calotype’ and patented the process in 1841.
Julia Margaret Cameron (11 June 1815 – 26 January 1879) UK
She is known for her soft-focus close-ups of famous Victorian men and for illustrative images depicting characters from mythology, Christianity, and literature.
Much of her work has connections to pictorialism and even movements such as The Pre-Rapahelites, and often had a dream-like, constructed quality to the images.
Sir John Herschel ,1867
Robert Cornelius (1809-1893) USA
Cornelius’s 1839 photograph of himself. The back reads, “The first light picture ever taken”. The Cornelius portrait is the first known photographic portrait taken in America,
In most cases we can make use of natural or available / ambient light…but we must be aware of different kinds of natural light and learn how to exploit it thoughtfully and creatively…
intensity of the light
direction of the light
temperature of the light (and white balance on the camera)
Explore using diffusers (tissue paper, coloured gels, tracing paper, gauze etc) to soften the light
Try Front / side / back lighting
Compare High Key v low key lighting
Exploit Shadows / silhouettes
2. Studio Lighting
Using artificial lighting can offer many creative possibilities…so we will explore :
the size and shape of light
distance from subject to create hard / soft light
angles and direction…high, low, side lighting
filtered light
camera settings : WB / ISO / shutter speed etc
reflectors and diffusers
key lighting, fill lighting, back lighting, 1,2+3 point lighting
soft-boxes, flash lighting, spot lights and floodlights
chiarascuro and Rembrandt lighting
high key and low key lighting techniques
backdrops and infinity curves
long exposures and slow shutter speeds
Chiarascuro used to illuminate features
Johannes Vermeer, The Girl with the Pearl Earring, 1665—-chiarascuro as employed by the Dutch Masters
Francesca Woodman created blurred (self) portraits, due to movement and long exposure times), who are merging with their surroundings,
Using Flash
Bouncing the flash to soften its effects
Above : An example of “bouncing” the flash to soften the effects and create a larger “fill” area…try this wherever there are white walls/ ceilings
Flash units offer a range of possibilities in both low and high lighting scenarios that you could explore such as…
flash “bouncing”
fill-in flash
TTL / speedlight flash
remote / infra-red flash (studio lighting)
fast + slow synch flash
light painting c/w slow shutter speeds
Evidence of Your Learning
During this unit we would expect all students to complete 2-3 blog posts detailing how you are experimenting with various lighting techniques eg CHIARASCURO / REMBRANDT LIGHTING
Rembrandt Lighting
Add information / links showing how Chiarascuro has been used since the Renaissance in painting…but also how it used now in photography and film
You must describe and explain your process with each technique…add your images to your blog as you progress, print off your successful images and evaluate your process using technical vocab and analysis skills. Think carefully about the presentation of your ideas and outcomes…compare your work to relevant portrait photographers as you go eg
Annie Leibovitz, Irving Penn, Rankin, Richard Avedon, Yousef Karsh, David Bailey, Mario Testino, Steve McCurry, Jill Greenberg, Nick Knight, Tim Walker, Corrine Day, Jane Bown, Rineke Djikstra, Thomas Ruff et al…
Thomas RuffPhilip Toledano- Days with My FatherSebastiao Salgado
David Goldblatt- Soth Africa / racial segregation / gender roles / status
Alec Soth- social documentary and representationRineke Dijkstra- youth and transition to adulthood
Expected Final Outcomes by Monday 7th December2021
A Case Study and Practical Responses to a photographer who employs a range of lighting techniques
1 x Final Portrait using natural light + analysis and evaluation
1 x Final Portrait using 1 point lighting + analysis and evaluation
1 x Final Portrait using 2 point lighting+analysis and evaluation
Show you can provide evidence of head shots, cropped head shots, half body, three-quarter length and full length portraits.
Show that you can employ interesting angles and viewpoints…
Make sure you ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN YOUR BLOG
Why do we use studio lighting?
What is the difference between 1-2-3 point lighting and what does each technique provide / solve
What is fill lighting?
What is Chiarascuro ? Show examples + your own experiments
Independent Study
You must complete a range of studio lighting experiments and present your strongest ideas on a separate blog post
Remember to select only the most successful images
You should be aiming to produce portraits that show clarity, focus and a clear understanding of a range of lighting techniques
Editing should be minimal at this point…we are looking for your camera skills here
But…be creative and experimental with your approach “in camera”…extremes, uniqueness and possibly thought provoking imagery that will improve your ideas and outcomes.
Hendrik Kerstens (in response to Dutch Masters paintings)
