Discussion of the Exam Paper

Discussion of the Exam Paper 

01- Everyday Activities - Photographers sometimes record everyday activities such as travelling, eating or shopping. Robert Doisneau observed social change. Richard Billingham observed family life. Bruce Davidson recorded aspects of urban life. Make references to appropriate contextual material and produce a personal response. 

Definitions 

Everyday Activities - Everyday life, daily life or routine life comprises the ways in which people typically act, think, and feel on a daily basis. Everyday life may be described as mundane, routine, natural, habitual, or normal.

Social Change - Social change refers to any significant alteration over time in behaviour patterns and cultural values and norms.

Urban Life - Urban life is a catchall phrase to describe life in a major city

Contextual - depending on or relating to the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea.

Photographers Linking to Question 

Robert Doisneau 

These two images are by a photographer called Robert Doisneau. Both display a very happy scene of people enjoying themselves from all walks of life. The documentary style of the images shows two very common activities and something we may see (even now) everyday. By recording these images it gives us an idea of the way society was in the 30' and 40's. This links to Doisneau's style of depicting social change through the fashion, buildings, cars and other technologies. 

I take inspiration from Robert Doisneau's photography due to the happy nature of them. I would like to replicate similar in my own work to show the enjoyable and positive side of everyday life. 

Richard Billingham

The photographs to the right are by Richard Billingham a photographer who produced the series 'Ray's a Laugh'. The focus of the images is his alcoholic father and the life they live in consequence of this. The photos show a deprived average family who despite their problems still seem to care for one another. They illustrate what can happen behind closed doors which might not be what the outside world expects.

I like the realness of these images which is something I would like to replicate on my own. This will ensure that the images are not staged and truly reflect the nature of everyday activities.

Bruce Davidson 

The two images to the left are by the photographer Bruce Davidson. He took images of different people's everyday activities so to show what their individual life is like. Two of his most famous are following a man in the circus and a gang. Both series of images are extremely powerful in terms of digging into their lives and showing what is underneath the surface. His work serves the purpose of breaking the stereotype of these two different types of people. The images hold a lot of emotion and show the treatment the people receive from society.

 In my own work, I would like to try and portray this idea of showing the individuality of the people I am photographing. This will include showing lots of different emotions and explore how body language can do this.