Silver Arts Award Project Plan
PART A
Silver arts award: Photography
Honey-Rae
Identify And Plan An Arts Challenge:
My Arts challenge will be to plan and isolate a photographic project, which will then be able to lead onto a portfolio and photography exhibition. I will explore different techniques, and approaches to my project, which will allow me to explore photography and develop my skills.
Project Title:
The Wizard
Development Plan:
I’m good at putting photos into black and white but I want to try and get better at it.
I will explore different ways in which black and white photography and photography in general can be manipulated.
I want to improve my Photoshop skills, by investigating and learning different techniques for editing.
I’m hoping to improve my knowledge and understanding of nature photography and landscape photography.
Exhibition proposal date: (TBC) – Friday 2nd August 2019
Brief:
“The Wizard” is an area of Alderley edge that tells of a legend of a druid who purchases horse for the last battle of the world…..
There was once a farmer who had a milk-white mare.
He decided to sell it; so one day, he set off to Macclesfield Fair. As he reached Alderley Edge the horse stopped and refused to move, no matter what the farmer did. He saw an old man standing by the side of the road, holding a staff in his hand.
On the way to Macclesfield
The old man offered to buy the horse, but the farmer refused, thinking that he would get a better price at the market.
The farmer went on to Macclesfield; and although everyone praised the mare nobody would buy it. So, at the end of the day, the farmer set off for home.
On the way home
When he arrived at Alderley Edge the old man was waiting for him. This time he did agree to sell; and the old man told the farmer to follow him.
Through the iron gates
He led the farmer along many paths until they came to a big rock. He touched the rock with his staff, and the rock split open to show a pair of iron gates. The old man told the farmer not to be afraid, but to come with him. The iron gates, opened, and beyond them a passage went down into the hill.
The last battle of the world
The farmer followed the old man into the hill, leading the horse, and they came to a cavern. Inside the cavern were 140 knights in silver armour and beside all but one was a white horse. The old man said that the knights were waiting to fight the last battle of the world, and that he was to wake them when that moment came. But there was one horse missing.
Precious jewels
The old man took the farmer’s mare and laid it down in enchanted sleep; then he showed the farmer into another cavern, which was filled with gold and silver and precious stones. He told the farmer that he was to take as much of the treasure as he could carry, in payment.
The wizard, as the farmer now knew him to be, led him back up the passage to the iron gates. The farmer stepped outside, and when he turned round, the wizard and the gates were gone.
The proposed brief is to follow the “Wizards Route” in Alderley Edge and document it visually, using acquired photographic techniques and post production software i.e. Photoshop and Lightroom! The images will be printed and presented at a public exhibition! Which will be held at Happy memories play centre in Hyde. The images will be supported by a series of text which will tell the legend of the wizard.
Number Of Images:
10 +
Goal:
To tell the legend of the wizard in Alderley edge in a visually striking and compelling way, and to deliver a successful exhibition showing your images and text. The Exhibition will be advertised successfully and documented well, all supporting evidence will be presented on an ongoing and well kept blog.
Photographic Approach:
To look at using black and white imagery, this approach to black and white will give the images a strong mystical aesthetic, I will shoot digitally, paying attention to composition, lighting, and detail.
I will explore various way in which images can be manipulated and edited to help further develop my ideas and to tell a visual story in an interesting and unique way.
Outcome:
To produce an exhibition with supporting text and research and a portfolio which can be used to show the work on a professional level.
Photographic Inspirations:
Photojournalism
Fine art
The Weird stone of Brisingamen – Alan Garner (Novel)
Research should focus on photographers who capture events after they have happened, and also photographers that can tell visual stories successfully
Alec soth
William Eggleston
Danny Treacy
Alec Soth uses photography to create interesting stories, his work is often a series of images, and focuses on portraits and on landscapes.
Danny Treacy photographs landscapes that he calls fertile lands, he uses a large format camera, and tells stories through his images.
