Lesson 1 of Unit 3

1. A2 Photography
An overview

2. WELCOME BACK!
• CONGRATULATIONS ON SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETING AS PHOTOGRAPHY!
• THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK SO FAR
THIS YEAR.

3. The next 4 weeks
• “Like” Huish Photography on facebook and
encourage new students to take a look too.
• Volunteer for some extra jobs
• Publicise and prepare our End of Year Show
• Find out about A2 Photography
• Get started on Unit 3
• Find out what you need to do for your
Summer homework.

4. Who is everyone?
• The 2 A2 groups in September will be
approximately as they are today so its time to
get to know everyone
• Find out the name of the people on either
side of you
• Introduce yourself and say which
Photographer or artist influences you the
most and why you like their work

5. INTRODUCTION
• A2 photography is much more personal than AS. In A2 you have the
chance to choose an area of photography that interests you and
pursue it with a great deal of independence.
• You will complete 2 units. The AS grade forms 50% of your overall
A2 grade so some of you might want to resubmit your Unit 1
coursework.
• The 4 assessment objectives remain the same BUT an extra level is
added on top. So, to stay the same (grade) you need to get better!
Better means having a greater level of technical expertise,
increased depth of critical understanding, greater ability to realise
your intentions to a professional finish and so on.
• You do not need any more photographic equipment but will
continue to need photographic paper, film, inkjet prints,
sketchbooks and mounting materials and an A4 ring binder for your
research.

6. UNIT 3
• This unit is started TODAY and takes up all of the first term,
the final deadline is in February.
• It has two interlinked components – an illustrated essay
based on your own independent and in-depth research
findings and practical explorations; a portfolio of your own
original photography demonstrating what you have learnt
from your study.
• The personal study can be finally presented in the form of a
large Book (including both essay and portfolio)
accompanied by an organised research file and sketchbook;
or as a video, a website, a bound illustrated essay. There is
an example of a Unit 3 study in J3.

7. UNIT 4
• You will undertake unit 4 from February, it is the
Externally Set Assignment and the theme is set by
EDEXCEL. We will not know the theme until
February.
• It is a practical project underpinned by in depth
investigations and contextual research.
• At the end of the 8 week preparatory period you
will create a final outcome and evaluation in 12
hours of exam conditions. There is an example
of a unit 4 project in J3.

8. 6 GENRES
1. Portraiture
2. Fashion
3. Landscape
4. Documentary
5. Fine Art
6. Film

9. PORTRAITURE QUESTIONS
• How have photographers attempted to reveal more about the sitter for a
portrait than merely their appearance?
• Compare and Contrast how the portrait has changed throughout the
history of photography.
• Compare and contrast how the development of photographic portraiture
has been influenced by Painting and vice versa.
• To reveal the individual before his camera, to transfer the living quality of
that individual to his finished print...Not to make road maps but to record
the essential truth of the subject; not to show how this person looks, but
to show what he is. - Edward Weston - Edward Weston's definition of the role of the
portrait photographer. ("The Portrait in Photography", Reaktion Books, London 1992, Mick Gidley, p136 –
137). Discuss portraits by a number of photographers that seem to
articulate Weston’s vision for portraiture and compare them with those
that fall short.
• Creativity with portraits involves the invocation of a state of rapport when
only a camera stands between two people...mutual vulnerability and
mutual trust. - Minor White, (Mirrors, messages, manifestations by Minor White)

10. Samuel Beckett by Jane Bown,
1976

11. FASHION QUESTIONS
• How have contemporary fashion
photographers been influenced by other art
forms?
• Compare and contrast the fashion
photography of the 1950s with today.
• Explore the innate contradiction in fashion
photography: clients want images of clothes
to sell more clothes and photographers want
to create art.

13. LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS
• Photography is an integral part of exploration
of the world, will it now be part of saving the
world? – how are environmentally conscious
photographers using their images to focus
attention on climate change?
• Compare and contrast how photographers
and artists have depicted the city in the last
century.

