Here's a step by step list of the things you need to include in the DLSR Project. The newest update will be visible with the older content below and you'll need to scroll down.
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Update 13/11/25
Research should be completed...
At this stage you should all have completed the research. The research (See link in side bar) should comprise of 3 sections with a page allocated to each section.
Page 1 - images typical of the specific work you're researching
Page 2 - General details about the photographer, how they make a living, what type of photography they produce (Operational context), where their work is seen, who their clients are and who the audience is for their work (Demographic details). This should comprise of images you find that support your claims with regards to how they make a living through photography.
Page 3 - This should be a single image that you've analysed and deconstructed in terms of visual language - e.g. analysis of how the image has been composed, constructed and designed to convey meaning and narrative. Use the link in the sides or click here
Post research reflection...
Ideally you'll have also completed this. This needs to be clearly headed Post Research Reflection and you should explain what it is you've learned from doing the research, explaining what you're 'Borrowing' from the research to use in your first shoot e.g. how the research influences your initial idea/pictures. To really do this well, you also need to explain and demonstrate that you understand the value of researching - explain why researching is of value to your in terms of your longer term progression goal of being a photographer. *Key words to use here in your written response are...
Value, Progression goal and Influence
Now you're ready to plan and execute your first series of images on your chosen theme. The plan is really important and it should be detailed with clear consideration of potential problems that might arise before and during the production of your images. See here for details of how to write a detailed plan. Use the list towards the end this post. It's really important to identify potential problems and explain how these might be alleviated or dealt with *This is one of the key criteria for this qualification.
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10/11/25
In this session Monday - 10.00 - 11.00 you were tasked with addressing the criteria
2.1 Unit 01 - Analyse the requirements of the brief.
This work will be the Introduction to your DSLR power-point.
For this you need to read through the assignment brief (Find on teams in "Files") and explain what the brief is directed you to do, mention this like how much time you have to do it, when the deadline is, how many images are required as a minimum. Also read through and explain the type/genre of the photography and how it may be used, (This may become more apparent once you've done the research) and you might come back to this intro and add to it later?
In essence what you need to do is read through the brief and re-write it in your own language. Try also to explain what you'll learn from it - what are the skills you're going to acquire as a result of producing the work for the brief.
Note from now on this is how all of your introductions for each task will start - your analysis of the brief.
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1.2 Unit 01 - Explore creative processes within the context of the creative industries.
This work will be produced in your Creative Process design sheet
Look at this link here Poodle No.1: Yelena Yemchuk ID Magazine The Location Issue - Turn on the Bright lights
This is the work of Yelena Yemchuk. The work is Editorial Fashion photography. Look at the work and read through the blog post. Discuss in class how Yemchuk may have gone through a Creative Process in order to bring this work together and execute it.
Look at the work, can you see the mistakes that were made, how would she have dealt with these mistake in terms of reflections and planning?
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As with all projects you're going to need to produce the research in the first few days, certainly within a week of being informed of the Photographers. (See the brief and Teams) Get it done by this coming Monday (10th November). Usual format...
Do not use AI as your main source of information (There's new stringent rules about the use of AI coming in the next week or so).
- Page of images
- Page that identifies how the Photographer makes a living - try and use as many images as possible
- Single Image analysis of one of the Photographers Photographs focusing on the use of Visual Language, the images operational context and how meaning and narrative are conveyed (Use the prompt sheet here to generate this content). Or use the side bar on the blog.
- Bibliography
- Quotes
You also need to have a look at the Photographers below and decide which one (Or two) you will research influence or inspire your own self-directed project. Your own images will need to feature a person or people that you're going to shoot and re-shoot a number of times developing your idea and techniques aiming to produce a high-quality final set that would be suited to an operational context that you identify and discuss in your work as it progresses.
https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/skater-s-eye-zorah-olivia/
https://www.palhansen.com/blog-1-1
https://americansuburbx.com/2010/01/theory-bill-owens-suburbia-2000.html
https://raniamatar.com/publication/press/2012-press/a-girl-and-her-room-book-reviews/
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In class task
Basic camera functions and controls______________________________________________
Go on-line and find images of each of the things/components we looked at in the lesson.
Your own camera - Use this website here and find your camera - you'll via the link there are numerous images of the camera and the displays. Use these in your work to explain how your camera works. Canon EOS 450D (Digital Rebel XSi / Kiss X2 Digital) Review: Digital Photography Review this review is for the 450D, but look around in the reviews section - find your make and then use control + F to find your model.
For the work in your S&K try and use images as much as you can to illustrate your knowledge and awareness of what it is you're recording/explaining.
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"Manual mode M" on the dial - manual gives us complete control of the camera - we tell the camera what we want it to do.
Explain/Use image of The aperture symbol on the camera body and the display that shows which aperture you're using.
Explain - reiterate why we use 1/125 shutter speed.
Explain how you change the ISO and the advice I gave with regards the use of ISO...
In these exercises (In-class tasks) given the fact we have no choice but to use the light that is available to us in order to enable the lesson activity we have to shoot using a higher ISO that in most professional situations would be unacceptable. We need to acknowledge this fact and normally we would avoid this approach at all costs because of the impact it has on the image quality - noise in the shadow areas, perception of poor sharpness and colours increasingly muted as the ISO number increases.
The way this would be tackled in a majority of professional scenarios is the shutter speed would be lowered and a tripod used, or additional light brought in - studio lighting or portable systems.
Explain - Dioptre and adjusting it to your own eyesight - what and where it is and the impact it has on viewing the scene.
Explain the controls on the lens relating to Auto Focus and Manual Focus
Comment on how the light reading was done (Here's a clue - the floor was a mid-tone). What other ways could you have done it? What is a mid-tone and why is it important to take the reading from a Mid-Tone. Show and explain what an 18% Grey card is - how are they used?
Get a good selection of the images you shot and comment on the images with regards - (a). Composition: You were all instructed to compose - crop the image "In camera" just above the head and mid-way through the thighs. Have you done this? What went wrong if you didn't - if you were to do it again, what would you need to do to do it correctly?
Top Tip: Go into your menu (Use your manual) and try and figure how to set-up your metering system and set it to 'Centre weighted'. Also have a look at this video and review what is said about the pro's and cons of each option. But generally, just look to familiarise yourself with the options and how to access them. CAMERA METERING: Spot, Evaluative, Partial or Center-Weighted? Which one to use?
Once you've done that - explain the three main metering modes/methods.
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Monday
Megan Monday 3B18 - Photoshop session for the 1st hour
TTL light metering
