Taking pictures based on briefs 1 and 2

Maddy Thomas 13D1

Swearing

House displays

Disruption

Trainers

The image shown in the previous slide conveys two boys who attend the sixth form, wearing trainers which disobey the school rules of smart clothing. This, alongside one of them swearing and offensively gesturing to the camera cleverly encodes the brief of the declining standards in schools. This image would be decoded by the audience as pessimistic in its representation of school as the students aren’t showing signs of hard-work or smiling. The low angle shot highlights the power in which the two students possess in terms of rebelling against the rules of the school. The boy on the left is used as a symbolic sign for distraction as he is shown to be throwing a piece of paper, thus connoting distraction a lack of focus on succeeding, which every school aims to achieve. This subversion of every school’s mission statement and instead, disruptive behaviour, clearly suggests a decline in standards. However, what could have been improved is the background - the coloured displays of what appears to be different houses within a school, reading ‘Dickens’. Dickens is one of the most famous authors in literary history, so in fact, because he is recognised within this school, subverts the notion that the school’s standards are declining. Also, these displays connote teamwork as the years are separated into houses in which competition is carried out. Therefore, in order to correlate with the brief, next time, I would take the photograph with a grottier looking background, perhaps with an old, crumbling building, a useless teacher with no control, or a background with graffiti, connoting damage to school property, therefore. The old building idea would imply the lack of upkeep on the building and the teacher with no control would suggest a resigning demeanour of the teacher in which he/she gives up on his/her pupils.

The declining of standards in schools

Hardat work

Cafeteria

Smile

Bright colours

The image shown above serves as the binary opposite to the previous image, where it portrays the declining standards of a school. This photograph, however, conjures an image of diligence and one appropriate for a sixth form prospectus. In a prospectus, the consumer is looking for positive signs regarding the school, and this may be the only insight into the sixth form they have. Therefore, the photos must convey excellence and a focus on success. As a result, we took a high angle shot, revealing four students doing work in their study period. One is playing the guitar, another doing art, another reading and another on his laptop. The fact that we used pupils of different ethnicities and gender, appeals to people as it shows the school is welcoming of anyone, regardless of their sex or race. Also, it is an accurate representation as the sixth form is so multi-cultural and mixed also. In addition, while the book and laptop denote reading and technology, in fact, the four modes of studying for each student connote a much wider image. The merging of these four subjects into one picture shows that the sixth form is versatile in its extracurricular as well as academic ability. The girl reading connotes English, the guitar connotes the Performing Arts, the laptop connotes technological advancement and the art connotes a more creative picture. This is impressive to the audience as it displays the variety of subjects offered at the school. Moreover, all the students are well-dressed, no trainers or midriffs evident, very different to the previous photo, conjuring an image of acceptance and abiding by the rules. All of these positive semiotics, as well as the smiles evident on the students’ faces exude an environment of happiness and ease in which they are working. Moreover, the background reveals dining tables and seats which at first denote space to sit down or eat at, but also connotes a place where people can socialise and hang out which is vital and appealing for young people who may wish to apply. The blue chairs, red walls and yellow display also gives off an air of vibrancy which is much preferred to darker and duller colours.

Sixth form prospectus

Different briefs

By picking the two briefs that served as opposites to each other, I managed to comprehend the power of one image in conveying a theme, such as declining standards in schools or a welcoming picture for a sixth form prospectus. This task taught me that everything in one photograph contributes to the imagery it portrays, including the costume, background, colours and posture.

Thank you!