William Eggleston focuses on the smaller details of life, this approach could be useful for me when I am photographing the Wizard!
My Strengths and Weaknesses in Photography
Photography is fairly new to me, I have my own camera but have never used it to complete a full project, I will be looking at improving my skills with a DSLR Camera, and I will also look at improving my Photoshop skills.
I want to extend my knowledge of professional photographers, and in particular landscape and nature photographers, I will also look at photography techniques like slow shutter speeds and light painting.
I want to improve my confidence in my photography by hosting and completing a successful photography exhibition.
IMAGES SELECTED FOR EXHIBITION SO FAR!
PART B – IMPLEMENT AND REVIEW THE ARTS CHALLENGE
Shooting at the wizard
1st shoot – Today I have been shooting with my camera at the Wizard in Alderly Edge, the images I am getting here will be for my final exhibition, and I am hoping to get several trips to the wizard in over the next few weeks!
2nd Shoot – I have been back to the wizard this week and I have taken more images, I am focusing on black and white photography, and I have been able to change my camera settings to shoot in black and white!
On going project Review – 12/07/2019 –
How is the project going? The project is going very well.
What is the project about in detail? The project is about the wizard of Alderley Edge. This is a photography project. I have also collected some objects from the wizard.
How many images have you taken, do you need more? I have taken about 40 images. I am going to take some more soon when I next go to the wizard.
What have you enjoyed about the project? What I enjoy the most about the project is going out and taking images of the wizard and coming back and putting them in black and white.
What haven’t you enjoyed? What I found the hardest bit about my project is my blog.
What have you learned? I have learned how to use photoshop more and how to edit photos so they look better than before.
Printing and Mounting images!
Some of the images that I have taken in the wizard are now printed and ready for mounting, the images are all shot in black and white and show the pictures that I have taken over my few visits!
13/12/2019
How is the project going? The project is finished, I have done an exhibition.
What is the project about in detail? The project is about the wizard of Alderley Edge. This is a photography project. I have also collected some objects from the wizard.
How many images have you taken, do you need more? I have taken over 90 photos I do not need any more.
What have you enjoyed about the project? What I enjoy the most about the project is going out and taking images of the wizard and coming back and putting them in black and white.
What haven’t you enjoyed? What I found the hardest bit about my project is my blog.
What have you learned? I have learned how to use photoshop more and how to edit photos so they look better than before.
PART C – REVIEW AN ARTS EVENT
Last week I went to Vernon Mill and looked at all of the artwork of the artists as they prepared for their Autumn exhibition.
The work of the artists was varied, with lots of different styles and idea’s, I was fond of the paintings above due to their use of color and the black background which makes the colors stand out.
Vernon mill contained lots of different art media, including photography, painting, sculpture and textiles, the mill had many different artists working from it, and offer tuition in some area’s.
http://www.vernonmillartstudios.co.uk/classes.html
PART D – ARTS RESEARCH
I am currently researching into available photography events through the red eye photography network! I am looking for workshops I can attend, or events that will give me further look into the photography world!
https://www.redeye.org.uk/home
Click to access Manifest2019_digital-programme.pdf
Manifest Arts Festival is a week long event that takes place in the North West area of the UK!
Another site I would like to visit is Vernon Mill. Vernon Mill is a reused derelict mill that houses many artists studios, these are active studios that can be visited and it will be a great opportunity for me to talk to and visit new artists!
http://www.vernonmillartstudios.co.uk/about.html
Meeting Kim Barsky!
Kim Barsky is a abstract artist and painter based in Stockport, her studio is in Vernon Mill, she uses nature as an inspiration for her paintings!
Today I met Kim Barsky at Vernon Mill, she is an abstract artist, I like her work because I like the colors and the textures.
When I met Kim she was nice and helpful, and have me loads of great tips on how to get through my exhibition opening night, she is also showing her work on the opening night so she will be available for tips on the night!
justaddhoney 