Solstice

What does solstice mean? In basic terms, the Summer solstice is the longest day of the year. There are the most daylight hours during the Summer solstice, just as there are the least amount of daylight hours during the Winter solstice. This is because of the tilt in the Earth’s axis, inclining the planet toward or away from the Sun. In between the two solstice, when there are equal daylight and night time periods, these two events are called equinox.

Project Outline For this assignment, you will base your work on the theme of Summer. The Summer Solstice (the longest day) will be on 21 st June (three days before exhibition night) this year. Some Druids traditionally make a pilgrimage to Stonehenge in order to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Wyoming Native Americans celebrated the solstice by arranging stones to measure the event. The Chinese also include a fifth “season” or “phase” in their thinking, sometimes described as “late summer.”

You could pursue themes of light, cultures and religions, time, sun worship and pilgrimages/ travelling. You may travel somewhere during your Summer break where you will be exposed to another place or culture, or you may wish to document your own celebration of the Summer.

You will need to research at least two renowned contemporary (famous and contributed to the history or development of Photography as an art form) photographers, and include detailed annotations that include an analysis of images used (not simply biographical information). You will also need to provide evidence that you have researched how at least two different cultures celebrate the Summer, or the Summer Solstice.

Resources Due to your lack of access to the school photographic equipment during the holiday period, you will be expected to produce your photographic imagery by your own means. Possible means could include the use of Polaroid cameras, digital cameras, compact cameras, SLR cameras, scanners, and webcams.

In order to pursue research, you must visit exhibitions (primary research), and use the internet, newspapers, magazines, or use your local library. Your chosen research should relate to your own work.

Outcome There are two main submissions for this assignment: Sketchbook. Including: Details of research, illustrations. Approximately 35 pages of work in total. Mounted sheets. Four A2 mounted sheets.

Assessment You must present your first final images on mounted sheets (at least two sheets) during a feedback session before the end of term. You are expected to show your sketchbook work completed at this time, with evidence of cultural research, and photographers to inform your work. All work must be submitted the first photography lesson of the Autumn term. It is the first project of your A2 coursework unit, and should be completed to the best of your ability. It is intended to keep you in the practice of producing quality coursework and so should be considered work, not simply ‘holiday snapshots’.

Suggested research: Photographers that you could research to help you are:

Toni Frissel- ‘Underwater model’

Martin Muunkacs- ‘Children at Kissengen, Germany’

Renike Dijkstia- ‘Hilton head Island’

Elaine Consantine- ‘Girls on Bikes’

Werner Bishof- ‘Andean Boy, Cuzco’

Simon Roberts- ‘Evenki Girl, Anavgai, Kamchatka

Weegee- ‘Crowd at Coney Island’

Duane Michaels- ‘I build a pyramid’

Martin Parr- traditional English seaside holidays.

Chris Steele Perkins- ‘Blackpool beach in Summer’

Herbert List- Friends at Lake Starnberger

Camille Silvy- ‘Valley of the Huisne, France’

Simon Norfolk- ‘The perisher’

Tony Ray Jones- ‘Glynebourne’

Annie Leibovitz- ‘Susan Sontag’

Eugene Richards- ‘Grandmother, Brooklyn’

Jules Seeberger- ‘Fairground, Paris’

Marilyne Silverstone- ‘Jacqueline Kennedy’

Leanne Simmons- ‘Pink Stonehenge’