EXAM PAPER: PHOTOGRAPHY

https://hautlieucreative.co.uk/photo24exam/wp-content/uploads/sites/76/2024/02/Edexcel-9PYO-EST-2024_redux-1-1.pdf

THE THEME: OBSERVE, SEEK, AND CHALLENGE

OBSERVE:

VERB

1. a person who watches or notices something.”to a casual observer, he was at peace.
2. a person who follows events closely and comments publicly on them. ”some observers expect interest rates to rise”
3. a person posted in an official capacity to an area to monitor political or military events. ”elections scrutinized by international observers”

SYNONYMS: spectator, onlooker, watcher, voyeur, viewer, witness, eyewitness, bystander.

SEEK:

VERB

1. attempt to find (something):“they came here to seek shelter from biting winter winds
2. attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something):“the new regime sought his extradition” · “her parents had never sought to interfere with her freedom”
3. ask for (something) from someone: “he sought help from the police
4. (SEEK SOMEONE/SOMETHING OUT)search for and find someone or something: “it’s his job to seek out new customers”

SYNONYMS: search for, try to find, look about for, pursue, try, attempt, endeavour, strive.

CHALLENGE:

NOUN

1. a call to someone to participate in a competitive situation or fight to decide who is superior in terms of ability or strength: “he accepted the challenge”
2. a call to prove or justify something: “a challenge to the legality of the banning order”

SYNONYMS: dare, provocation, summons, opposition, defiance, ultimatum, confrontation.

VERB

1. invite (someone) to engage in a contest: “he challenged one of my men to a duel” · “organizations challenged the government in by-elections”
2. dispute the truth or validity of: “it is possible to challenge the report’s assumptions”

SYNONYMS: dare, question, confront, dispute

MOODBOARD AND MINDMAP:

The topic for our exam is Observe Seek and Challenge, due to this being a broad subject I have picked out some subject points that I could look at to be part of my project.

OBSERVE

VERB

1. a person who watches or notices something.”to a casual observer, he was at peace.
2. a person who follows events closely and comments publicly on them.”some observers expect interest rates to rise”
3. a person posted in an official capacity to an area to monitor political or military events.”elections scrutinized by international observers”
   

SYNONYMS: spectator, onlooker, watcher, voyeur, looker-on, fly on the wall, viewer, witness, eyewitness, bystander, sightseer, commentator, onlooker, reporter, blogger, monitor.

SEEK

VERB

1. attempt to find (something):“they came here to seek shelter from biting winter winds”
   SIMILAR: look for, be on the lookout for, search for, try to find, look about for.
2. attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something):“the new regime sought his extradition” · “her parents had never sought to interfere with her freedom”
   SIMILAR: pursue, go after, go for, try, attempt, endeavour, strive
3. ask for (something) from someone:“he sought help from the police”
   SIMILAR: ask for, request solicit, call on, invite, entre, beg for
4. (SEEK SOMEONE/SOMETHING OUT)search for and find someone or something:“it’s his job to seek out new customers”
   SIMILAR: discover, detect find (out), unearth, uncover, disinte

CHALLENGE

NOUN

1. a call to someone to participate in a competitive situation or fight to decide who is superior in terms of ability or strength:“he accepted the challenge”
   SIMILAR: dare, provocation, summons
2. a call to prove or justify something:“a challenge to the legality of the banning order”
   SIMILAR: opposition, defiance, ultimatum, confrontation with.

VERB

1. invite (someone) to engage in a contest:“he challenged one of my men to a duel” · “organizations challenged the government in by-elections”
   SIMILAR: dare, summon, invite,bid, throw down the gauntlet, to defy someone to do something
2. dispute the truth or validity of:“it is possible to challenge the report’s assumptions”
   SIMILAR: question, take exception to, confront, dispute, take issue with

Observe Seek and Challenge within photography

1. Observe: Observation is the foundation of photography. It’s about being mindful of your surroundings, noticing the interplay of light and shadow, shapes, colors, and textures. By keenly observing the world around you, you’ll start to see photographic opportunities everywhere, even in the seemingly mundane.
2. Seek: Seeking in photography involves actively looking for unique perspectives, interesting subjects, or moments that stand out. This might mean exploring new locations, experimenting with different techniques, or engaging with diverse communities. Seeking allows photographers to expand their visual repertoire and discover fresh ways of storytelling.
3. Challenge: Challenging oneself is crucial for growth as a photographer. This could mean pushing the limits of your technical skills, experimenting with unconventional compositions, or tackling complex themes and concepts. Embracing challenges fosters innovation and encourages photographers to evolve their style and vision.

