Back by popular demand is another installment of movies to show in the classroom! Last spring I reviewed some of the short artist photo series from The Art of Photography YouTube Channel. I loved them so much that I decided to review the rest of them for you!
If you’re looking to show a graphic design and art documentary, you can check out the feature-length videos I reviewed last spring.
Now, onto the videos! Just so that you know, some of these reviews are copied from a previous post. I did this because I wanted you to be able to see them all at once in one post. Each video is an interview with a photographer. They all work very differently and their bodies of work are extensive. For each video, I’ve given general information and a class discussion question.
David Brookover
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 15:24
- Questionable Content: none!
- Discussion Question:
- David said, “The day your signature [the specific way you do something or type of work you do] becomes more important than what is going on [in your life], your work has lost its soul.” What do you think he meant by that?
- There’s a lot of technical talk in this video. They talk about the difference between platinum and traditional developing. Viewers who are not familiar with darkroom techniques might get a little lost. More information on the developing process at the 8-minute mark in this video: https://youtu.be/kmrtNDw-8gQ
Lourdes Grobet
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 15:24
- Questionable Content: none!
- Discussion Question:
- At 14:20 Lordes said, “I was not in the discussion [of is photography] art of not. For me, it is my language. It is the way I can express myself.” How can you make photography a way that you can express yourself?
- For a bit more information on the culture of wrestling in Mexico, see this video: https://youtu.be/YX8EHoQ53F8
Pedro Meyer
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 15:49
- Questionable Content:
- 00:10, cuss word spoken
- 00:15, cuss word spoken
- 00:25, cuss word spoken
- 03:33, cuss word spoken
- 12:33, nude figure
- Discussion Question:
- Pedro talks about storytelling throughout the video, why do you think storytelling is important in photography?
Keith Carter
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 15:33
- Questionable Content: none!
- Discussion Question:
- At the time of taking the photo called fireflies, Keith considered it a mistake because the boys in the image are blurry. But there is something mysterious and intriguing about it and even though it is 30 years old, he still gets calls from people inquiring about it. Why is learning to make mistakes essential to becoming a good artist?
Alexey Titarenko
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 10:57
- Questionable Content: none!
- Discussion Question:
- As Titarenko explained his process, you get a sense for just how long his long exposure photography takes. Is there anything that you do that takes you so long that it can only be described as a labor of love? Why is it important to actually spend the time on something in order to get a specific result?
William Wegman
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 10:46
- Questionable Content: none!
- Discussion Question:
- Wegman said this about creating art: “When you know it’s right, it’s very wonderful to feel that kind of clarity about what you’re doing. It’s not always there. You have to have periods where you’re not sure.” Have you ever felt this kind of clarity after creating art (whether it be photography or traditional art)? How do you move past it when you go through periods of uncertainty in your artwork?
Laura Wilson
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 11:14
- Questionable Content: none!
- Discussion Question: She said, “What makes a photograph – or any creative undertaking – interesting is the content of it; the intelligence behind it.” A well thought out photo is more important than any setting you might use on your camera. What are you learning about right now that could help you in your creative work? What inspires you to create?
Graciela Iturbide
- Where to find it:
- Run time: 16:24
- Questionable Content:
- 10:28, nude figure
- Discussion Question: Graciela’s Lady of the Iguanas image has become an icon. The way she describes taking it was just a chance photo; a bit like being in the right place at the right time. How much of photography has to do with knowing how to take a picture, and how much of it is just having a ready camera and being in the right place?
That wraps up this series on movies that can be shown in the classroom! If you missed the graphic design and art documentaries, click the links to find them.
Since the videos above are so short, I’m offering a single discussion guide for all of them for free! Click the button below to find out more.