This document provides information and guidance for Unit 3 of an A2 Photography course, called the Personal Investigation. It explains that students will work on this unit from June to January, choosing a personal theme to inspire their work. Students will produce a sketchbook and final pieces. Fifteen theme options are given as starting points, such as architecture, urban, objects, photo collage, documentary, contemporary fashion, and more. Related photographers are listed under each theme to provide examples.

1. A2 Photography UNIT 3: Personal Investigation
Unit 3 is called The Personal Investigation. It forms 60% of your A2 grade.
You will work on this unit from June to January. This is a personal topic, so make sure that you choose
a theme that inspires you. Start with a broad theme. There will be many opportunities to take images
and over the duration of the project your ideas will develop toward a personal focus.
For this unit you produce a sketchbook of supporting work and a set of final pieces.
Choose ONE of the following 15 themes as your starting point:
Theme Some specific ideas Related photographers
Architecture
Skyscrapers Derelict
Modern buildings Deserted/Empty
Windows Construction
Doorways London/New York
Structure & Pattern
Old buildings
Lewis Baltz
Andreas Feininger
Andreas Gursky
Yoke Matze
W. Eugene Smith
Frederick Evans
Urban
Environment
My Street/Town Alleyways
Underpasses Industrial centres
Shopping centres Motor ways
Garages Back yards
City gardens Recycling centres
Bus stop Cafes
Street furniture Car parks
Play grounds City at night
Christophe Agou
Brassai
Andreas Gursky
Candida Hofer
Rut Bless Luxemburg
Peter Marlow
Joel Meyerowitz
Gary Winogrand
Objects
Shoes Musical instruments
Personal possessions Flowers
Kitchen utensils Fruit & Veg
Collections Accessories
Hats & Bags Tools
Bicycle Stacks
Self portrait as object Sports equipment
Boxes Lost & Found
Childhood memorabilia Spot the…
Karl Blossfeldt
Jan Groover
Imogen Cunningham
Martin Waugh
Seamus Ryan
Olivia Parker
Tina Modotti
Hong Hao
Ron Von Dongen
Photo Collage
My Life Pattern & Texture
My Place Identity
Portraits Music
Political statement Dreams
Journeys Movement
Emotions Fears & Phobias
Decay & Decline Image & Text
Herbert Bayer
Dan Eldon
John Heartfield
Robert Heinecken
Hannah Hoch
David Hockney
Robert Rauschenberg
Surrealism
Architecture & Landscape Odd thing out
Dreams & Nightmares Strange
Landscapes & figure Illusions
People & animals Distortion
Out of Place Symbolism
Man Ray
Wanda Wulz
Jerry N Uelsmann
Thomas Barbey
Sandy Skoglund
JK Potter
Documentary:
People
Professions People & their pets
Day in the life of… Uniforms
Fashion tribes Hobbies
Lifestyle choices My Cultural Heritage
People in my street Generations
Working 9 to 5 Couples
Families Rituals
Values & Beliefs
Berenice Abbott
Diane Arbus
Richard Billingham
Henri Cartier – Bresson
Robert Doisneau
Elliott Erwitt
Martin Parr
Donovan Wyllie
Documentary:
Places
Portrait of a street, village, town, city
The Market Place/School/Church/Station
My Britain
24 hours in/ 60 minutes in….
Sacred & Special places
Eugene Atget
Brassai
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Walker Evans
W. Eugene Smith

2. Contemporary
Fashion
Rain coats & Wellies Denim
Little Black Dress Gothic
Hippie Chick Princess
Hats Umbrellas
Tribal Accessories
Masks & Makeup Ballgown
Trainers & Heels My wardrobe…
Nick Knight
Guy Bourdin
David LaChapelle
Rankin
Mario Testino
Corrine Day
Elaine Constantine
Classic
Fashion
I’m a lady…
Hats & Gloves
Suit & Tie
Ball gown/Prom dress
Richard Avedon
David Bailey
Cecil Beaton
Patrick Demarchellier
Juergen Teller
Rural
Environment
Trees Coast
Barns/out buildings Styles & gates
Farmyard Rivers & Lakes
Tracks & Paths Clouds & sky
Rural Villages Puddles
Woodland Buds & leaves
Sacred sites Weather
Ansel Adams
Paul Caponigro
Fay Godwin
Michael Kenna
Josef Kouldelka
Charlie Waite
Bill Brandt
Movement
Jump, skip, hop Dance
Throw, catch, bounce Fall
Run Cycle
360, 180, 90 degrees Left to right
Team Sequences
Phillipe Halsman
Harold Edgerton
Ernst Haas
Eadward Muybridge
Bragaglia
Duane Michals
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Narrative
Fairy tales & fables Strange suburbia
Lost Dream sequence
Day in the life of…. Heroes
Inspired by paintings The Argument
Proverbs & sayings Before & After
Gregory Crewdson
Tom Hunter
Duane Michals
Pierre and Gilles
Jeff Wall
Cindy Sherman
Portraits
Facial Close up Me and my…..
Generations Hands & feet
Morphing How do I look?!
Couples Identikit
Brothers & Sisters Odd one out
Groups Emotions
Children Body language
Teens Laugh, shout, cry
Professionals Identity
Masks
Eve Arnold
Jane Bown
Annie Leibovitz
Sally Mann
Linda McCartney
Arnold Newman
Helen Van Meene
Gillian Wearing
Rankin
Richard Nixon
Daniel Meadows
Self Portraits
Who am I?
I want to be…
If I could change…
Mirrors and reflections
Day/week in my life
Francesca Woodman
John Coplans
Arnulf Rainer
Cindy Sherman
Sam Taylor-Wood
Dan Eldon
Wildlife
Insects Garden life
Reptiles Creepy Crawlies
Farmyard animals Birds
Zoo Aquarium
David Doubilet
Chris Packham
Stephen Dalton
Andy Rouse
Heather Angel
Jonathan Scott