1. Photography Research
How to analyse a body of work and 2-4 images
(1)CONCEPTUAL and CONTEXTUAL Practice (Photographers name and body of work
title)
Within this area, discuss the purpose and meaning of the work. What was the
photographer trying to achieve? Who was it about? Why? Is it personal to them in
anyway? What made them photographer capture this subject matter? Is it political or a
social piece of work? Is there a historical or social context and whats the importance of
that? Where was it taken?Discuss this. What was the context in which it was made,
does it reflect the issues and times in which it was made.
The following should than be reflected upon next to specific images…
(2)Extracting the CONCEPT in 2-4 images
What's in the image? Discuss the specific image, identify what’s in the image and than
justify and explain how it reflects the concept, purpose and meaning.
You may need to consider:Location, Body Language, lighting, Facial Expressions,
Items, Props, Iconography, Age, Class, Race, Gender, Subcultures, Issues, Context.
(3)COMPOSITION and technique analysis
-Camera tech – Aperture, Shutter Speed, I.S.O (The relationship, Depth of field, Motion
Blur, Lighting conditions/source, Noise/grain)
-Consideration of lighting – (Rembrandt, Edge, Butterfly, Low key, Hard, Soft, Natural
(refer to camera tech, refer to concept/mood, how does the light fall on the subject?
What are the connotations?high lights, low lights, contrast, saturation does it help
communicate the concept?)
- Composition – what formal qualities are used and why? (is it visually pleasing?)
- Vantage Point – Low, Eye Level, High, Dutch, (why? Does it link to concept, medium?
Purpose of the image)
- Framing/shot type: Close Up, Extreme Close Up, Long Shot, Mid Shot, Extreme Long
Shot, (why? Does it link to concept, medium? Purpose of the image).
4)CONNECTION and COMMENT
- What do you plan to take from the work you have analysed and apply to your work?
- What inspiration, is it visual or conceptual?
- What is the link between your work and the photographer you’re researching?
- What’s your personal view on the work? What meanings do you derive from it?