Photography



We all love great photography. . . but how do we find good information about it?

As always, you can start with [|wikipedia]. However, this is just like starting with any encyclopedia. Teachers and college professors expect you to go further and deeper in your research. Use wikipedia to understand your topic generally, then move on to bigger and better (and sometimes more accurate) things.

Like. . . [|Books] Check the MICDS library [|catalog] for books about your topic. We have an extensive collection of photography and art books, both in the general 700s and the Art section (look for the big A). If you are searching for a particular photographer and cannot find a book on him or her, try broadening your search. Search for "photography" instead of Ansel Adams, for example. Ask Ms. Voss or Ms. Williamson for help if you cannot find any print sources. Typically, it just takes a little sleuthing to find something on a topic.

[|Databases] Your first stop should be [|Oxford Art Online]. This database contains much good reference information, like biographical information, subject overviews, and images. It offers more than a general encyclopedia because it is a subject-specific **art** resource. Make sure to check the "Related Content" tab to broaden your search and the "Cite" button to note MLA citation.

Next, you might want to try an article database like [|Gale Student Resource Center] for more specific information, like reviews or current information on showings of the artist's work. [|ELibrary] is another good general database for information like this.

Last, you should try [|JSTOR] for more scholarly and in-depth articles. Most of the articles in JSTOR are written by professors at universities, so the writing may be more advanced. Don't let this scare you away! Just take in what you can handle; you may find that you learn a lot!

You will also want to search the Internet for more information on your topic. There are some fantastic photography resources online. Photography Students: In order to complete your research assignment and receive credit, you need to add a website to your class Delicious account. Go to [|Delicious] and sign in with the following: username: micdsphoto password: micdsrams Then, click on Save a New Bookmark. Type in the URL for your website, and then fill out the bookmark information. For the note entry, write a short paragraph on what the website covers and whether it is helpful for research. In the tags entry, include your last name and other tags that will help to identify your website for others to use.
 * Websites**

Think about these criteria as you choose a website to use:

- Is the information on the site reliable? - Who created the site? - Are "they" well-known? - Should you trust "them"? - Where did "they" get their information?
 * TRUSTWORTHY?** Ask yourself:

- Is the site objective (based on facts only) or subjective (expresses an opinion)? - Who created the site? - Do "they" have any reason to be biased about this information? - What is "their" perspective based on?
 * OBJECTIVE?** Ask yourself:

- Does the site have enough information for you? Or just a sentence or two? - Does it have too much information? Do the details overwhelm you/slow you down? - Is it easy to find information on the site? - Is it easy to navigate around the site?
 * ENOUGH?** Ask yourself:

- How recent is the information on the site? - When was the site last updated? Does it even tell you? - Is the "Last Updated" date closer to 1909 or 2009?
 * CURRENT?** Ask yourself:

- Does the info on the site seem right to you? - Does the information make sense? - Can you find the same information/facts on a different site? - Does it seem like someone edits the site or are there spelling errors?
 * ACCURATE?** Ask yourself:

- What's the purpose of the site? - Who created the site and why? - Why do "they" want you to visit the site? - Are "they" just presenting information or are "they" trying to convince you of something? - Are they making money from this site in any way? (advertisements, etc.)
 * PURPOSE?** Ask yourself:

Some famous photographers to get you thinking: Andrea Kertesz Ansel Adams Annie Leibovitz Brassai Alfred Stieglitz Diane Arbus Edward Steichen Dorothea Lange Eugene Atget Gordon Parks Jacob Riis Loretta Lux Paul Strand Margaret Bourke-White