These resources have been developed to support visits to Brighton Photo Biennial 2018. However, we hope that these approaches to photography will prove beneficial to all teachers and students - whether unable to visit at this time, or seeking inspiration at a future date.
The theme for the month-long festival is A New Europe. The United Kingdom's relationship to the rest of Europe is far from certain. How do young people feel about this state of affairs? How can photography help us to understand the experiences of instability, change, migration and belonging? What can photography teach us about risk, borders, negotiations and constraints? So that was the Lighthouse, was it? No, the other was also the Lighthouse. For nothing was simply one thing. |
Making photographs
The following resources refer to a range of artists and photographers, including those represented at Brighton Photo Biennial 2018. We have identified four themes that resonate within and beyond the festival. Each resource is designed to encourage students to make their own photographs. Click the links below to view and download them:
Viewing photographs
If you are visiting any of the exhibitions at this year's festival, here are a few suggestions for looking at, thinking about and discussing the work on display:
- Select a photographic image that you are drawn to for some reason. Without looking at the paper, make a drawing of the way your eyes travel across the surface of the image. As you look try not to lift your pen/pencil off the page. Spend at least 5 minutes looking and drawing. What does your drawing reveal about the way you looked at the photograph?
- Select a character in one of the photographs. Write a short, imaginative description of what s/he can see from within the picture.
- In pairs: Each person chooses one photograph in a particular exhibition. Separately, write down ten words each that come to mind. Swap the lists of words and attempt to match these with your partner's chosen image. Discuss your choices of images and words.
- As you explore the pictures in Brighton Photo Biennial 2018, make a note of 1 tiny detail in each photograph that attracts your attention. When you have finished looking, write these details in a list.
- Explore and discuss the different methods of displaying photography. Brighton Photo Biennial 2018 presents photographs in various unusual ways. How does the method of display affect how you view or interpret an image? Which method appealed to you the most? Which was your least favourite?
- Select an image that you find mysterious or challenging in some way. Imagine you live inside this picture. How does it feel, sound, smell, taste? You might decide to use your notes as the basis of a short story, poem, song lyric, film or drama script.
- As a group: Each person should note down 5-10 words or short phrases that summarise their ideas and feelings about one or more images. Create an audio recording (on a phone or camera) of the group reading out these words and phrases. Will you read them out in a sequence or as an overlapping collage of sound?
- In pairs: Imagine the artist/photographer is present. Each of you write down 5 questions for her/him. Conduct an interview with one of you playing the role of the artist/photographer and the other asking the 5 questions. You could record an audio/video of the interview. Swap roles and repeat.
- Choose one of the following themes: edges, movement, home, connections. Create a mindmap with your chosen theme in the centre. What have you seen, thought and felt during your time at Brighton Photo Biennial 2018 connected to this theme?
Sharing photographs
We'd love to see your work. Please share your images on Instagram and/or Twitter using these tags:
#BPB18
#photopedagogy
#newphotoplayground
Curating photographs
You may have been lucky enough to visit the festival in Brighton. You may have visited online or read about it somewhere. Imagine you are the festival's curator. Select your own sample of work by the artists on view at Brighton Photo Biennial 2018. What would you choose to include in your imaginary exhibition?
You might decide to print out small versions of some of the works on display or create a digital slideshow. How will you sequence the images? How will you draw out the themes and ideas that interest you?
You could write a small introductory wall text or catalogue entry to explain your thinking. You might even construct a scale model of a room for your exhibition and 'hang' the pictures on the walls.
You might decide to print out small versions of some of the works on display or create a digital slideshow. How will you sequence the images? How will you draw out the themes and ideas that interest you?
You could write a small introductory wall text or catalogue entry to explain your thinking. You might even construct a scale model of a room for your exhibition and 'hang' the pictures on the walls.