Writing about MTP's - Equipment, Materials, techniques and Processes.

Working with the criteria 

Read through the criteria and check to see if, as a part of the pass requirements you need to produce work that directly addresses the need to identify Equipment, materials, techniques or processes.

I would advise that you dedicate separate word files for each section and bring it all together as a PDF at the end when you hand in. Use the template in the side bar on Poodle 1 here to write up the sections covering these criteria.

File save as Equipment - Try and produce a minimum of 2 sides of A3 where you identify the equipment that you use or try over the duration of the unit. Primarily this should be made up of pictures of the equipment and ideally these should be images shot yourself using your DSLR as you’ll be identifying that you can shoot the equipment in fairly tricky lighting. Use the equipment’s Product data sheets which are found on-line to write up basic descriptions (Keep the HTML link and use a bibliography at the end of these pages.

·         What is the equipment for?

·         What does it add to your Photography e.g. what are the benefits of using it?

·         How have you used it?

·         Pros and cons of using it.

70% Pictures 30% written.

________________________________________

File save as Materials – as above try and produce a minimum of 2 sides detailing the materials that you use. Materials include the use of Films, photographic papers, developers, stop, fix, toners, liquid emulsion, paints, glues, tapes, photo-copy paper and the papers in your sample pack from the Print Space.  Again, use information off of the production data sheets and add your own observations and details about why you prefer to use it discussing the characteristics and properties.

·         What are the materials for?

·         What does it add to your Photography e.g. what are the benefits of using it?

·         How have you used it?

·         Pros and cons of using it.

70% pictures 30% written

__________________________________________

File save as Techniques – Another 2 or more sides detailing the techniques you use. Techniques included your…

Lighting techniques (Remember you choose how and when to shoot and what quality and type of light you’ll use, so this is your lighting techniques). Use an image from each of your shoots that you produce and describe the lighting in as much details as possible – discuss; light quality, shadow attributes, affect on line, shape, form and texture; colour and the source (Daylight, fluorescent, tungsten, flash).

Shooting techniques - viewpoint, composition, lens use and attributes, depth of field, shutter speed, formal and candid; Under-rating (Over-exposing) Over rating (Under-exposure).

Metering technique TTL or hand-held; reflected light readings, Incident light readings, spot, centre weighted, matrix and evaluative; Mid-tones, 18% grey cards and subject failure.

Darkroom techniques – Condenser, diffuser enlarger, contact sheets, test strips, easel use, dodging, burning in, mixed grade printing, pre-fogging, focusing, printing with rebate, masking and making borders; Multi contrast filters, double exposure, diffusion, borders.

Processing techniques – you can use the developing version on the door in the prep room as the basic technique, although there are literally hundreds; Under developing, over developing, ‘5-10-20-20’ film wash method, multiple films,

Post-production techniques – Photo-shop, B&W print re-touching, hand-tinting, toning, cutting and re-configuring, damaging, tearing, staining, Photocopying and scanning.

·         What is the techniques?

·         What does it add to your Photography e.g. what are the benefits of using it?

·         How have you used it?

·         Pros and cons of using it.

70% Pictures 30% written.

File save as Processes – If you leave this as your last page that you choose to write up, you may find that in writing about the techniques you may have done enough to cover processes. Process is a series of stages that you use to create something. What you could write about is The Creative Process you could reiterate and point out that you use the Research – reflect – plan – produce/make – reflect process in order to work on your projects.

The other obvious processes you use are Film processes and the B&W paper process. Another one is your Production process Using continuous writing (Not bullet points) Explain how your production process works for an individual shoot – choose your final shoot as the example. Explain the process from the start right through to the very end where you detail where and when you get your Final images printed and what their purpose will be.

Aim to write up 2 pages for Process.

How to write up plans for Photo shoots

Throughout your work you're required to write up plans for you Photo shoots. Take a moment now to look at the criteria section in your brief. The chances are planning is a pass criteria and therefore you have to do it and it's quite likely it's required in order to attain the higher grades too. Sometimes it appears as Planned Intentions, especially in the 2nd year units.

Top Tip

When you write up your plans, make sure you "Sign post" the fact that you are doing so, by using a Bold heading using the wording from the criteria e.g. Planned Intentions.

