The Cottingley Fairies

The Cottingley Fairies (Research)

I would describe the source as formal and descriptive, as journalist wrote about why 'The Cottingley Fairies' came about, however, they didn't write about how it was created, so it could be recreated in the modern-day world. The article was very informative, as it gave me an idea of how 'The Cuttinley Fairies' were created. I would use this article in a professional essay, as they also used the use of links to other articles, videos and posts, on how you could recreate this type of old-school photography. Although I wouldn't trust to use this article on over certain articles from other sources that don't use clickbait headlines ''Cottingley Fairies: How Sherlock Holmes's creator was fooled by hoax''. ​

Source BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-55187973 (09.09.2025).

I would describe this source as a how-to guide to create your own version of 'The Cottingley Fairies,' (20% how-to – 80% their inspiration and their research behind 'The Cottingley Fairies.' They created workshops that met through Edinburgh young careers and create the old-style photographs with guidance off artist Morwenna Kearsley, who is a Glasgow based educator and artist, who uses the old-style photography techniques in the digital reproduction. I would trust and use this article in an essay as its more of a blog then a new article, as if a real person created and wrote the blog, over a non-political journalist, who has to get their work checked by multiple higher ups. This article was informative, but I wanted interviews and quotes from artist's instead of a one-sided view. ''Photographing Fairies''​

Source: Social History Society & Imaginate: https://socialhistory.org.uk/shs_exchange/photographing-fairies/ (09.09.2025). https://www.imaginate.org.uk/artists/artists-working-with-imaginate/morwenna-kearsley/#:~:text=Morwenna%20is%20a%20Glasgow%2Dbased,producing%20still%20and%20moving%20images. (09.09.2025).

• 1.2 (Unit 1) - I was safe around College, as I followed the designated paths and used my coat when taking low angle shots to to prevent myself from getting dirty and the rest of College dirty. I also used the cameras screen to see the frame and make sure it was still in focus, so I didn't strain my neck trying to use the eye piece. I also focused the camera first before the low angle shot and take a test shot to check the focus was correct before starting the shoot. This would also test my location of the shot was adding depth to the photograph.​

• 2.1 (Unit 1) - Newspapers were originally created as a source to spread awareness throughout the country efficiently. This also created a backdoor into creating a bias newspaper, as people back then were generally loyal. This also became a chance to corrupt the readers from them pointing out competitors' opinions in an extreme lighten way to make the reader vote for a certain party in the government. Which shows newspapers only showing one-sided opinions. I also used the 'Z' method to grab the readers attention at the start to keep them wanting more which would make them want to open the newspaper by ending the front page with fake news ''fairies can have rights, when pigs fly'' followed by the black bar of the contents of the newspaper ''BREAKING NEWS Pigs found flying around the city of Preston'' this also adds a comedic viewpoint to the newspaper to get people talking and sharing the newspaper with their friends and their friends.

Evaluation (Unit 2)

• 1.1 (Unit 2) - I critically examined different sources by researching articles by universities to get a more personal approach, to find the importance of the power of how the Cottingley Fairies took over the photography industry that laid the first brick into todays industry. Following this, I used ​3.2 (Unit 2) – When researching, I found that it helped me to find out how the Cottinley Fairies were created, as I didn’t know what this type of photography was. I also found that low angle shot with a tilt, works better with enhance contrasts in post production to make them look more realistic, which they would of painted the physical printed photograph to correct or improve the photograph. I found that looking at the pictures from the articles and videos, helped me figure out they type of style the Cottinley Fairies, as I am a visual learner. However, reading about how the Cottinley Faires were created, gave me motivation on how I could stage and shoot my version of this style.​ I found that looking at multiple sources for producing a media outcome based on a fact is important, as everyone has a different perspective on that fact and how they want to interpret that fact. In my case I found that everyone created the physical fairies differently some used thin wire to stick in the ground and others used thin string to attach to the trees as if they were flying. I used the wires as I wanted to have my Goblin near water to show a reflection to enhance the black and white photographs.