Combining Combining Photography and Photography and

Literature to Create Literature to Create ArtArt

Suzanne M. GlennSuzanne M. GlennArt TeacherArt Teacher

Walhalla High SchoolWalhalla High School

Project OverviewProject Overview1.1. Discuss two American Photographers by reading Discuss two American Photographers by reading

and creating a timeline and understand the and creating a timeline and understand the purpose of their photographspurpose of their photographs

2.2. Learn to search on the internet at The Library of Learn to search on the internet at The Library of CongressCongress

3.3. Learn how to read and write what we see in Learn how to read and write what we see in photographs of various famous persons photographs of various famous persons

4.4. Discover proper use of a digital cameraDiscover proper use of a digital camera5.5. Demonstrate how to set up a successful Demonstrate how to set up a successful

composition in photographscomposition in photographs6.6. Create a short essay to compliment photographs Create a short essay to compliment photographs

of subjectof subject

Part 1Part 1

American American PhotograpPhotograp

hershers

Carl Van VechtenCarl Van Vechten Born on June 17, Born on June 17,

1880 in Cedar 1880 in Cedar Rapids, IowaRapids, Iowa

Graduated from Graduated from University of University of Chicago in 1903Chicago in 1903

Hired by the Hired by the New New York TimesYork Times as as assistant to the assistant to the music critic in 1906music critic in 1906

Began studying opera in Europe in Began studying opera in Europe in 19071907

In 1908 became correspondent in In 1908 became correspondent in Paris for Paris for The New York TimesThe New York Times

Became the first American critic of Became the first American critic of modern dance for modern dance for The New York The New York Times Times upon returning to New York in upon returning to New York in 19091909

In the early 1930s, Miguel In the early 1930s, Miguel Covarrubias introduced Van Covarrubias introduced Van Vechten to the 35mm Leica cameraVechten to the 35mm Leica camera

Began photographing friends, Began photographing friends, acquaintances, and both fledgling acquaintances, and both fledgling artists and the established cultural artists and the established cultural figures of the timefigures of the time

Van Vechten’s PhotosVan Vechten’s Photos Portraits are frequently busts or Portraits are frequently busts or

half-length poseshalf-length poses Bold backdropsBold backdrops Dancers usually photograph on Dancers usually photograph on

stagestage Did his own darkroom workDid his own darkroom work Frequently used an assistant to set Frequently used an assistant to set

up light for portrait sittingsup light for portrait sittings

1| [Portrait of Pearl Bailey, takes a call after singing A Woman's Prerogative in St. Louis Woman], 1946 July 5. 2| [Portrait of James Stewart], 1934 Oct. 15. 3| [Portrait of Carl Van Vechten], 1934 April 3. 4| [Portrait of Dorothy Gish], 1932 Nov. 7. 5| [Portrait of Dizzy Gillespie (John Birks)], 1955 Dec. 2.

Ansel AdamsAnsel Adams Born February 20, Born February 20,

1902 in San 1902 in San Francisco, CaliforniaFrancisco, California

1916 took first trip to 1916 took first trip to Yosemite and bought Yosemite and bought first camera – Kodak first camera – Kodak No. 1 Box CameraNo. 1 Box Camera

Published first Published first photographic photographic portfolio, portfolio, Parmelian Parmelian Prints of the High Prints of the High Sierras in 1927Sierras in 1927

Pictorial Photographs of the Sierra Pictorial Photographs of the Sierra Nevada Mountains,Nevada Mountains, a one-person a one-person exhibition opened at the Smithsonian exhibition opened at the Smithsonian Institute in 1931Institute in 1931

In 1936, exhibited photographs at Alfred In 1936, exhibited photographs at Alfred Stieglitz’s An American Place GalleryStieglitz’s An American Place Gallery

Hired in 1941 by the Interior Department Hired in 1941 by the Interior Department to photograph national parks and to photograph national parks and monumentsmonuments