*NOTE Make sure you write up your plans in the present tense, do not write them up using retrospective (Past tense) language, otherwise they're not plans. If you're forced to write your plans up after the event, focus on using the correct language, ensuring it reads as though the plan was written before you executed the work. Top tip - Write them up before you do the work!

Plans sometimes don't go to plan, if they don't - just explain/analyse why in your reflective work. 

So, what do I write and how much? 

With regards to the question how much - there's no answer, but look for the clues in the criteria, if it says detailed plans or uses the word comprehensive, that will generally mean a fair bit. If you're one of my students and your following the guidance given with regards to the way you produce your work, you should aim to produce your plan as part of a Gibbs reflection. 

So, in this example here above A and B is an example of your research work. Once the research is completed and usually you'd produce 4 pages (2 Photographers) you then reflect on your research using the Gibbs method before you start to produce your first piece of practical work. So, the first page after the research features at the start, high-lighted here on page C in light blue is the Gibbs reflection. The Gibbs reflection features 5 sections... (1) What happened, (2) How do you feel it went, (3) What was good/bad (4) Analysis (5) Action Plan.

Therefore, the last bit of the Gibbs reflection is the plan for your first piece of practical work e.g. your first shoot.

The length of the plan is dictated by the complexity of the shoot, if it's a self-directed studio shoot involving set building, models, make-up artists, assistants, hair-stylists and changes to the lighting and set as seen in 2nd year work, the plan will be longer. Generally though, combined with a Gibbs reflection as above, the plan will be about half a column in your design sheet.

Typically the things that you should detail in your plan...

• When you plan to shoot.
• Where you're shooting the pictures.
• What camera you'll be using.
• What media your using.
• What focal length you'll be using.
• Whether you'll experiment with different focal lengths or change lenses.
• What kind of lighting you'll be using - soft,harsh, diffuse, point etc.
• If your copying someone's lighting techniques say who's.
• Who your model will be.
• Whether you're using tripods, reflectors, or any other equipment.
• Who your assistant will be.
• Any H&S issues
• What your Intention is, what you're trying to achieve or learn. 
• What you're testing out.
• Transport details
• Details about emptying SD cards - charging batteries.
• Contingency (Back up) plan in the event of any changes - models/light/weather
• When you intent to have films processed by and the work in your design sheet. 

Note - It's especially important that self-directed shoots and final shoots are the ones with the most detail, make sure these can be described as being comprehensive or detailed as these are often the descriptions used in the Criteria in order to attain merits and distinctions. 

Y02 - Research tasks overview (Independent English)

Refer to the assignment issued the first week back.

"Historical and contemporary photography Y02" (Independent English)

The format for the work is exactly the same every 2 weeks.

This is the work that you do during your Independent English sessions.

On the days indicated above you should make a start on the work, what is important is the deadline as at each deadline you will have to upload your work to Turnitin.

Turnitin records when you;ve submitted the work and how much of the work has been plagiarised (Copied). Non-submissions and work that has been plagiarised will not be acceptable.

Each of these tasks if under-taken with commitment and the required level of enthusiasm should take around 3-4 hours. They are an essential part of your studies and must be completed. If under-taken with any real sense of purpose these tasks should enable you to generate ideas more readily and give you a good grounding in understanding photography.
_______________________________________________________________

New Format

This is a suggestion for an alternative way of producing your research. You may want to adopt it or try it out - it's up to you.

On the left-hand page Where possible include an image of the Photographer with their equipment/camera and an image that you know has influenced the work or may have influenced the work if you recognise similarities in older photography. The written section is your initial response to the work prior to studying and reading about it.

2nd page (Right) With this page select one of the images from the series you're looking at and studying and then use about 10 of the headings from the list of prompts (See side bar) and write up the facts around the image. You should use 2 - 3 quotes making sure that they are used in conjunction with speech marks, otherwise they will be picked up by Turnitin as plagiarism. Also include 4 or 5 of your research references and where possible include books or journals.

This is how you need to work with your research or if you prefer use the way you have been using in the first year. The important thing is to get it done. Use your time effectively and make sure the work is handed in on time and not plagiarised.

Location Photography - Shooting on beach

This was a shoot that I observed on Camber Sands beach in Kent.