14. Ashley Cooper

15. DOCUMENTARY QUESTIONS
• The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to SEE something, and tell what it
SAW in a plain way... To see clearly is poetry, prophecy, and religion, all in one. - John Ruskin
Discuss the documentary photographers whose work seems to live up to Ruskin’s ideals
• “Photography cannot change the world. But it can show the world, when it changes”. Marc
Riboud. Do you agree with this statement? Discuss with arguments and examples for and
against.
• "There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and to shame the devil…" –
Walter Lippmann. Discuss examples of documentary photography that have ‘shamed the devil’.
• How have periods of economic decline been captured by photographers in the last century?
• Photographing poverty – what’s the point? Discuss.
• The use of photography to promote action or change in Social Advertising. Discuss with specific
examples. Ogilvy, Saatchi
• Does a photo ever make a difference? How have photographs contributed to political or social
change? Discuss with specific examples.
• What is documentary photography? Compare and contrast the approaches of 3 key
practitioners in the field.

16. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/6152050/Ten
-photographs-that-changed-the-world.html

17. FILM QUESTIONS
• A film is never really good unless the camera is
an eye in the head of a poet. - Orson Welles .
Discuss with examples.
• How has film-making been influenced by
photography? Provide at least 3 examples.
• Explore how cinematographers have taken
influence from photography and other art
forms in the development of a film’s aesthetic.

18. The Shadow Line
Edward Hopper
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/200
4/apr/25/art hopper influences
cinematographers

19. FINE ART QUESTIONS
• What impact did the invention of photography have upon
Impressionism and Post Impressionism? Which
contemporary photographers take their influence from
these movements?
• What impact did photography have on Surrealism? Discuss
how photography provided an ideal format for the
visualisation of surrealist concerns.
• How have artists used photography to explore issues of
identity?
• A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in
the head of a poet. - Orson Welles . Discuss with examples.
• How have photographers used experimental approaches to
explore what cannot be seen by the human eye?

22. EXHIBITIONS
Eyewitness: Hungarian Photographers. Kertesz, Moholy-Nagy etc Watch Me Move: The Animation Show
Royal Academy, London 20th June to 2nd October 15 Jun-11 Sep, Barbican Art Gallery
Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography Glamour of the Gods: Hollywood Portraits
Tue 12 April 2011–Sun 17 July 2011 Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation
Victoria and Albert Museum, London 7 July - 23 October 2011
National Portrait Gallery
Tracey Emin: Love is What You Want
Wednesday 18 May - Monday 29 August Paul Graham
Hayward Gallery, London 20th April – 19th June 2011
Whitechapel Gallery
Pipilotti Rist
28 September 2011 - 8 January 2012 Thomas Struth
Hayward Gallery, London 6th July – 16th Sept 2011
Whitechapel Gallery
Photography: New Documentary Forms
1 May 2011 – 31 March 2012
Tate Modern, London
ARTIST ROOMS: Diane Arbus
16 May 2011 – 31 March 2012
Tate Modern, London
Level 2 Gallery: Burke + Norfolk: Photographs From The War In Afghanistan
6 May – 10 July 2011
Tate Modern, London

23. WHAT TO DO unit 3
• Read the questions associated with each
theme and look at the Powerpoints
• Analyse one question from each theme and
brainstorm thoughts and ideas
• Make suggestions for alternative questions for
each theme
• Choose your theme and question by end of
Week 2.

24. WHAT TO DO exhibition
• 2 students to make posters and leaflets for the
exhibition
• Team to put in and address envelopes and
compile mailing list and press release
• Put up your display for the exhibition on Wed
29th June PM or Thursday 30th June
• Write your artist statement and put up next to
your display.
• Attend the Private View

25. Additional Opportunities
• Volunteer for Open Evening – Wed 6th July
• Volunteer for Summer Ball Paparazzi job – 30th
June evening
• Volunteer for commission

26. WHAT TO DO
• Find an image and add to the display for your chosen genre.
• Buy an A4 ring binder and hole punch or plastic pockets!
• Analyse your question in depth
• Write a list of possible sources to research
• Begin to gather research materials
• Put up your disply for the exhibition
• Write and put up your artist statement
• Review the exhibition and hand in on 7th or 8th July.
• Plan to visit a museum, gallery or exhibition
• Collect enough images to create an A1 moodboard over the
summer

27. Group discussion. Essay questions.
• What would you write about? Issues, themes, facts,
ideas etc
• Who would you write about? Artists, photographers,
film-makers, cinematographers etc– lists and reasons
• Where could you research this further? List books,
magazines, journals, films, TV, websites etc
• Where could you see Primary source materials for this
topic? List exhibitions on around the country from now
until November; museums, galleries, archives etc
• What sort of things could you photograph for this
topic? List locations, props, models and so on