Photography 11
Lesson #9 - Studio - Barbara Kruger Inspired Creative Portraits
Artist Barbara Kruger’s famous collage — originally produced as a poster for the March for Women’s Lives in Washington in 1989, in support of abortion rights
Big Idea – To become familiar with the works and style of Barbara Kruger and use this understanding to debunk a Stereotype of your choice.
“Money talks. Whose values?” says Kruger. “These are just ideas in the air and questions that we ask sometimes—and questions that we don’t ask but should ask.”
Kruger’s work uses the visual language of advertising to critique the very messages it emulates. Her work asks viewers to closely consider how global topics like consumerism and power play a role in their daily lives. “Something to really think about is what makes us who we are in the world that we live in.” says the artist. “And how culture constructs and contains us.”
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Camera - Manual Mode Shutter Speed 1/60 F-stop 5.6 ISO 400
Step 1
Technical Learning Outcome - To become familiar with the skills required to photograph a portrait using photoflood lighting and the white balance control on a digital camera.
Five Lighting Set
Contact Sheet - 10 Images of model that show your understanding of the lighting set up
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5 shots White - 1-Main, 2-Fill, 3-Hair, 4-Back drop fill, 5-All lights.
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5 shots Black - 1-Main, 2-Fill, 3-Hair, 4-Back drop fill, 5-All lights.
Demonstration of the lighting set up will be given. Students should make every effort to be in attendance on that day.
Step 2
Assignment: Create a final print that debunks a stereotype using the photographic style of Barbara Kruger.
Complete before shooting
Artist Research and Design Plan
1. How does Barbara Kruger both use and criticize advertising at the same time in her works?
2. How are you going to use text and portrait photography to question or debunk a stereotype?
• Which stereotype are you going to work with?
• What text statement are you going to use? (Keep it simple - one word can be more powerful than many)
• How are you going to place the text within your image to enhance your statement?
Step 3
Book studio and shoot images using the lighting setup taught, make sure to bring in props needed and make up if required. Use Photoshop to create a Barbara Kruger effect, demo will be given in class. See video tutorials below
Presentation:
On Server
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Final 8.5” by 11” image at 300 DPI - jpeg - edited using a combination of Adobe Photoshop and/or InDesign - Labeled - FirstnameLastNameL9
Google Classroom - Upload to the assignment
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Contact sheet of 10 images showing your understanding of studio lighting.
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Artist research and Design Plan.
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Contact sheet of 10 images displaying your best studio shots (multiple attempt at solution - experimentation with lighting, camera angles, composition etc.)
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Final 8.5” by 11” image at 300 DPI - jpeg - edited using a combination of Adobe Photoshop and/or InDesign - Labeled - FirstnameLastNameL9
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Complete self assessment
Other lighting set-ups you may want to try out depending on the effect or overall feel you are trying to create.
Split Lighting: The light is to the side and fairly level to the subject's face, which causes one side to be lit up and the other side to be in shadow.
Loop Lighting: The light is to the front, up a little higher and slightly to the side of the subject's face. This will cast a small loop shaped shadow from the nose.
Butterfly Lighting: The light is in front and higher than the subject's face. This will cast a little shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly. Be careful that the light isn't too close to the subject's face so the eyebrows cast shadows on the eyes.
Tutorial | Photoshop | Dramatic Black & White Photo Effect
How to make black and white photos in Photoshop using the channel mixer
Two different ways to create the Dotted Halftone Pattern Effect