We turned up at about 11.00 and shortly after we'd settled on the beach a couple of blokes started to bring equipment down from a large beach-side house... Click on the image to go to the website to access the prices to rent this house.

The houses in such locations are frequently used for shooting films and photographic shoots. In this case it was used as the base for the model and the crew - search "Sea Gem, Camber Sands".

It soon became apparent that the equipment that was being brought down to the beach was Photographic and that we were about to witness an elaborate  Photo-shoot on the beach directly in front of where we were sitting.

There appeared at this point to be 4 assistants and the equipment being brought down included petrol generators and studio light and heavy duty light stands. The equipment was brought down from the house using carts as seen here. You can see the base house in the distance. The light at this point was diffuse as there was some sea mist which has yet to burn off.

One of the generators, probably 'Silent running' or as near as possible.

A few hours in, the mist had burnt off and the Model Jasmin Le Bon was brought down to the beach and more people started to turn up - make-up, hair stylist, stylist and probably people from the magazine - features writer, artistic director, picture editor, editor and their assistants?

This was the last shot that I took and we left shortly after this at about 5pm and at this point they'd been there about 6 hours and were still not shooting. They probably started to shoot a short time after we left as the light would have dipped lower in the sky and and become more conducive with shooting. If you search Jonty Davies Jasmin Le Bon in Google you'll be able to find some of the images that were published - a mixture of B&W shots and colour

This was in July and the images and article was published in the November issue of 'Red' magazine. The photographer who I spoke to and asked if I could shoot the image was Jonty Davies

Blended learning task No.1

Francesca Woodman.

The reason for looking at the work of Francesca Woodman is that we want you to be influenced by some aspects of her work. The idea of researching other photographers is that by reading about them and looking at what they do, you'll hopefully pick up ideas and insights. One of the most important things to seek out and discover is what the work is about and or why the photographer makes the work (Pictures). You will need to read the articles.

As this is your first attempt at doing this independently, you will need to follow the instructions below. Remember what you did in your first lesson and how the prompts were used to generate your written content.

This is what you need to do.

(1). Open the links below and have a look at several of them in order to get a sense of what it is that Francesca Woodman does photographically. From these websites collect about 9 images and put them into a folder on your computer name it Francesca Woodman. (See below)...

(2). When in college next or if you have access to a printer select 4 of the images at a time from the folder and then 'Right click' and a drop-down box will appear. (See below)...


Print the images off a page at a time with 4 images. If you do this you're images will be the perfect size for use in your Display folder. If you print more than 4 images, the images will be put on the other side of the paper making them unusable.

Finally of the images you've looked at and saved and then choose one that you feel that you can write about - that looks the most interesting to you. This will be your main image and you need to print this A5 size. Again, using windows - select the image and then the print command and choose the 18x13cm (1/2 page) print option.

Cut the images up neatly and stick about 8 of the small images on one page and the bigger A5 image on the opposite page in the centre.

What the hell should I write?

On the page with the small images (See below) I would suggest that say what you think about the main image before reading about the photographer and the work. We call this your initial response to the images. When you write up your initial response, try not to describe it in terms that the everyday person would. Attempt to be more analytical about it - write about it in terms of being a photographer looking at it and making sense of it as we did in the first lesson where we examined Derek Ridgers image of Kylie Minogue. (Use the prompts).




Other searches you should try and when looking for the small images, the photographers name followed by the words camera, equipment, in the studio or on location. As these will often bring up images of the photographer using their equipment. Similarly Youtube searches or video searches in the Google search engine will sometimes come up with videos showing the photographer working and you'll be able to see the cameras being used along with the lighting.

The Prompts used for artist research and the analysis of images

Light & Mood
Format & composition
Colour or Black and white
Background
Props
Style and period
Influence
Socio-economics
Meaning/message
Context
Narrative/Story
Equipment and techniques
Body language and facial expression

For help and explanations of the prompts click here

Here are the links for this week -
http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2011/01/24/long-exposure-francesca-woodman/

Equipment
http://amalric2014.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/francesca-woodman-on-being-angel.html

http://www.c-print.se/single-post/2016/11/15/All-About-Francesca

https://collectordaily.com/francesca-woodman-guggenheim/

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/284114  Diazotype

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/photography/11077489/Francesca-Woodman-Zigzag-Victoria-Miro-review.html

https://collectordaily.com/francesca-woodman-guggenheim/

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2012/05/23/finding-francesca-woodman/

.

