Stretch and Explore

The Studio Habit of Mind that will be explored in this unit is Stretch and Explore.

To stretch and explore as artists we must learn to use all of the Studio Habits of Mind, and artistic concepts and conventions to go beyond what we perceive as our limitations - or what we think we can't do or aren't good at. We must remember to explore new ideas, mediums, and tools, stretch beyond our comfort zone by trying new things, take risks, and make mistakes. Most importantly, as artists, we must learn from everything that we engage in, the progress we make, and all of the opportunities for growth and development.

Just as in all of the Studio Habits of Mind, the ability for an artist to stretch beyond their perceived limitations and explore new things takes repeated practice.

Artistic Concept

A concept is an abstract idea. Artists use different concepts to take those ideas from abstraction to reality. The concepts being explored through the lens of the Studio Habit - Stretch and Explore is Problem Solving.

Problem Solving lies in an artist's ability to use their creativity to develop new ideas and solutions to problems. Artists strive to solve a specific problem or achieve a particular goal, regardless if it difficult or complex. This is a process that needs time, determination, and practice, but it can be broken down into clear, achievable steps. Those steps include defining the problem, generating ideas, evaluating and combining ideas, and implementing the best solution.

Element of Art & Design

The elements and principles of art and design are the foundation on which all art is created. They can be thought of like a sentence. There has to be words in order to make a sentence; no words, no sentence. The elements of art are like the words. Without the elements - line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form - there is no art. That doesn't mean that all elements of art must be used in an individual artwork, just like not every word has to be used in a sentence, but at least one must be present.

Stretch and Explore will focus on the following element of art & design:

Form

Discover some interesting aspects of the element of art & design: form

Why is form important to know in photography?

Principle of Art & Design

If we think of the elements and principles of art & design like a sentence, with the words being a metaphor for the elements, then the principles of art & design are the ways in which the words are arranged. The way in which you arrange the words of a sentence dictates the feel and meaning of it. More descriptive words, and the sentence gives more detail; less words, and the sentence reads sharp or abrupt. The principles of art and design are the way in which an artwork is arranged. Does it appear uneasy, or relaxed? Without the principles of design - pattern and repetition, contrast, movement, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and unity - an artwork would not have a unique look and personality to it. The principles of art and design are more subjective as well. This means that they can be viewed and interpreted by one person differently than they are viewed and interpreted by another.

Stretch and Explore will focus on the following principle of art & design:

Pattern and Repetition

Discover interesting aspects of the principle of art & design: pattern and repetition

Why is pattern and repetition important to know in photography?

Reading

Learn about ISO and its importance to the medium of photography.

Show What You Know

Fold, roll, or crumple a sheet of plain white paper.

Using the monochromatic mode on the camera, take numerous photographs of the paper.

Explore a variety of angles of the light source to achieve differing light and shadow.

Test out different ISO settings to capture the light.

What differences do you see?

Composition

Still-life Composition Guidelines

Learn different techniques to compose a strong composition using everyday, still life objects to create a visual story and bring emotion to the photograph.

Set up a small still life and photograph it using what you learned from the video. Your photograph should consider ISO and be monochromatic.

Artistic Conventions

A convention is an accepted way in which something is done. It's a variety of things that artists do to create a piece of artwork. Artists use their knowledge of the numerous different artistic conventions with corresponding methods and techniques to portray meaning in an artwork.

Each Studio Habit of Mind will explore different artistic conventions. In this example, the artist is using the artistic conventions that this unit will explore - light and shadow and perspective, or angle of view. Light and shadow can be seen in the photograph by Dorthea Lange. In this photograph, the lightness of the house makes it a focal point as contrasted to the dark ridges of the soil. Perspective or angle of view can be seen in the photograph by Bourke-White. This photograph is taken from a "bird's eye view," or from high up looking straight down?

How does this apply to the art of photography? What can we learn from these conventions?

Tractored Out, Childress County, Texas, Dorthea Lange

Hats in the Garment District, Margaret Bourke-White

Artist Connection

Dorthea Lange and Margaret Bourke-White

Partner Share

Working with a partner, pair up to each watch one of the above videos. Keep in mind the following questions as you are watching:

What did you learn about their life?
When did they work?
What subjects did they mostly photograph?
What are they best known for?
What did you learn about their passion for photography?
How would you describe their work?

Then discuss what you learned about the person you chose with your partner. Teach them about the photographer you learned more about and vice versa. Use the questions as your discussion guide.

Crossroads General Store, Gordonton, North Carolina, Dorthea Lange

Carrot Pickers, Dorthea Lange

The Living Dead at Buchenwald, Margaret Bourke-White

Women Working in the Field, Kostolna-Slovakia, Czechoslovakia, Margaret Bourke-White

Let's Analyze

Based on what you already know about composition and the artistic conventions we've discussed so far, analyze the four photographs above. What is each artist doing successfully? How did they use light and shadow to tell a visual story? How did they create an image from a unique "perspective?" What could you "steal" from their work to add to your own?

Career Exploration

Gallery Artist

Women: New Portraits, Annie Leibovitz

Fine-Art Photographer

Fine-art photography is photography created in line with the vision of the photographer as an artist, using photography as a medium for creative expression. The goal of fine-art photography is to express an idea, a message, or an emotion. This career stands in contrast to a studio/portrait photographer who focuses capturing portraits of their subjects who generally commission them. It is also different from a photojournalist who concentrates on providing an accurate documentary visual, through photographs, and written account of events. And it is different than a commercial photographer who creates work to advertise or sell certain products or services. Photographers can be any combination of these different areas of focus.

In Class Work

Inanimate Objects that Evoke an Emotion

Portraiture, which depicts the human face, is not the only way that emotion can be shown in a photograph.

Objects, when staged in a thoughtful manner, can evoke an emotion in the viewer.

Using the monochromatic setting on the camera, take numerous photographs of a staged scene that evokes a desired emotion in the viewer.

Take photographs of the staged scene bracketing the ISO exposure to determine the appropriate setting.

Objectives:

While working on this project, students will be able to recognize the differences in how light is captured through the lens of the camera at different ISO settings and which to use for what lighting conditions.
Through the completion of this project, students will be able to generate work that demonstrates different techniques to create dramatic lighting on a subject.
At the conclusion of this project, students will be able to create a photograph that evokes a desired emotion in the viewer.

National Art Standards

Anchor Standard #1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Anchor Standard #8: Interpret intent and meaning in an artistic work.

Getting Started

Project Specifics

Take a number of photographs that use only inanimate objects to evoke an emotion in your viewer.

Think of what emotion you want the viewer to have when they see the image. Stage the scene to evoke that emotion in the viewer. Remember that lighting plays a big role in creating drama and emotion. Set up multiple different still-lifes to test out solutions to the design problem.

This photograph will be monochromatic, or in black and white with a minimum of six different values of gray represented in-between.

The photograph will be edited in Adobe Photoshop using the editing techniques demonstrated in class and then printed on high quality glossy photo paper.

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