By combining observation, seeking, and challenging oneself, photographers can cultivate a more profound connection with their craft and produce images that resonate on a deeper level with viewers.

observe:

Seek:

Challenge:

We have received the brief for the 2024 exam project.

‘Observe, Seek, Challenge’

The exam board has issued resources to help us find some initial ideas. These can be found in the exam paper below. They explore the different interpretations of this brief across the art and photography world and give numerous artists to stimulate inspiration.

I created a mind map linking all my initial ideas. I enjoyed this process and I think that it has helped me to understand the brief a bit more deeply and find some less shallow inspiration.

I then created a mood board that established some more visual ideas, linking to the above mind map.

Mind-map of ‘observe, seek and challenge’

This is a mind map of an exploration into the theme of ‘observe seek and challenge’, showing the descriptions as well as potential meanings behind the words.

Mood-board of ‘observe, seek and challenge’

This is a mood board showing a visual representation of our theme ‘observe, seek and challenge’ in which I created a collage of images which ultimately merges the theme together creating an overall feel for the project.

Mind-map of idea

This mind map of ideas represents some of the different aspects I would like to include in my photography.

Mood-board of idea

This is a mood board which show as visual representation of some of the images I plan to recreate in my project in my own style.

About the theme

Observe – To observe is to notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant. The origin of the word observe comes from Latin, with ‘ob’ meaning towards and ‘servare’ meaning attend to or look at. Other similar words to observe are: watch, notice, detect, spot, perceive. On the other hand, words opposite to observe are words like: overlook, ignore, disregard.

Seek – To seek is to attempt to find (something). The origin of the word seek comes from the old English word ‘sēcan’ which means to look for something. Similar words include: pursue, strive, aim, aspire. Opposing words would be: neglecting, shunning, dismissing.

Challenge – To challenge is to prove or justify something. The origin of the word challenge comes from the middle English words ‘ kalange’ and ‘chalenge’ which means to accuse or claim. Similar words are: dare, obstacle, ultimatum, opposition, objection. Opposing words to challenge are: acceptance, obedience.

Exam Paper analysis

When analysing the theme, I highlighted specific areas that I though may be useful regarding my idea for my project.

Firstly, ‘the images were painted by firelight’ gave me the idea of incorporating elements into my work in order to create more interesting pieces. I think the elements would also act as a way to depict emotions without having any people present.

The quote that ‘artists frequently use metaphors in their work to disguise the messages’ helped to link into my idea of using certain things as metaphors, for example an idea would be to use different kinds of theatre masks as a symbolic refence to hiding you emotions when playing games.

Lastly, the idea of ‘war zones’ or ‘life and death’ can be showcased through games such as chess due to the tactical aspect behind them. I could potentially portray this through my use of lighting and the way the playing pieces are laid out.

Initial idea

My idea for this project is to focus on the theme of games and how we observe, seek and challenge through them. Majority of the time, the games we play challenge us as we try to reach or attain a certain goal. Challenges often come in the way of other players or obstacles we have to find ways around. What we seek while playing games is to win, and while most of the time there is no harm if we lose its almost as if we have an instinctual drive to want to come out on top. Finally, observation is key while playing games, whether that be observing your opponents expressions or the game itself, observation is key and is often how we end up creating strategies against them.

The games I plan to focus on are board games such as chess, checkers, cards etc. I would like to take photos of the games themselves as well as people playing the game. When taking my photographs of the games themselves I would be shooting them in different locations in order to show the viewer some sort of symbolism regarding the outcome or feeling of the game (water could be equal to losing.)

