Exercise: Creative Generation: Photography Essay
Introduction
In preparation for the next unit (Critique Culture & Leveraging Partnerships) you will complete a creative project for presentation to and critique by your peers.
Learning Goal: Develop, execute, and present a creative project based on a clear and articulable concept.
Pedagogy Goal: Develop critique skills as both the receiver and giver of feedback. Be able to respond based on presenter intentionality. Practice identifying and responding to idea abstraction.
Assignment: For this exercise, you will take, curate, and present a photographic work based on a clear conceptual intention of your choice. The work may be digital, analog, collage, mixed media, AI, a single photograph or a series of photographs, but it will need to be presented digitally. The topic and approach are entirely up to you, but you should attempt to express an abstract idea, approach both the topic and how you choose to represent it in the photo essay intentionally, rigorously, and following the creative process we have been discussing. Your work will need to communicate your intentions and approach. Consider that it might be easier to communicate complex ideas through a series of photos rather than having one photo carry the entire weight of the concept. As you generate your work, consider the readings from this week.
Process
Brainstorm approaches
Theme
abstract/literal
Emotional
shape/color
Narrative
Settle on a clear concept. State it clearly in 1-2 sentences.
Explore the idea through photography.
Critique and Curation.
Self-critique your work to edit. Iterate if necessary.
Carefully choose the images that express your concept most clearly as a whole.
Be prepared to present your ideas through a slideshow in a live session.
Deliverables
A google slides presentation with the following elements:
Name of Project
Statement of idea
Images
The google slide should:
Be named “Your Last Name - Photo Essay”
Be stored in our group google drive
Post a link to the presentation as a comment below.
Context
Subject vs Concept
Subject refers to the primary focus or the main element within a visual work, such as a painting, photograph, or design piece. It is the central figure, object, or theme that the artist or creator has chosen to represent. In photography, the subject is the primary object or scene that the photographer captures. It can be anything from a person, a building, a natural landscape, to an abstract concept. The subject's framing and composition are critical in photography to convey the intended message or emotion.
Concept in art, design, and photography refers to the underlying idea, theme, or message that the creator seeks to communicate through their work. It represents the intellectual and emotional content of the artwork, beyond its visual appearance.In photography, the concept goes beyond the subject matter. It's the photographer's vision or the story they aim to tell through their images. It may involve creative use of lighting, composition, and post-processing techniques to evoke specific emotions, convey a message, or explore a particular theme.
Example:
Subject: A portrait of a person standing in a field of flowers.
Concept: "The Passage of Time"
In this example:
The subject of the photograph is the person standing in the field of flowers. They are the central element that the viewer immediately notices.
The concept behind the photograph is "The Passage of Time." The concept is not explicitly visible in the image but is conveyed through various creative choices. The choice of location, the type of flowers, the person's clothing, and their expression all contribute to this concept. For instance:
The choice of a field of flowers with both blooming and wilting flowers represents the stages of life and the transient nature of beauty.
The person's clothing might incorporate elements from different time periods, symbolizing the past, present, and future.
The person's expression could convey a sense of contemplation, inviting viewers to reflect on the concept of time.
The subject (the person in the field of flowers) serves as the visual anchor, while the concept (the passage of time) adds depth and meaning to the photograph. The photograph goes beyond a simple portrait and invites viewers to consider the broader ideas and emotions associated with the theme of time and its effects on life and beauty.
Additional Examples:
These examples demonstrate how the concept behind a photograph can provide a deeper layer of meaning and interpretation beyond the immediate subject matter. The concept often guides the photographer's creative choices, including composition, lighting, and framing, to convey a particular message or emotion to the viewer.
Click on the image for a breakdown of subject and concept.
Resources
Approaches to the Project
Approaches to a photograph - technical approaches
Developing a Personal Style - conceptual approaches
Abstract Photography - Style Approaches
Project Ideas - subject approaches Ideas
Photographer Examples:
The evolution of Manhattan through Reiner Leist’s Window
The photographs of Reiner Leist’s Window series offer a perspective on 20 years of New York City life. Since March 1995, he has photographed almost daily the view from the window of his apartment, in an office building on Manhattans 8th Avenue.
Chris Buckard: Surf
With a focus on conservation, Burkard has braved some of the most remarkable—and inhospitable—landscapes on earth, from the remote and unnamed beaches of Iceland to the bone-chilling waters of Norway. With a passion for water and surfing, he’s traveled with scientists, engineers, sailors, and more—all with the intention of educating the public about the beauty, resilience, and fragility of our planet
