Unit 3 - 2:2 Apply an understanding of a range of
contextual parameters to support own creative development.
For this you need to understand ‘Contextual’ and ‘Parameters’
and relate it to your own work. When you start to plan and make your own work
after having done your research. You must identify the context in which you’re
about to produce your images. You must demonstrate that if you’re working
within a certain context that you understand, how it’s made, the
characteristics, the equipment, conventions and why it’s fit for purpose.
Context – This
relates to a situation in which photography sits/works/is used/exists. (see
here).
You need to identify within your research that you
understand in the first instance the type of photography it is you’re looking
at (research). What kind of photography is it? How is it used where will it be
seen, has it been used in a different way/context before?
Basics – What
kind of photography is it? What makes it that kind of photography and at what
point does it merge with another type of photography and become something
different?
For instance…
What would this image be used for, where would it be seen and how could it be used? (These are all issues relating to the context in which the image could be used).
Is it…
·
Art Photography
·
Editorial Photography
·
Social portraiture
·
Propaganda
How could this image be used? Ask
those ‘What if’ questions, don’t offer straight descriptive answers – question
its use, back it up with analysis of the image.
Apply this questioning approach
to your work at the ‘Initial response’ stage and during the in-depth summary
stage of your research.
Contextual Parameters – “A
limit
or boundary which defines
the scope
of a particular process
or activity: the
parameters within which the
media work”.
This relates to limits and boundaries that define the
characteristics of differing types of photography. If for instance you say that
this work is ‘Editorial work’ you need to understand that this type of
photography is often commissioned on spec or on very limited budgets. Therefore
if you were to make work specifically for this purpose, you would be limited by
those budgets, you would use certain cameras, the production values would be
limited, the use in the short term; specific and dictated by commercial
conventions… Model releases, rights of use documentation etc. You need to show
that you understand these parameters by way of demonstrating knowledge of the
context.
Image used by Ed Drew http://eddrew.com/
Image used by Ed Drew http://eddrew.com/