Blended learning task No.3

Richard Avedon - In the American West series.

Quick message... I've been marking your work and I'm very impressed with both classes, some of the work I've seen is of the standard I usually see at the end of the 2nd year! well done and keep going, look to make improvements all the time.

Dave T.

This weeks links...

http://www.americansuburbx.com/2011/01/richard-avedon-richard-avedons-in.html
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPeQCQwIx6E&t=50s

http://www.latimes.com/la-100104avedon_lat-story.html

To find images of how Avedon worked and the equipment he used type...

"Avedon at work in the American west" in Google images.

_________________________________________________________________________

What I'm looking for is that with this one you get the images aspect of your work 100% correct which means...

• 7-8 images printed using MS word so that the images fill the page and the page looks busy and visually.
• Amongst the 7-8 images - one of Avedon with his camera on location.
• The main image to analyse printed A5
• Your bibliography with all three photographers you've studied so far

CLICK HERE FOR THE PROMPTS

Blended learning task No.4

Blended learning task No.4
Rineke Dijkstra

Issued Monday 2nd October.

Due in GPA 9th October, GPB 10th October in Dave T's lesson.

Look at Mothers, Bullfighters and beach portraits.

http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/07/interview-rineke-dijkstra-rineke-%e2%80%a9dijkstra%e2%80%a9-a%e2%80%a9-retrospective-2012.html

http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/rineke-dijkstra-cruel-and-tender

http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/interviews/rineke-dijkstra-guggenheim-sfmoma/

What the hell do I write?   

Find the prompts to generate content here

Blended learning task No.5

Blended learning task 5 - Research for Unit 4

Remember on the image page leave a space for your initial reaction and write your initial thoughts around the use of the background and any ideas you have about the MTP's.

Ed Drew 

This  weeks photographer who you need to research into is Ed Drew. There are two key elements you need to look into and research.

(1). The Materials, techniques and processes. To get you started with this you need to watch the video here all of his MTP's are mentioned - there's a sequence in the video where the camera is identified clearly - follow that up and search for that camera on Youtube. Identify the size of the film plates that are used. Use Photographs of the equipment or screen grabs from the video.

(2) The background (Person + Background). Most of the images include an obvious symbol - The gun. Some don't. You can use both types in your analysis providing you acknowledge the difference and discuss how the gun helps the narrative. But the main point is the consistent back-ground - why has he opted for this background - how does it help with the narrative?

Also make sure you reference his own references - what inspired him - what are these modern images influenced by? Use images to show the connection/similarity.

Heres the link to the prompts  when you use them focus on the ones that drive you to write about the MTP's, background, body language and whether these images are subjective or objective?














Ed Drew working https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTAV0H8U-AM

Blended learning task No.6

This weeks Blended learning task is to research the artist Irving Penn and the series of images known as "The Corner Portraits". 

*Irving Penn will be in your book - "Photography the Whole Story" so make sure you reference the book when compiling your bibliography.

The work needs to be completed and submitted for assessment...

Group A Monday 13th
Group B Tuesday 14th

This research supports your current work where you're working with people's personalities and the association with the background in the image.

The emphasis of your work needs to be identifying what Materials, Techniques and processes are used and what role the background in the image plays in the narrative.

Use the links below to conduct your research...

Link 1             Link 2

Remember to offer an initial reaction to the images prior to reading about them - have the initial reaction on the same page as the images and use your favourite of the images for the main page.

Could you use this in some way to produce your images? What might it look like in colour? What about two colours?

Blended learning task No.7

This weeks research task and images analysis links with the current practical work that you're producing - images of people with their possessions.

The images that you're looking at this week are very current.

See the links         No.1  here   No.2 here

The images come from the News agency Reuters and have been shot by Yannis Behrakis, Daniel Becerril, Stefano Rellandini,  Eric Gaillard and others.

These images are probably unlike the images you've been shooting in that they're presented as diptychs (Two images presented as one).

