AC A4 photopgraphy explore and expand

• CKV
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

PHOTOGRAPHY

What do you think are the most significant
differences between a regular photo (snapshot) and an artistic photo?

Photography movements

Read the movements and answer the question on the next slide.

New vision

At the start of the 20th century, the new type ofphotography arose when artists wanted to break free from the picturesque tradition. They experimented with the visual elements: the composition, the unusual position, the framing and thelighting. They often photographed everday streetlife. They also experimented with the collage technique.

Documentary photography

Documentary photography usually refers to a popular form of photography, used to chronicle events or environments both significant and relevant to history and historical events as well as everyday life. It is typically covered in professional photo journalism, or real-life reporting, but it may also be an amateur, artistic, or academic pursuit. The purpose of documentary photography is to engage social debate, eg: about injustice in the world, the care for the environment, etc.

Commercial/fashion photography

Advertising and fashion photography is well known because of its broad presence in the media. The purpose of this genre is purely commercial. It’s aim is to display clothing and other fashion items in the most attractive way and to encourage people to buy them. Commercial and fashion photography has its own aesthetic in which the attraction of clothes and products are enhanced by the presence of exotic locations or accessories. This very typical, aesthetic style is often copied and tweaked by artists to get a very different engaging message across.

Old style

The first artists started to experiment with photography at the end of the 19th century. They were still strongly influenced by painting. They
tried to imitate the atmosphere and the representations of paintings in their
photo studio. At the same time, the Impressionist painters used this very new photo camera to capture a moment in an innovative way. 

Conceptual photography

Conceptual photography is a type of photography that illustrates an idea. Illustrative photographs have been made since the medium's invention, for example in the earliest staged photographs, such as Hippolyte Bayard's Self Portrait as a Drowned Man (1840). However, the term conceptual photography derives from Conceptual Art, a movement of the late 1960s. Today the term is used to describe either a methodology or a genre. Conceptual photography is sometimes called staged photography, because the photos have been staged carefully. 

Fashion and advertising photography, as
you have been able to read, is the most
viewed and it should look attractive.
What message did the following photographers
want to convey with their image?

PHOTOGRAPHY characteristics.

Read the characteristics en do the assignment on the next slide.

Subject matter

Subject matter is what we actually see in a work of art, in this case, what we see in the photo. This can be a portrait, landscape, a daily scene or a still life. These genres are derived from the art of painting.

Composition

 Composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or 'ingredients' in a work of art, in this case a photo. The composition is an important factor concerning the power of your image. There are diagonal, vertical and horizontal compositions .An asymmetrical composition means that the main subject in the photo is not centred.

Framing/cropping

Framing is the technique of drawing attention to the subject of your image. You can cut off parts of your photo to create a better composition. To enhance the quality of the photo you can use close-up, or use the space around your subject to guide the viewer’s eye. 

Camera angel

Of course you can put your camera on eye level. But a more special effect can be created by putting your camera close to the ground with the lens pointing upwards:frog perspective. The opposite is bird's eye view, where you put your camera on a high level with the lens pointing downwards. 

Lightning

The contrast between light and shadow defines an entire photo. Sharp contrasts between light and dark can create depth and a dramatic atmosphere. More even lighting can make a subject seem less three dimensional. It is a popular way of lighting portraits, because it can be flattering, and it softens imperfections. You can use natural daylight or artificial lighting in your photos. Light can come in from very different angles. A silhouette becomes visible when using light from behind your subject. Light that comes in from the side is called floodlight.

Focus

A focus is a sharp area in a photo and can be used to emphasize the attention on an important subject. In photography the moment the photo is taken is very important. This exact time occurs when the situation, movement and lighting are optimal. 

Composition

Frog perspective

Floodlight

Cropping

Bird's eye view

PHOTOGRAPHY EXPAND

In expand, we look at photography from the dimension RECOGNITION AND ALIENATION

Photography is the origin of film, video
 and our visual culture. Nowadays images are an important means of communication. Many artists use this discipline as an 
artistic expression. Nowadays photography is becoming an important part of the
 digital art world, such as new media art,
 art made with computers. The Internet also uses photography as an ingredient.

Conceptual artists that use photography often use digital photo editing in their work.
 Some artists speak very openly about it, others keep their work procedure a secret.

Each year a competition is held in search of the best documentary photos; The World Press Photo contest. These images are shown in a number of cities around the world, such as in Amsterdam, during the World Press Photo exhibition. Go to the website on the next slide. Take a close look at the winning photos and the other nominees. Answer the next question after viewing the photo's:
Do you agree with the opinion of the expert jury? If so, explain why in short sentences. If not, explain your answer. What is your opinion?

www.worldpressphoto.org

Exercise 

Scroll through your photos and choose 2-4 of them. Analyse them and see which characteristics you can find in the photos. Discuss your findings with a partner.