Choosing Your Photographic Theme
Select a theme that genuinely interests you. This could be:
Visual subjects: landscape, portrait, still life
Specific topics: water, architecture, collections, memorabilia, pollution etc
Abstract concepts: conservation, surveillance, memories, family history, relationships etc
Your theme must be achievable, ethical, legal and appropriate for sschool.
Research Process:
Use books and established artist models as your main research sources
Create a hand-drawn brainstorm exploring multiple ideas
Scan and submit to classroom, then upload to your website
Brainstorming Steps:
List personally relevant subjects - topics, places, activities, or issues that matter to you. What do you have access to photograph? https://sites.google.com/wdsg.school.nz/wdsg-photography-class/what-can-i-photograph-for-my-assessments
Focus on passion - Choose unusual, challenging or inspiring topics over superficial ones
Narrow your options - Select themes that genuinely are interesting and achievable
Eliminate weak choices:
Clichéd or insincere topics
Overly "pretty" subjects lacking substance
Topics with inaccessible or impractical source material
Overdone or common themes
Identify what objects you could photograph for each idea - this is necessary when unable to photograph due to weather or other factors.
Final check - Ensure your chosen theme can sustain your interest for the entire year
Key Points:
Choose topics you can physically access and return to multiple times during the year
Consider environmental and weather factors
Discuss ideas with peers and teacher before deciding
Your theme should keep you enthusiastic and allow for development throughout the year
Theme Brainstorming
Research and brainstorm ideas for your year-long theme. Work during class time and at home (you'll also have other art tasks during class).
Requirements:
Complete a brainstorm with 5 different theme options/ideas
In class you will share and discuss your ideas with the class.
After class discussion, select your strongest theme to develop for the year and complete a mindmap / brainstorm of your chosen theme. Include both visuals and text to convey your idea.
Requirements:
Create a minimum of 1 A3 brainstorm with at least 5 different theme ideas
Helpful Resources:
Class website https://sites.google.com/wdsg.school.nz/senior-painting-wdsg/theme-proposal (student exemplars and process guidance)
Avoiding clichés:
https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/avoiding-cliche-art
Theme ideas:
https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/a-level-art-exam-pape
https://theartyteacher.com/art-themes-to-explore-in-gcse-igcse/
http://artinspired.pbworks.com/w/page/13819720/Themes%20to%20Explore
https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/photography-sketchbook-ideas
https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/creative-photography-ideas
After this discussion in class you will choose your strongest theme and then begin your theme proposal.
You will have visuals included as well as text to help convey what your idea is and will also include some of your own images.
Using AI to support your thinking
AI is a creative tool to help you brainstorm, research and develop ideas — not to replace your creativity.
You are the artist. AI can help spark ideas but should not be the final creator.
Ask AI to suggest emotional or symbolic connections with your theme. Ideas for how to extend the theme / ideas.
Ask to suggest unusual ideas to create new directions. What ethical considerations are there?
List of artist you could use - note AI isn't very good at this
Once you have chosen your theme you need to research and create a proposal to begin the year.
You will set up an A3 document using InDesign with 3 pages (Only 2 pages are to be filled the 3rd page is in case I need to write feedback). You will be completing this during class and homework.
You will have visuals included as well as text to help convey what your idea is and will also include some of your own images. Student exemplars will be shown in class.
Note:
This is an example done by your teacher. You will be shown a range of student exemplars in class.
You will need 3 pages in your document so your teacher can write feedback if needed.
how to add images
how to add hyperlink
Export your document as an interactive pdf (this means your hyperlinks will work).
Hand in the pdf file for the assignment on google classroom. Also add to your website on the ideas and planning page.
You will be revisiting and clarifying this proposal later in the year. Don't delete your InDesign file.
If your theme changes you will not need to redo this task, this will be done when you do the clarified proposal in Term 3.
After the class assessment hand in you need to clarify what your theme is. This will help you with your investigation.
You need more than one option or direction with your work. Find new artist models and ideas to extend your work. Complete a new brainstorm using the template below to help you clarify your ideas and find new ideas to explore.
What is your proposition?
After the class assessment hand in you need to clarify what your theme is. What is your proposition? This will help you with your investigation.
You need more than one option or direction with your work. Find new artist models and ideas to extend your work. What can you do?
After the class assessment hand in you need to clarify what your theme is. What is your proposition? This will help you with your investigation.
You need more than one option or direction with your work. Find new artist models and ideas to extend your work.
NZQA moderators report "Where candidates had not adequately used research processes or visual investigations to inform their ideas and topic, the portfolio often did not regenerate ideas, raising the question of sufficiency, and sometimes a lack of evidence to meet the standard and Level 8"