Assignment One content

I like to type up the assignment as it makes me read it properly.  I'm lucky that I'm a trained typist and can type pretty quickly so it doesn't take long to do it.  If I don't type it out, I miss things and skim read.  It really makes me concentrate on what the content is.

As I understand the requirements of this assignment, I have to produce 12 images relating to some type of myth and dispel this myth using the pictures.  I also have to produce a virtual photo book of 20 pages with the 12 pictures and text explaining the rationale behind the selected pictures.

Definition - denotation and connotation
"Denotation is the literal meaning of the word or image, Connotation is the association (emotional or otherwise) which the word or image evokes in a particular viewer.  This will largely depend on cultural factors like race, education, polical stance, etc.  An example of this is Dorothea Lange's image of a migrant mother.  This powerful image denotes despair, hopelessness and suffering; it connotes that society either doesn't care or had simply forgotten that such people existed and needed help."  Quote fro  Gesture & Meaning page 26.

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Assignment one

Documentary values

Part A

Produce a set of 12 images in your own style that incorporate documentary values.  Base your images on an issue or subject that you find needs attention or which you already support.  The subject can be anything you like provided that the cause you choose can benefit from your work in some way.

Think about gesture, pose, setting and the inferred meaning or message that your work gives to the viewer (denotation and connotation).  Explain the values that each image has, why it is of value and to whom, and how it may be of benefit to either a group of individuals or perhaps an organization or charity.

Depending on your choice of subject, you may wish to contact an organization and gain permission to work in an area that would normally be off limits to photographers.

Don’t be deterred if your chosen subject has been done before – you may be able to introduce a new slant that no-one else has brought to the subject.

Above all, this assignment calls for style and you’ll need to think carefully about this before you start work.  Show how you’ve test different approaches and finalized an approach and photographic style that you feel is the foundation for your future practice in social documentary.

Your images must be sized up to be able to print with some quality at 16” x 12” @ 320 dpi.  You’re free to work in black and white or colour.

Part B

There will be a book that accompanies the work.  A conventional print house will produce this.  The company will be of your choice but their business must be producing one-off books rather than large print runs.  The book will have a minimum of 20 pages and have a hard cover front and back.  You’ll be required to provide a small amount of text for the book with appropriate comment where and how you feel appropriate.  This could be an introductory page of text, a small paragraph for each image or one line per image.  The text your provide must support your imagery.

Send your ideas for this book to your tutor along with your images.

Reflection

Before you send this assignment to your tutor, take a look at the assessment criteria for this course; these will be used to mark your work if you get your work formally assessed.  The assessment criteria are listed in the Introduction to this course.

Review how you think you’ve done against the criteria and make notes in your learning log.  Send these reflections to your tutor, along with your work, your supporting studies and your learning log (or link to your blog).

Make sure each file or print has your name, student number and assignment number on it.  Scan or photograph any supporting work and/or the relevant pages of your learning log.  These can be summarized as a pdf document, uploaded to your blog or organised and submitted by post.  Make sure that all supporting work has your name, student number and assignment number on it.

Your tutor make take a while to get back to you, so carry on with the course while you’re waiting.