GCSE Photography

Controlled Assessment
Year 10/11
For each of the following topics you must take a minimum of 20 photographs.

Edges
Laura Letinsky uses edges of objects such as tables and shelves and the line where one
colour meets another as important features of the composition in her still-life photographs.
Jed Devine and Jan Groover use similar compositional devices in their work. Lines formed
by the edges of parts of buildings, shadows and silhouettes are an important part of
composition in the photographs of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.
Produce your own work where edges are an important part of the composition.
Fragments
disintegrate splinter burst crumble
disunite divide shatter shiver
smash split come apart split up.
break chisel chop clip crack
crumble cut away cut off damage
flake fragment gash hack incise
nick notch shape slash slice snip
splinter split

Consider the surface texture of objects. eg peeling paint, rocks, split wood, rusting objects.
How could photographic images be fragmented?


Openings
Openings such as doors and windows are important parts of the composition in some of the work of
Lee Friedlander and Anreas Gursky. Dragan Todorovic often uses the light that comes from
openings, such as doors or windows, to emphasise a subject or create a silhouette.
Produce your own photographic work in which openings play an important part.

Disguise
Inge Morath collaborated with the artist Saul Steinberg to produce a series of photographs in a book
called 'Masquerade'. These were based on people wearing masks which had facial expressions
drawn on them. Richard Burbridge has produced portraits for fashion magazines in which the model
wears a surreal mask, often made from found materials. Photo manipulation using digital software
can be used to alter features or to add to a persons appearance or identity.

Create your own portraits which disguise or add to the appearance of the sitter.

Note:
You will have the holidays to take your photographs and 8 weeks when you return in
September to complete further research, image manipulation and documenting of your
processes. Your work over the 8 weeks will be assessed using the WJEC exam boards 4
objectives(see last page)

Reminder: This task will count towards your nal
grade for your controlled assessment
portfolio.
Guidance Sheet


A checklist for a successful project

Mind map of initial ideas - outline your early thoughts about the topics. What springs to mind?
Top Tip: Consider creating a mind map using ppt, mindmanager or paper


General research - begin researching any named artists/photographers in your starting points.
Top Tip: Keep a record of where sourced your research, bibliography, screenshot of web page

Specific research - choose one of the named artists and find out about their practice (in relation
to the topic). Gather suitable images. Write in your own ideas why what they do is interesting to
you. What have you learned from looking at and thinking about their work? How has their work
influenced you? What ideas have you developed from looking at their work? etc.Top Tip: its a
great idea to focus on one image that interests you in particular and analyse it in detail.

First experiments - try to make some work of your own using a particular technique, process,
material or tool that relates directly to your chosen topic and the ideas you have already had.
Top Tip: Make sure that you include all the images you made, even the ones that didnt work.
A gallery/powerpoint is the best way to do this.

Mini evaluations - after each experiment try to work out WWW (what went well) and EBI (even
better if). Top Tip: Be specific about what you have learned, what mistakes you may have made,
what were the successes, what might you do better next time etc. Try to explain the process you
went through rather than simply describing what happened.

More research, experiments and evaluations - continue to combine research about other
artists/photographers work with your own experiments, remembering to evaluate what the
strengths and weaknesses. Top Tip: Make it clear how and what you are learning.

First final outcome proposal - write a short paragraph outlining what you plan to create that is
personal and meaningful and relates to your interpretation of the chosen topic. Top Tip: Say
what you hope to make, then make it, then say whether it worked or not.

Further final outcomes - repeat the above process for further final outcomes. Top Tip: Its a
good idea to make at least two final pieces because this shows that you attempted two solutions
to the original topic/challenge and you can compare them.

Final evaluation - its a good idea to write a detailed final evaluation summarising what you
have learned. Top Tip: use the assessment objectives AO1, 2, 3 and 4 to help you.

Check SPG on powerpoints/website

Useful websites
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/
http://www.moma.org/explore/collection/photography
http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2013/newphotography/
http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/0-9/20th-century-photography/
http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_14

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES TEACHERS CANDIDATES - Provide evidence that shows you have: or x


AO1
Contextual Understanding

Develop their ideas through
investigations informed by
contextual and other sources,
demonstrating analytical and
cultural understanding.
Creatively develop ideas and explore via thorough investigation.

Work through related activities that have been perceptively and
rigorously sustained.

Show effective analysis and evaluation of images, artefacts and
products.

Show clear understanding of context, through diverse
responses, interpretations and developments.
Investigated the work of other artists, designers and cultures.

Used your research to help you explore and develop a wider
range of ideas.

Been able to make your own judgements and express opinions
about the work of artists and designers.

Understood how and why the work of these artists was
produced.



AO2
Creative Making

Refine their ideas through
experimenting and selecting
appropriate resources, media,
materials, techniques and
processes.
Refine ideas through creative and rigorous experimentation.

Provide clear evidence of confident and appropriate use of a wide
range of resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.

Use knowledge, skills and understanding in resourceful,
discriminating and purposeful ways to produce quality outcomes.

Show clear understanding of the relationship between process and
product.

Work shows ongoing and meaningful evaluation, planning and
modification.


Experimented with and improved your ideas at various stages of
your work.

Been able to select and use a variety of materials and
processes for the production of your work.

Made the best effort to improve the quality of your work as it has
progressed.


AO3
Reflective Recording

Record ideas observations
and insights relevant to their
intentions, in visual and/or
other forms.
Sensitive, skilful and wherever possible, first hand, recording of
ideas and interpretations of observations and experiences.

Outcomes clearly demonstrate the presentation of ideas and the
results of thorough research and enquiry.

Use appropriate forms that clearly relate to and facilitate the
realisation of intentions.
Used first hand (direct) observation, rather than copying from
secondary sources, as part of your research and recording of
ideas.

Produced an outcome (final piece) that has shown clear
development from thorough research and ideas.

Been able to use suitable and different methods to explain and
present your ideas.

AO4
Personal Presentation

Present a personal, informed
and meaningful response
demonstrating analytical and
critical understanding,
realising intentions and, where
appropriate, making
connections between visual,
written, oral or other elements.

Work shows evidence of imaginative and personal responses.

Intentions are realised in a coherent and thoughtful manner.

Show perceptive and informed connections between personal lines
of enquiry and the work of others.

Final presentation of work shows evidence of careful, thoughtful
and personal selection.

Produced your own, imaginative ideas and outcomes.

Carried out your intentions in an easy to follow and carefully
thought out way.

Made clear connections between your work and that of other
artists and designers.

Thought carefully about the final selection and method of
presentation of your work.