advice needed

shamrock55

i have just started a photography course and need some advice already

the excercise im ment to do is,
pick a theme from sport, fashion and glamour,architecture,documentary,music and the arts

write a comprehensive brief for the shoot,brief should include

the theme
the stated outcome of the shoot
any props or models needed for the shoot
time of the shoot and any lighting issues
equipment to be used

i just need some advice on how to go about this and what to write about
i dont want to be told word for word i just need to be pointed in the right direction
im not sure i even understand what a comprehensive brief for the shoot means is it all about pre shoot

bullpost

what type of course is it and what level of experience have you got?
For something like this I'd imagine you'd need some experience? Can you ask the lecturer to elaborate further on whats required?

For ideas you should have no problem- pick something accessible like a street documentary or public architecture of some description (say train stations, churches etc.)

Eirebear

shamrock55 wrote: »

i have just started a photography course and need some advice already

the excercise im ment to do is,
pick a theme from sport, fashion and glamour,architecture,documentary,music and the arts

write a comprehensive brief for the shoot,brief should include

the theme
the stated outcome of the shoot
any props or models needed for the shoot
time of the shoot and any lighting issues
equipment to be used

i just need some advice on how to go about this and what to write about
i dont want to be told word for word i just need to be pointed in the right direction
im not sure i even understand what a comprehensive brief for the shoot means is it all about pre shoot

You've answered your own question with the part i've put in bold buddy.

You've got a huge open brief there, so what kind of photography interests you? Take that, and fit it to the theme, the ones youve listed can cover pretty much every type of photography there is.

Your obviously interested enough in photography to take up a course, so it would be safe to assume that you already have projects that you want to do yeah?

Once you've settled on the project, go back to the bit in bold.
Start with the theme, discuss it, what do you hope to have by the end of the project? (i.e a series of images which show...)
Why are you attracted to said theme?

The rest is self explanitory, and down to your own research i.e if you were to shoot architecture, what is the best time of day to shoot each building? When does the light hit it best? You'll find this out by doing some reccies and test shots.

You come across a bit paniced - chill out and take a deep breath, its your chance to take on a project thats always been in the back of your mind.
Enjoy!

shamrock55

Eirebear wrote: »

You've answered your own question with the part i've put in bold buddy.

You've got a huge open brief there, so what kind of photography interests you? Take that, and fit it to the theme, the ones youve listed can cover pretty much every type of photography there is.

Your obviously interested enough in photography to take up a course, so it would be safe to assume that you already have projects that you want to do yeah?

Once you've settled on the project, go back to the bit in bold.
Start with the theme, discuss it, what do you hope to have by the end of the project? (i.e a series of images which show...)
Why are you attracted to said theme?

The rest is self explanitory, and down to your own research i.e if you were to shoot architecture, what is the best time of day to shoot each building? When does the light hit it best? You'll find this out by doing some reccies and test shots.

You come across a bit paniced - chill out and take a deep breath, its your chance to take on a project thats always been in the back of your mind.
Enjoy!

thanks for that i am a bit paniced im not great at theory
what does it mean by THE STATED OUTCOME OF THE SHOOT is that just about how the shoot went and how it turned out?

thing is there is no mention that i actually have to take picks
it sounds to me like i have to write a brief pre shoot?
maybe im reading it wrong?

starbelgrade

shamrock55 wrote: »

thanks for that i am a bit paniced im not great at theory
what does it mean by THE STATED OUTCOME OF THE SHOOT is that just about how the shoot went and how it turned out?

thing is there is no mention that i actually have to take picks
it sounds to me like i have to write a brief pre shoot?
maybe im reading it wrong?

From the wording you've posted, it sounds to me like you are supposed to write a brief for a pre-shoot.

And as you've just started the course, I can't imagine that you'd be expected to set up a full shoot with props, models, lighting etc.

I expect that the lecturers are trying to get you to think about photography as being more than just taking photographs.

The "stated outcome" in this case would be like a "statement of intent" ie., what you hope to gain from the shoot, what it is for, what it's meant to portray / capture etc.

I've never done a photography course, but I studied architecture years ago & that would be my reading of it, based on briefs I would have had for various projects.

shamrock55

thanks mate it does sound like a brief for a pre shoot ive just emailed the tutor now so should have an answer in the morn i didnt really want to email off questions so early in the course but i guess thats what they are there for i just need to clarify what it is they want me to do they should write things in plain english for us eejits:D

Eirebear

Yep, what SB said, basically your aims for the shoot.

Good luck with it!

Edit: once youve planned it, there is no reason not to shoot it, wether they want you to or not.

starbelgrade

shamrock55 wrote: »

thanks mate it does sound like a brief for a pre shoot ive just emailed the tutor now so should have an answer in the morn i didnt really want to email off questions so early in the course but i guess thats what they are there for i just need to clarify what it is they want me to do they should write things in plain english for us eejits:D

One of my lecturers in college always urged people to ask questions no matter how daft they seemed. His motto was, "there's no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer"!

Best of luck with the course by the way. Sounds like it could be good fun!

shamrock55

thanks guys youre all a great help;)
any ideas how much i should be writing and should i write under seperate headings or all in one thanks again!!

CabanSail

I would address each section separately. They are trying to get you into a system of planning a job or project. This will allow you to anticipate problems and how to overcome them.

As this is just a written theoretical exercise I would advise you look at the way you write. The absence of capital letters and punctuation does not give a good impression. You can get away with it here but for an assignment get it right.

shamrock55

CabanSail wrote: »

I would address each section separately. They are trying to get you into a system of planning a job or project. This will allow you to anticipate problems and how to overcome them.

As this is just a written theoretical exercise I would advise you look at the way you write. The absence of capital letters and punctuation does not give a good impression. You can get away with it here but for an assignment get it right.

Will do,thanks.

pullandbang

Was about to say what CabanSail said - use your keyboard properly.
That's why God gave us caps and commas - to make sentences legible for those of us over 14 years old.....

starbelgrade

pullandbang wrote: »

Was about to say what CabanSail said - use your keyboard properly.
That's why God gave us caps and commas - to make sentences legible for those of us over 14 years old.....

You know, it is possible to give advice without being smart about it.