Combining Photography and Literature to Create Art Suzanne M. Glenn Art Teacher Walhalla High School

Project Overview 1. Discuss two American Photographers by reading and creating a timeline and understand the purpose of their photographs 2. Learn to search on the internet at The Library of Congress 3. Learn how to read and write what we see in photographs of various famous persons 4. Discover proper use of a digital camera 5. Demonstrate how to set up a successful composition in photographs 6. Create a short essay to compliment photographs of subject

Part 1 American Photographers

Carl Van Vechten  Born on June 17, 1880 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa  Graduated from University of Chicago in 1903  Hired by the New York Times as assistant to the music critic in 1906

 Began studying opera in Europe in 1907  In 1908 became correspondent in Paris for The New York Times  Became the first American critic of modern dance for The New York Times upon returning to New York in 1909

 In the early 1930s, Miguel Covarrubias introduced Van Vechten to the 35mm Leica camera  Began photographing friends, acquaintances, and both fledgling artists and the established cultural figures of the time

Van Vechten’s Photos  Portraits are frequently busts or half-length poses  Bold backdrops  Dancers usually photograph on stage  Did his own darkroom work  Frequently used an assistant to set up 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 | [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 Adams  Born February 20, 1902 in San Francisco, California  1916 took first trip to Yosemite and bought first camera – Kodak No. 1 Box Camera  Published first photographic portfolio, Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras in 1927

 Pictorial Photographs of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a one-person exhibition opened at the Smithsonian Institute in 1931  In 1936, exhibited photographs at Alfred Stieglitz’s An American Place Gallery  Hired in 1941 by the Interior Department to photograph national parks and monuments

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 All in all, I think this Manzanar Collection is an important historical document, and I trust it can be put to good use."

Library of Congress Let’s take a tour... Click Here ☞

Assignment #1 Use the WebQuest to complete your timeline and short essay about the two American Photographers we have just discussed.

Reminders:  Begin thinking about which teacher, staff or administrator you would like to base your project on  Have three choices by next class

Part 2 Photos from the Past

Who is this?  What is this persons’ occupation?  Where is she?  When was this taken?  What symbols or items help you come to these conclusions? Click Here ☞

Tell the story Assignment #2 - Group  List what you see – items  Look at her clothes  Can you identify the year?  What do you think she does for a living – or does she work? Use the WebQuest to complete Assignment #2 with your partner

Amazing Americans Assignment #3 – Individual Webquest

Reminders:  Make final decision on your subject matter

Part 3 How to Capture an Image

Items to think about when setting up your composition 1. Symbols / objects – what do they mean?

Items to think about when setting up your composition 2. Color / lighting – how does this effect the mood or meaning?

Items to think about when setting up your composition 3. Background / foreground – how does placement add meaning?

Reminders:  Set up appointment with your subject for interview  Interview  Review notes to decide on photo setting/composition  Set up appointment for photo session  Reserve digital camera and gather needed materials  Print photos and organized notes by due date (TBA)

Part 4 Words to go with Pictures

Creating your written composition Words should:  Accurately describe your subject  Easy to read – good flow  Further define your photos  Not too wordy

Different Pictures – Different Words Same Person Click Here ☞

Bibliography All pictures and information from The Library of Congress From the following collections: The American Memory Collection The American Memory Collection The American Library The American Library Exhibitions Exhibitions