Photography and arts essays

Our photography and arts essays cover a broad range of topics, spanning arts and visual culture, art histories, the classical world, theatre, creative writing, photographic fine art practice and more.

Arno Rafael Minkkinen – identity

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Identity has always intrigued me. One’s identity forms and develops over time, it is derived from the places we visit, the people in our lives and the experiences we face over time. There is no possible way to identify oneself without first considering what one has seen and done, therefore our identity is deeply rooted … Read more

Changing attitudes towards fashion

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Fashion itself is a continuously changing industry, therefore attitudes towards the industry and what the industry creates is also a developing notion. The incorporation of contemporary designs from the Met Gala, Prada, Gucci, Balenciaga and Moschino and the proliferation of camp, ugliness as exciting, the celebration of so-called ‘bad taste’ and the ‘trickle-across and bubble-up … Read more

History of colour in film

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Films have been used to create a visual representation of a variety of alternative realities. The way in which they persuade the audience of this is through a multitude of methods such as setting, lighting, sound, colour and more. This essay will delve into the history of colour and discovering what developments have been made … Read more

Stephen Reilly’s Unconquered Statue and the Korean War Memorial

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My dissertation explores the artistic elements of Stephen Reilly’s Unconquered Statue located at Landis Green directly adjacent to the southern entrance of Doak Campbell Stadium and Tallahassee’s Korean War Memorial designed by Shawn Bliss and erected in 1999. The Korean War Memorial at Cascades Park is the local monument presents captivating formal elements of the … Read more

The Land Beneath Us

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During the mid-nineteenth century, Earthworks, or land art, started to arise as a new art movement. Many Earthworks artists were “seeking ‘a world outside of cultural confinement’” (1. Doss, American Art of the 20th-21st Centuries, 198.).  During the 60s, much of the United States was under very conflicting times starting with Kennedy and space programs … Read more

An analysis of Baroque Art

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The Baroque can be considered as era that consisted of a complex proliferation of ideas and methods that were made possible through rich economic and cultural exchange(). Its origins can be identified in the 16th century as a shift away Mannerisms overly complicated and excessive style, to an emphasis on clarity of narrative, emotional charge, … Read more

How has demand in the performing arts sector been analyzed?

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Introduction When talking about performing arts, it feels almost compulsory to begin with Baumol and Bowen (1966), who introduced the theory and empirical framework for conducting research in performing arts sector. Costs disease, the gap between the increase in spending of artistic organizations in public performing arts and low increase of labor productivity sector was … Read more

Material translation of Berlin Blue

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Throughout this essay I plan to discuss the material translation of Berlin Blue using the case study of Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji by Zen Hokusai Iitsu. Henry Smith has argued that without the importation of the chemical pigment Berlin Blue, these vivid expressions would not have been possible. With Hokusai undoubtedly the best known … Read more

Activism in relation to modern art (draft)

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Intro: 100 words In this essay, the subject of the relationship between art throughout time and political activism will be explored along with the tactical potential of political art with regards to the spreading of political movements and ideas. The dichotomy between the idea that all art acts as some form of activism and the … Read more

Re-(art)iculating the (His)tories of the South Seas Oeuvre

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Introduction and background information This master’s research proposal interrogates the visual representations of the indigenous women in the Nanyang, or South Seas, oeuvre by male émigré artists based in Malaya in the 20th century. I consider the relationship between these artists and their artworks with the larger Southeast Asian cultural constructs of gender and sexuality … Read more

Julius Caesar (painting representing the picture that Antony paints with his speech)

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Introduction: The analysis is from the outside looking in to represent an audience viewing a work of art. The speech exposes characters in the play and shows hypocrisy the same way we use art to express such political sentiments. The painting represents the picture that Antony paints with his speech, and the details in the … Read more

Jesus Christ Superstar – Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice

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Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970s rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The production focuses on the last week of Jesus’ life, ending with his crucifixion, and places a sympathetic emphasis on Judas’ decision to betray Jesus. It confronts themes of manipulation, betrayal, love, and faith through a political and religious … Read more

How to write a photography essay

Photography is the capture of an image, motion or expression and making it visible or permanent by chemical treatment, in short digital storage.

When taking photography as a major in school and when writing a photography essay you first of all come up with a strong thesis on your essay conveying your exact position and setting out the tone of your essay.

This thesis will be the basis of your whole essay as you expound on it throughout your paragraphs.

Understanding how to write a photography essay is something that a lot of photographers do not get used to. When you are asked to write your own essay you are mainly asked to:

  • Opinionate on the efficiency of a different photographer by viewing their caption and analyzing it. Look into their technique of the caption, how and what you could have done different. In case the caption was a commercial shot i.e. a model putting on a furry jacket which is the product on display, if he took a long shot of the whole figure of the model in the jacket, was it effective on the sales compared to a middle close up shot which would capture the jackets details clearly compared to a long shot.
    • Alternatively, whatever type of shot the photographer used, did it serve its purpose? If you were given that tenor of job would you use the same technique? If yes why? No why? And support your answers.
  • Decide the efficiency of the technique used in the caption i.e. black and white, did it capture the intended effect? I.e. commercial jacket shot, if the photographer used black and white technique for the billboard of the same i.e. since black and white technique produces a continuum range of shades of grey: did this technique effectively bring out the details on the jacket? Was it a good choice of technique compared to use of colour photography which provides the actual colour shades?
    • By use of this black and white technique, did the commercial shot appeal enough to the intended target group by the company? Give your opinion on this technique and use in the caption, how and why you would or would not use it and back up your opinions.
  • The origin of photography and impact on culture. Focus on the photography industry has continually advanced throughout the years and how these changes have either eased or complicated photography. Here you generally give an outlook opinion on the general use of photography but still basing your ideas on the same caption under study.

Black and white technique, how it gradually came to change with the introduction and use of colour technique between the 1930s to the 1960s, how and why it has become more effective in the 20th century.

The precise use of black and white in photography is to give your caption an artistic edge, was it a good decision on this specific caption? Did it give this artistic effect? What is your personal view on the use of this effect as compared to the more popular color?

When learning how to write a photography essay you must keep the above pointers in mind. Keeping those in mind and a thesis in hand, you can now decide on what angle to tackle your essay be it exploratory, argumentative or a compare and contrast piece:

  • Compare and contrast essay – here you focus and use two different captions of the same photographer using different techniques, citing their effects, their general outlook ,how the different techniques used in the captions serve their purpose, back up your ideas, support or disagree to the choice of techniques used citing how and why they were the best choice or not.
  • Exploratory essay – here you try linking your personal opinion, use of the technique of the caption, its effect in earlier and modern times, its effectiveness in its intended purpose i.e. artistic or commercial. Basically base your essay on a conversational tone as if to invite the readers to join in and give their own opinions.
  • Argumentative essay – here your main focus will be based on the already made critics or opinions on the caption by other people i.e. renown photographers in the photography industry. It’s also good to have in mind you will have to use facts, analysis and other evidences to cement you thesis and still persuade the reader to agree to your idea.

Throughout the essay you will provide references to back up your angle of study in your essay and in case of any questions sprouting up in your essay you must provide answers.

Conclude your essay by summing up all your points supporting your main thesis as stated throughout the essay to satisfaction and proof read your work.