Read the articles and put together a page of the images as examples. Look into the Photographer Yannis Behrakis - what's his interest in the theme - why does he empathise with the subjects and their stories. Look too at what he says about how he's effected by what he photographs.

Choose one of the images to discuss in more depth and deconstruct. Consider how the images might be designed/posed in alternative ways to achieve the same effect. Look too at the background in the images and analyse whether these images work as stand-along images or do they only work as a collective.

How might the images be constructed and designed so that the story might be told in a more coherent manner without the use of text? Also discuss the role of the text - without the use of text is the story still clearly read and understood.

Remember to use the prompts list here to generate written content.

Blended learning task No.8

Week commencing 27th Nov

This weeks Photographer is Bill Owen, specifically the series 'Suburbia' from 1973

This approach to photography is documentary photography. These images form a series shot over a period of years that are compiled as a book, so the images work as group conveying the narrative. Many of the images though, work as individual images combining the background, the subject, symbols and involvement - Person + background + symbol + involvement = picture. Look through the images and find one that you feel uses this formula most effectively - use this as your key image to deconstruct and analyse.

Identify what equipment and materials Bill Owen uses and discuss his use of lens focal length if possible. Also make sure you identify his work process/method - are the people aware of him being there, how does he capture the images seemingly in many instances unseen or not noticed?

Don't forget you'll need to shoot film over the remaining 3 weeks using the formula Person + background + symbol + involvement = picture creating your own images using this documentary approach. Use either Ilford XP2 or Ilford Delta 400 You must buy this ASAP.

Inlcude in your work product data for the film you choose as part of your evidencing the materials you use along with details relating to the processing of the films. Remember XP2 you'll need to get processed at a lab and you'll get the prints along with the negatives. Delta 400 you'll need to process yourselves at college so make sure you allocate time to process and print. 

Link 1            Link 2          Link 3 

Deadline - Monday 4th (GPA) Tuesday 5th (GPB) make sure you have the work with you completed. 

Blended learning task No.9

Unit 3

This weeks blended learning task relates to your Unit 3 work "The Creative Process".

As a part of the 'Creative Process' you will need to research your chosen theme. It's essential that you produce the research at the start of the creative process...

You will need to very quickly establish a subject or theme for your photography. Consider the constraints you have to work with... Time/resources/costs and subject. Be realistic about what you can photograph and how much access you have to your subject.

With only a 8 weeks in which to produce the work it is important to work to a schedule, your theme must  be established and the research completed in the first two weeks.

Produce the research in the manner that you have been for your blended learning - one A3 page of associated images and the other page the written content and analysis of your research see the example here

You will need to hand in the work on Monday (GPA) or Tuesday (GPB) in Dave Thompson's first lesson. 

What I'll be expecting to see...

• A3 display folder
• Front page with name and course and unit name
• Introduction to your theme and your initial ideas and plan
• 2  A3 pages of research - one page images and the other page written analysis using one 'Key image'. 

You're advised to produce portraits for this project as this will enable you to make best use of your time in college and use the facilities such as the studio.

Blended learning task No.10

Hello,

You've not had one of these for a while and this task is set for both Y01 and Y02. You have till Monday February the 19th to get it completed and because it's going to be produced in a word file, you can send it to me once it has finished.

You have been sent the updated version of the Blended Learning Research Template and you have to work with this. The file was sent by email on ********

The 2 documents once you've done your research and filled them both in  will  look like this...

The document is already populated with text, most of the text is in the form of explanations, but at the start of the document the first few prompts are examples of how you might go about responding to them.

The Task.

1. Read through the document carefully so that you understand how you need to use it. 

2. Choose one of the Artists that you have looked at already for your research and use the information you already have to produce two additional pages of research using this format. For some of you that have already made a solid start on the Unit 1 work, this will be pretty much a copy and paste exercise if you've chosen to type it up so far. Those of you that have written the work up, you'll need to type up what you've written.

3. Make sure you follow the instructions and respond to as many of the prompts as possible. Although it's not essential that you use all of them. 

4. You will need to submit 2 pages (a). The page with the images and (b). The page with the single image and the text. 

This is compulsory and I will be asking to see the work at regular points over the coming week.

Use your blended, English and maths and your PD sessions to do this work, if you're in the practical session with no practical work, you can use these sessions for this too.