Basics Creative Photography 03: Behind the Image: Research in Photography(Basics Creative Photography)

Encouraging students to research, reflect and debate, Behind the Image revolutionizes the way new projects are approached by looking at how successful photographers have produced meaningful canons of work. The book's generous selection of images brings together an eclectic range of photographic styles and genres, creating a refreshing and inspiring resource for all. This book features a wide range of photographic contributions from students, amateurs and professionals, specifically edited to help students reflect on their own work in order to produce better images in the future.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: What is research in photography? Planning: A research proposal; Being informed: History; Being informed: Practice; Being informed: Theory Case study 1: Aberfan Activity 1: Recording ideas Developing ideas through research: Where to do background research?; The Internet; Archives; Other interactive forms of research; How research informs practice Case study 2: Flora Activity 2: An illustrated story Practice as research: What to do and why; Studios; Street photography; Style, genre, medium and technique; Post production; Applying research to practice; Editing; Evaluation as part of the research process; Making judgements Case study 3: Helen Goodin Activity 3: Pioneers of photography Compiling your research: Keeping a workbooks/sketchbook; Blogging; Storing your archive Case study 4: Putting On Activity 4: Start your own blog Research and practice: Testing the relevance of what you are doing; Audience and context; Revisiting past research; Thinking time; Modifying a plan; Final production Case study 5: Clare Strand Activity 5: Context and meaning The impact of research: The bigger picture: Reflection; Photographers' archives; Putting research into context Case study 6: Hashem el Madani Activity 6: Booklet Conclusion Glossary Bibliography and webography Index Picture credits Acknowledgements Working with ethics

About the Author :
Natasha Caruana is a practising artist, lecturer of photography and founding director of the London-based Studio Strike artists' studios. She graduated with an MA in photography at the Royal College of Art in 2008 and is currently a lecturer of Photography at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK. Anna Fox has worked in photography for thirty years. Her solo shows have been seen at The Photographer's Gallery, London, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago and her work has been included in numerous international group shows, such as Through the Looking Glass and Documentary Dilemmas. She is professor of photography at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK.

Review :
Caruana and Fox have written an important and timely book. Broad in scope, with focused examples, this is an effective and engaging introduction to the convergences of practice and theory; spontaneity and systematic enquiry; critical engagement and creative exploration that research in photography involves. The book is an excellent way to teach students about the process of research in the creative field. [Behind the Image] explains both the importance and how-to aspect of research – read this before you start your next project! Very useful for BA level students who need to learn how to develop a practice-based research in art and photography. At the end of each chapter is an activity page where the reader is given an assignment. Good fun and a great exercise for students, and perhaps even professional practitioners to help them sharpen their skills! Following the steps outlined will help many visual artists nurture the seed of an idea because the theme is to encourage research to frame, inform and focus the final images. This is definitely a work book for educators, students and all those practitioners involved in creating a body of work. A breath of fresh air is how I describe the intent and scope of this work book ... Knowledge is empowering; which is why a planned and methodical research into the medium and your subject material can be so powerful. If you are looking for guidance in establishing a research process for your next photographic project, then this book is for you. Discover ways to approach photographic theories and apply these practically. This title looks to help creative photographers understand, record and acknowledge research processes for more compelling imagery. It achieves this with advice more than strict instruction, offered over six chapters and managed through sub-headed sections. Real-world projects underline the value of this guidance, which includes a host of topics such as interactive forms of research, benefits of blogging, working with your own studio space, digital postproduction and so on. However, at 160 pages and considering how some details are explored concisely, this book becomes more a suitable companion for students and aspiring professionals, than a comprehensive resource for pros. The book provides condensed coverage of a variety of tools both new and old, ensuring readers of all abilities are catered for. Verdict: 7/10. Some sections are skimmed over, but most provide invaluable motivational sound bites that budding creatives will benefit from. The book follows a logical progression and while thorough is an enjoyable and accessible read. The chapters are bite sized and this allows you also to dip in and out of the book when you have a moment. It is not necessary to follow the book in a linear fashion as you can also dip into chapters as necessary. To summarise – this is a very useful and engaging book and one I wish I had had at undergraduate level. It can be followed in a linear fashion or you can dip into clearly identified sections as needs be. Great – I like it! A wonderful resource for students that captures the essential components in researching photography. A useful book which will help students think through the process of creative practice as a form of ongoing research and reflection, with engaging examples that can be discussed in the classroom.