Rania Matar - research

 Rania Matar Research

The links in the assignment and on the blog no longer work as Rania is still updating her website. I tried to locate the articles on the internet and failed, so instead I emailed her lunchtime yesterday and by 2pm she'd replied! Here's what she says about shooting the image you need to research and study and explain in terms of the criteria above...

Thanks so much for your email and for your interest in my work. When I updated my website, it was a huge undertaking as my web designer built it from scratch and she is (very) slowly adding the old press. I just sent her a reminder after reading your email. I cannot find that article easily so I will answer your questions:

Film stock - I usually use Portra 400 film - I did however shoot A Girl and Her Room with a digital camera as I was walking into all sorts of lighting conditions and it gave me more flexibility. Most of the work on my website is shot with film. 

Lens focal lengths: Only one lens - 35 mm (sometimes if needed a 28mm) but my lens of choice is the 35mm or equivalent when using Medium Format. 

Camera: For GAHR only: Nikon D700 - most of my work Mamiya 7II with a 65mm lens and recently sometimes since Covid as no one was developing film.... a Fujifilm 50R GRX with a 45mm. 

Whether you used additional lighting: no all natural available light.

Main light source: natural

Whether you use a tripod: no

Whether use reflectors: no

I use very little equipment. I like to keep it simple and move my body as needed. I also like to keep the shoot intimate so I feel the less I am encumbered with equipment the better it is. 

I hope that helps! Thanks again!

All my best, Rania

All you have to do is research these materials and equipment and explain where they fit in with her technique. Why does she use them, why do they suit the theme 'Girl and her room' e.g. why are they fit for purpose? What is Rania Matar's intention. 

Analysis to attain higher grades

 In order to attain the higher grades you have to do more than simply describe what you've done. Within the work you have to analyse what you've done or what you're looing at if you're doing your research.

At level 3, much of the 'Describing' aspect of the work can be done by simply photographing what you've done, or what you're using. If you produce images in a sequence showing the process, this'll help limit the amount of annotations you'll have to write. 

1. Photograph every stage of your work

2. Photography all the equipment and materials you use

3. Photograph the sequence in which the work is produced, showing the Process

4.Photograph wide shots of what you're doing showing the equipment, set up and where all the components of the shoot or work you're doing are, as this'll help with identifying your technique.

To Analyse...

You need to pick one of the more important learning aspects from your work and ask the question what if and then go into detail looking at an alternative way of approaching the learning. What this does is; demonstrate that you've simply not done something or worked with it at a basic level, but questioned its use or how it can be applied, therefore applying a deeper learning approach to the work.

In Unit 4 you'll be shown how to make 'Photographic paper' out of Colorama background roll paper. It's expected that you'll photograph the process and annotate the images helping to explain the process and identifying the materials and the technique. What you should then do is - in the weekly reflection/evaluation when you explain what you've learned during the week in the analysis part ask the question what if I was to apply this to another support (type of material) and then independently do further research and discover/learn if this is possible and what the potential is. 

*Note - when you do this use the prompt 'What if' as a prefix and add the bibliography reference to the work to. Do this a few times within the Unit and you'll have shown that you're working at a much higher level, learning independently. This will help secure the higher grades.