Shapes & Shadows - Assessment Due Tuesday Week 10

Your Shapes & Shadows Assessment is due on Tuesday of week 10. By this time your blogs must be up to date and your final images (6 each for Max Dupain and Olive Cotton) printed in WA105.

All shooting and editing must be completed this week so we can focus on printing and presentation of works next week.

Check your progress against the Assessment Task notification and recent posts on this blog.

Still Life Shoot

Imogen Cunningham, Two Callas (c. 1929)

We are now beginning our still life shooting, using artificial light. I encourage you to shoot both at home and in class. Remember to experiment with lighting placement, distance and angles to achieve a variety of interesting compositions. You need a minimum of 6 final images for this section of your assessment. Below is a checklist for what you need to do.

1. Bring in interesting props/personal items from home - they can be natural or man made. They should have a variety of shapes, tones, and textures to create visual interest.

2. Shoot a variety of compositions, experimenting with the placement of your lights. You need at least 6 final images for this section - so shoot more than that.

3. Edit and upload these 6 to your blog, annotating each with a description of what you did to achieve the image. Include camera and lighting angles, arrangement of objects, and framing in your annotations.

Group Research Activity

Edward Weston, Pepper #30, silver gelatin photograph, 23.7 x 18.9 cm, 1930

1. The class will form 7 groups of 3. Each group will be assigned a photographer from the following list - Max Dupain, David Moore, Roger Fenton, Adolphe Meyer, Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston, and Paul Strand.

2. These photographers all represent objects and still life compositions in their photographs, using light and shadow to describe the form of an object. In groups investigate examples of how your assigned photographer has used light and shadow in their still life works.

3. In your group have a collaborative discussion, analysing how your photographer's use of lighting and composition has achieved certain effects. Consider how different lighting and composition communicates mood and atmosphere. Does it create a sense of mystery or disorientation? Does it use silhouette? Does it describe form? Where is the light coming from? Is the light hard or soft?

4. Individually select a still life work by your group's assigned photographer. Choose a work that uses light in an interesting way - a way that you could use in your own work - and write a paragraph discussing the work, it's lighting, mood, and how you think it was achieved (minimum of 50 words).
Post this on your blog along with the photograph you are discussing. Remember to include a citation for the photograph.

Shapes & Shadows Update

Olive Cotton, Skeleton Leaf

Silver gelatin photograph, ed: 6/90, 20.4 x 16.5 cm

Posting on your Blog - It is exciting to see work of such a high standard appearing on many of your blogs. Keep posting your work and artist research regularly as it forms an online portfolio that is not only a great way to showcase your talents, but is used for assessment and marking.

Workflow - This week in class we have undertaken a number of tasks. All of these are to be uploaded to your blog. Many of you are up to date and have taken charge of your learning. If you are unsure of your progress, refer to the list below.

1. Edit, and post at least 4 images inspired by the work of Max Dupain. Generally speaking these images should be architectural and exploit natural light.

2. Still life practice shoot. Compose and shoot 10 images exploiting natural light in the classroom using available props. You must have examples of close up, extreme close up, leading lines, rule of 3rds, symmetry, and asymmetry. Choose at least 4 of these to edit and upload to your blog.

3. Read provided articles on Max Dupain and Olive Cotton. Using this information write at least 50 words describing the life and photographic practice of Olive Cotton. No cut and paste, as it is plagiarism.

4. Locate and choose a photograph by Olive Cotton to upload to your blog. You must provide a citation for the work so use the Art Gallery of New South Wales website, as one will always be provided. This cannot be said of a search of google images.

Shared Course Resources - Many useful resources and documents are shared with you on google drive in the folder Year 9 Photography and Digital Media 2015. Here you can find assessment tasks, technical notes, and artist information covered in class.

Posting your progress on your blog.

You now should be uploading images you have edited so far which are inspired or guided by Max Dupain. This Blog acts as your portfolio and outlines your process with this task. Your Blog will be marked and checked as part of your final practical task, so you must keep on top of this and work on it gradually.

I have added some of my own images which are max Dupain inspired and explained the features within the image which gives them that feel.

angular lines and curves shown, reflective surfaces in the background, texture created to contrast with the smooth surfaces of the sculpture. 

This image shows a varied angle of view, a low angle looking up. High contrast shown with dark shadows and then white aspects and features shown. 

Heavy, sharp lines, reflective surfaces and patterns created by zooming in on the pavers and stairs. My whites in the image are white and i have very dark, shadowed areas in contrast. I have avoided very grey images. 

This is one of my favourites of the QVB in the city. A smooth image, showing effective curves and spirals which lead the viewers eye through the image. I have stark contrast through the use of black and white, but then some soft greys to add a more subdued element to the image. I have cropped the image considerably only giving a suggestion of the architectural stairway.