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Lesson 2 of 6
  • Year 10

Objects in photography

I can review the range of ways photographers have been inspired by objects in photography.

Lesson 2 of 6
New
New
  • Year 10

Objects in photography

I can review the range of ways photographers have been inspired by objects in photography.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Objects often carry symbolic weight, allowing artists to convey complex themes and narratives.
  2. Photographers can choose objects that hold personal significance, creating works that resonate emotionally.
  3. By arranging objects thoughtfully, photographers can guide viewers through a visual story.

Keywords

  • Still life - an arrangement showing everyday objects that don’t move

  • Composition - the arrangement of elements in an image, photograph, or artwork

  • Signify - to show, mean, or represent something

Common misconception

Objects in photography are only depicted realistically.

Objects can be used in a range of ways in photography. Objects in photography can be used as a subject that might also contain symbolic meanings.


To help you plan your year 10 art and design lesson on: Objects in photography, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Greater contextual information on the photographers' work can be found in the additional materials. You may wish to alter the imagery to better fit your project themes.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Access to the internet or a library of art books. Sketchbook or paper for recording ideas, pencils, pens.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these could be considered an object in a photograph?

a friend of family member
Correct answer: a skateboard
a scenic view of a mountain

Q2.
Match the word to the correct meaning.

Correct Answer:still life,an arrangement of objects that don’t move

an arrangement of objects that don’t move

Correct Answer:composition,arranging elements in a photograph

arranging elements in a photograph

Correct Answer:signify,to show or represent an idea

to show or represent an idea

Q3.
Photographers often use objects to tell a story or suggest meaning.

Correct answer: True
False

Q4.
Before using objects in photography, what is the most important thing to think about in terms of the photographic outcome?

Correct answer: what the object might mean or represent
whether the object is expensive
who owns the object

Q5.
A still life can only include natural objects like fruit and flowers.

True
Correct answer: False

Q6.
Match the type of object to an example.

Correct Answer:natural object,a rose

a rose

Correct Answer:everyday object,a smartphone

a smartphone

Correct Answer:a broken chain,symbolic object

symbolic object

Additional material

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