The last section of my typology is to photograph the megalithic remains at La Blanche Banque which includes a burial ground, a ritual ground and three menhirs or standing stones.

Photoshoot Info

• DAY: Friday 12th April
• TIME: 20:30
• PLACE: La Blanche Banque
• WEATHER:

• STYLE: Typology

Camera Settings

• Shutter Speed: 1/125
• Aperture: F18
• ISO: 100
• White Balance: Custom White Balance
• Format: RAW

The castle being a prison would have seen many deaths and all witches in Jersey were imprisoned here. Therefore, I want to stage a photoshoot where an actor would have their face hidden, but they would be taking on the role of a witch. I want to shoot this scene at night so that any spookiness around the outcome will be enhanced.​

Photoshoot Info

• DAY: Saturday 16th March
• TIME: 20:00
• PLACE: Mont Orgueil Castle
• STYLE: Portraiture

Camera Settings

• Shutter Speed: 2″5
• Aperture: F9
• ISO: 1600
• White Balance: Custom White Balance
• Format: RAW

The royal square is the site of all witch executions in the island. Being the market square at the time, it provided a large area where many could watch the accused being hung and their body burnt. The images from this photoshoot would conclude the story that I want to put together.

Photoshoot Info

• DAY: Friday 12th April
• TIME: 11:30
• PLACE: Royal Square
• WEATHER CONDITIONS:

• STYLE: Landscape

Camera Settings

• Shutter Speed: 1/125
• Aperture: F18
• ISO: 100
• White Balance: Custom White Balance
• Format: RAW

With this shoot, I want to look at the rituals and the actions of witches in Jersey, with a a clear focus on the goings on at the dolmen at La Pouquelaye de Faldouet. In my research I have found that witches were active at the dolmen in the 1980s, as evidence was found suggesting satanic rituals and sacrifice. I want to produce images commenting on this idea with actors portraying the modern witches dancing around the dolmen. As the evidence was found by a priest who came to exorcise the dolmen for a third time after the first two attempts at an exorcism failed. I want to explore ways to display this failure and the power that the ‘dark’ arts supposedly have over this site.

In the 16th and 17th Century, ways of cursing individuals and cattle was very physical and took more than a few words and incantations. Spells came in the forms of little hempen bundles twisted with feathers and moulded with clay; these were kept placed close to the victim – often under their mattress or pillow. I want to create a series of these little bundles to scatter around the dolmen as a way to comment on this aspect of witchcraft that led to the accusations and convictions of so many people within the island.

The other link to witchcraft that I want to explore with this photoshoot is the pagan history of the toad. Jersey people have always been referred to as Crapauds (jerriais for ‘toad’) The toad has been linked to both good and evil in the history, as a vessel to ward off evil spirits but also as vessel for the Devil himself to communicate with his servants on Earth. A quote from ‘The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe, 7000-3500 BC’ by Marija Gimbutas illustrates the significance of the crapaud:

“Toad’s meat was eaten until recently to invoke labour pains, toad’s blood was used as an aphrodisiac and dry toads were hung up to protect the house from all evil. Such beliefs suggest a benevolent goddess, but the toad as a nocturnal and mysterious creature can cause madness, can take away the milk and suck the blood from humans while they sleep.”

I want to photograph a simple figure of a toad at the dolmen using a macro lens to get a clear close up image. I would also include the crapaud figurine throughout all of my photoshoots as a way of linking the series together, similar to Alfonso Calero’s ‘Remnants of Abandonment’ where a discarded stuffed toy is shown in every image of an abandoned orphanage.

Photoshoot Info

• Day: Thursday 11th March
• Place: La Pouquelaye de Faldouet
• Time: 20:30 – after sunset
• Weather Conditions:

• Style: Macro and Tableau

Camera Settings

• Shutter Speed: 1″
• Aperture: F4.5
• ISO: 1600
• White Balance: Custom White Balance
• Format: RAW