Year 10 Digital Photography/Director’s Cut
Assessment Task Two: Visual Diary
Throughout this course you are required to maintain a visual diary, which will form a major part of your assessment. It will contain all the
background material for the practical work you do in this course. Students use visual diaries to plan, explore and document the design process
when making a media text for a particular audience. Essentially, your visual diary is an ongoing record of your emerging understanding of the
historical, aesthetic and technical aspects of photography and cinematography. You can also use the Visual Diary Rubric to check your own
progress and to make sure that the Visual Diary is not just an afterthought but is an evolving folio, just as important as your finished product
(Visual Expression). Your visual diary should contain the following:
-Ongoing record of your observations, inspirations and ideas (related to appreciation, creation and impact of the visual image).
-Initial research about various photographers, and/or questions about aspects and forms of photography that interest you. This should include
‘Street Photography’ task on Eric Kim
-Annotated photographs, selected from your own folio of work as well as other sources. These should identify composition, design and aesthetic
elements.
-A record of all your reflections on photographic exercises completed individually and in groups. This should include your own learning (about
technical, aesthetic and expressive elements) as well as peer feedback on your photographs (at least two external evaluations for each exercise).
-Notes and personal reflections that relate to content covered in class. This should include: ‘Trop Fest’; ‘Visions of Light’ and ‘SimCam’
-Reflections on peer research presentations. This should demonstrate a capacity to compare and evaluate the features of photography and
cinematography created by a range of artists and made in particular times and cultural contexts.
-Description of the stages undertaken in the planning, creating and presenting stages of producing your Visual Expression, including an analysis
of your work and how it might have been improved.
Criteria
Satisfactory
Good
Very Good
Excellent
Exploration and investigation of styles, forms,
techniques used by a range of photographers in
various historical and social contexts, including
commentary on peer research assignments
Visual diary contains notes on
only a few topics covered in
class. There are limited
personal reflections on
aspects of photography.
Has completed notes on many
topics covered in class.
Personal reflections
demonstrate an interest in some
aspects of photography.
Has consistently maintained
notes on most topics covered in
class. Personal reflections
suggest engagement with
various aspects of photography.
Has consistently maintained
comprehensive and insightful notes
on topics covered in class. Personal
reflections reflect strong
engagement with many aspects of
photography.
Some photographic briefs
have been completed and
some creativity is apparent in
the folio of work.
Many photographic briefs have
been completed and the folio of
work shows creativity.
Most photographic briefs have
been completed and the folio of
work is creative and expressive.
All photographic briefs have been
completed and the folio of work is
highly creative and expressive.
Original photographs show a
reasonable use of design
elements and principles from
the initial explorations through
to the finished
portfolio/product.
Original photographs show
evidence of appropriate use of
design elements and principles
from the initial explorations
through to the finished
portfolio/product.
Original photographs show
evidence of highly effective use of
design elements and principles from
the initial explorations through to
the finished portfolio/product.
There is limited
documentation and discussion
of the visual image.
Annotations show basic
awareness of photographic
elements, principles and
aesthetics. Some peer
feedback is included along
with an adequate discussion
of photographic folio.
Good documentation of the
visual image and comments on
photographic works.
Annotations show some
understanding of the use and
manipulation of photographic
elements, principles and
aesthetics. Reflective
discussion of photographic
folio includes peer feedback.
Evidence of regular and wide
ranging documentation of the
visual image and evaluation of a
range of photographic works.
Detailed annotations show
understanding of the use and
manipulation of photographic
elements, principles and
aesthetics. Has reflected on peer
feedback and critiqued own
photographic folio.
Evidence of ongoing documentation
and critical evaluation of a range of
photographic works. Extensive
annotations show a deep
understanding of the use and
manipulation of photographic
elements, principles and aesthetics.
Has reflected thoughtfully on peer
feedback within insightful critiques
of own photographic folio.
Limited use of art language.
Some attempt to use visual
language, design elements
and principles to
communicate the student’s
personal art responses, ideas,
concepts and observations.
Some use of art language.
Appropriate use of visual
language, design elements and
principles to communicate the
student’s personal art
responses, ideas, concepts and
observations.
Evidence and use of a very good
level of understanding of art
language. Appropriate and
accurate use of visual language,
design elements and principles
to communicate the student’s
personal art responses, ideas,
concepts and observations.
Evidence and use of a high level of
understanding of art language.
Highly skilled and effective use and
manipulation of visual language,
design elements and principles to
comprehensively communicate the
student’s personal responses, ideas,
concepts and observations.
(Description and discussion of photography)
Development and refinement of ideas, skills and
processes; documentation of working practices
(Photographic folio)
Original photographs show
some application of design
elements and principles from
the initial explorations
through to the finished
portfolio/product.
Reflective annotation of a range of photographic
works, including critique of own folio (based on
peer feedback)
(Description, discussion and analysis of
photographs)
Understanding and application of visual
language and the elements and principles in
photography/cinematography
(How you discuss and describe photographs)