A group of GCSE Photography students recently had a great time exploring the works of Reportage photographer Letizia Battaglia and Avant Garde Fashion photographer Deborah Turbeville at The Photographers Gallery.
In the ever-busy world of photography, students studying a GCSE in the subject are encouraged to explore the many genres of its everyday usage. Looking at Battaglia who documented everyday life, alongside the extreme brutality of the Mafia and their victims in Sicily during 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Students were able to get a glimpse of the importance and power of Reportage/Documentary Photography.
Battaglia’s images are some of the best- known images in pursuit against organised crime records of life in the shadow of the Mafia. In her relentless pursuit against organised crime, she used her camera to document the daily terror and suffering, putting it on the front page of the daily newspapers for over two decades.
In contrast, the students then looked at the works of Deborah Turbeville, who was an early trailblazer in the world of Fashion Photography and Avant Gard practices in the darkroom. Utilising experimental techniques and collage Turbeville introduces different ways of presenting ideas and images to the audience.
Our day concluded with a visit to the Tate Modern, where students looked at the works of Mike Kelly, a conceptual artist who uses mixed media and film to explore popular and underground culture, literature, and philosophy, students were encouraged to think about how the roles we play in society are entangled with historical fact and imaginary characters from films and images we consume.
All in all, a very stimulating and thought provoking day out and we hope the Photography students feel inspired in their own creative projects.
Scroll right to see more stories
