The Year 12 art learners of Helderberg International School enjoyed a trip to the Lourens River in Radloff Park, Somerset West, where they set up a replica photoshoot of the pre-Raphaelite painter Sir John Everett Millais’ famous painting Ophelia (1851-2). The scene depicted is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in which Ophelia, driven out of her mind when her father is murdered by her lover Hamlet, wanders into a stream and drowns. The outing presented learners with an opportunity to review the challenges of setting up and photographing at the venue, in terms of location, composition, lighting, exposure, comfort of model, clothing, props and safety. They captured an array of interesting images, from numerous positions and angles, to be edited and developed into new artworks, either in the form of appropriation, pastiche or parody. Said learner Thalia Koen: “I enjoyed getting down into the water to take some interesting angled photos. I also found it quite amazing how our surroundings had played such a great part in creating appropriate moods that served our topic. The whole experience was quite fun and produced some amazing images.”


Getting creative

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