In 1965, Adams offered the Manzanar In 1965, Adams offered the Manzanar Collection to The Library of Congress. Collection to The Library of Congress. He wrote, "The purpose of my work He wrote, "The purpose of my work was to show how these people, was to show how these people, suffering under a great injustice, and suffering under a great injustice, and loss of property, businesses and loss of property, businesses and professions, had overcome the sense of professions, had overcome the sense of defeat and dispair [defeat and dispair [sicsic] by building for ] by building for themselves a vital community in an arid themselves a vital community in an arid (but magnificent) environment. . . . All (but magnificent) environment. . . . All in all, I think this Manzanar Collection in all, I think this Manzanar Collection is an important historical document, is an important historical document, and I trust it can be put to good use." and I trust it can be put to good use."

Library of CongressLibrary of CongressLet’s take a tour . . .Let’s take a tour . . .

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Assignment #1Assignment #1

Use the WebQuest to complete your Use the WebQuest to complete your timeline and short essay about timeline and short essay about

the two American Photographers the two American Photographers we have just discussed.we have just discussed.

Reminders:Reminders:

Begin thinking about which teacher, staff Begin thinking about which teacher, staff or administrator you would like to base or administrator you would like to base your project onyour project on

Have three choices by next classHave three choices by next class

Part 2Part 2

Photos Photos from the from the

PastPast

Who is this?Who is this? What is this persons’ What is this persons’

occupation?occupation? Where is she?Where is she? When was this taken?When was this taken? What symbols or What symbols or

items help you come items help you come to these conclusions?to these conclusions?

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Tell the storyTell the story Assignment #2 - GroupAssignment #2 - Group

List what you see – List what you see – itemsitems

Look at her clothesLook at her clothes Can you identify the Can you identify the

year?year? What do you think she What do you think she

does for a living – or does for a living – or does she work?does she work?

Use the WebQuest to complete Assignment #2 with your

partner

Amazing AmericansAmazing AmericansAssignment #3 – Individual Assignment #3 – Individual

WebquestWebquest

Reminders:Reminders:

Make final decision on your subject Make final decision on your subject mattermatter

Part 3Part 3

How to How to Capture Capture an Imagean Image

Items to think about when Items to think about when setting up your compositionsetting up your composition

1. Symbols / objects 1. Symbols / objects – what do they – what do they mean?mean?

Items to think about when Items to think about when setting up your compositionsetting up your composition

2. Color / lighting – 2. Color / lighting – how does this how does this effect the mood or effect the mood or meaning?meaning?

Items to think about when Items to think about when setting up your compositionsetting up your composition

3. Background / 3. Background / foreground – how foreground – how does placement does placement add meaning?add meaning?

Reminders:Reminders:

Set up appointment with your subject for Set up appointment with your subject for interviewinterview

InterviewInterview Review notes to decide on photo Review notes to decide on photo

setting/compositionsetting/composition Set up appointment for photo sessionSet up appointment for photo session Reserve digital camera and gather needed Reserve digital camera and gather needed

materialsmaterials Print photos and organized notes by due date Print photos and organized notes by due date

(TBA)(TBA)

Part 4Part 4

Words to Words to go with go with PicturesPictures

Creating your written Creating your written compositioncomposition

Words should:Words should: Accurately describe your Accurately describe your

subjectsubject Easy to read – good flowEasy to read – good flow Further define your photosFurther define your photos Not too wordy Not too wordy

Different Pictures – Different Pictures – Different Words Same Different Words Same

PersonPerson

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BibliographyBibliographyAll pictures and information fromAll pictures and information from

The Library of CongressThe Library of Congresshttp://loc.govhttp://loc.gov

From the following collections:From the following collections: The American Memory Collection The American Memory Collection

http://memory.loc.gov/http://memory.loc.gov/ The American Library The American Library

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgihttp://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi ExhibitionsExhibitions

http://www.loc.gov/exhibitshttp://www.loc.gov/exhibits