AP Photo Breadth 4: Formalism and "The Constructed Photograph"

Did you finish Breadth 4? Download and do basic editing Monday 9/28, critique on Thursday, meanwhile start:

For twenty years I have constructed what I photograph in the studio, combining objects and surfaces into new entities by the manipulation of light, space, and photographic materials." - Olivia Parker


Due Monday 10/5 Photo Assignment: Formalism and Constructing a Photograph
Cindy Sherman and Jennifer Zwick













Formalism: A theory of art which places emphasis on form — the qualities instead of content. According to this point of view, the most important thing about a work of art is the effective organization of the elements of art through the use of the principles of design.


The Constructed Photograph
Many photographers argue over the art of taking a picture vs. making a picture.

Can the constructed image tell us something the found image cannot?


Does a photograph that was captured in the heat of a moment comment more closely on society that an image that was thoughtfully composed to have the same effect?


Create, arrange, and compose from the ground up in attempt to convey your own truths.
adapted from: http://www.galleryrfd.org/exhibitions/exhibitions.htm


1. Brainstorm ideas of how to set up a photo shoot at school or at home or in an environment.

1. Will you include a person?



2. What objects?



3. What is the emphasis of the photo?



4. What compostion techniques will you use?



5. What lighting will you use?

Post these answers on your blog.




2. Set up the shot and take at least 25 photos.

3. Bring the images to class

4. In Photoshop:
a. Basic editing
b. manipulation using photomontage techniques. IMPORTANT: the shot needs to be constructed BEFORE you take your photos, Photoshop should only be used to enhance the images. This is NOT Surrealism.

5. Print the best image.

Visit this site first for ideas: http://www.galleryrfd.org/exhibitions/staged/staged_exhibition/pages/001.htm

Artists:

Sandy Skoglund: http://www.sandyskoglund.com/pages/imagelist_fl/2004fl/index.html

Cindy Sherman: http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/1997/sherman/selectedworks.html

Gillian Brown: http://www.moillusions.com/2008/03/gillian-browns-constructed-photographs.html

Jennifer Zwick: http://jenniferzwick.com/

David L Hone: http://www.rps.org/region/Thames-Valley/portfolio/2098-David%20L-Hone%20LRPS

Brian F. Thompson : http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=9771252

Olivia Parkerhttp://oliviaparker.com/gallery.php?id=16

Reading and blog entry: Photo Idea Index, 209-211-handout
Photoshop exercises:

1. Visit this site, do the lesson to acieve better black and white images than by only using Image-Adjustments-Grayscale http://www.macworld.com/article/56958/2007/03/photoshop-grayscale-conversion