Category Archives: Self Reflection

End of Course Evaluation and Reflection

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Photography 1: Expressing Your Vision

Reflection

One thing I have learned about photography is that there is always something new to learn technically and artistically.  This is one of the reasons I wanted to take this course.  I have been taking photos all of my life and it is a passion, however, I have also felt for quite a long time now that I don’t just want to ‘take’ a photo of just anything, I want it to mean something; say something to me; but what I want to say, I’ve never quite nailed and ultimately been dissatisfied with the results.  Primarily I’m a people photographer, so I felt that somewhere inside me there is something I want to say about me.  Expressing your vision has started me on that journey of self-discovery but it is also equipping me with the technical skills to achieve it.

I have used my blog debraflynnphotography.co.uk/EYV-blog to record all of course work, assignments and learning log.

A few things that have stood out for me completing this course are:

  • I have really enjoyed having a structured way of progressing, revisiting my camera instruction manual was such a useful thing to have done. Although already a confident ‘Manual’ mode user, I have increased my knowledge about settings, depth of field, choice of lens and lighting.
  • Researching ideas and planning what I want to do before taking the images. I really think this has helped with the final results and I have been much happier with the outcomes.
  • I always looked at other work but haven’t really studied other photographers before starting this course. I didn’t think I would be very interesting, but it has been a revelation.  Learning about them and, in some instances actually listening to them, put their work in context has really helped me to think about me and what I’m trying to achieve.  What I would like people to think about my work.
  • Part 5 about view point, really made me think about how my work is presented and indeed what work I want to do.
  • That I don’t have to fit into any genre or style, I can be as creative or not, as I want and produce work that means something to me. And; if I’m not happy with it, I can do it again.  In the words of my tutor “follow your bliss”.
  • Printing my images has really given me a new perspective on taking them to. They look different in print and somehow feel more tangible and meaningful. I have enjoyed choosing different papers to print them on which does change the look and feel.
  • I like working in sets rather than individual images

What I think I’ve learned about me as a photographer:

I was delighted that my tutor thought Assignments 3 and Assignment 4 were good and didn’t require me to make any changes and I am most proud of those two assignments as I think they are closest to showing me as a photographer.  However I think the most growth and learning came out of Assignment 2 and Assignment 5 which I reworked following my tutor’s feedback.  Being receptive to another person’s critical eye can really enhance your own vision.  Clive seemed to really understand what I was trying to achieve from each assignment and was able to help me refocus and rework the assignment.  I also found that seeing your images through another’s eyes and listening to their feedback lets you know whether or not it has the impact you wanted.  I completed the rework of Assignment 2 after completing the rest of the course and actually found going back to it later was a valuable lesson, as with the hindsight of the finishing rest of the course, it felt that the images were better composed and the set works better as a whole.

I now have the burgeoning ideas of what it is I’m trying to say:  There’s something about juxtaposition and not being able to see everything, hidden emotion and light and dark.  I really connected with the work Mona Kuhn, Tony Ray-Jones, Maja Daniels and Christopher Doyle.  I know it’s in there, I aim to tease it out during the course of my further studies.

In all I feel that I have made a good start to the degree course and have successfully attained the stated aims and objectives.  I have added some links to each of the aims which I believe demonstrate these outcomes, but I believe my whole blog is testament to my achievements http://debraflynnphotography.co.uk/EYV-blog/

link to PDF version

What’s in the box – the physical submission is boxed and ready to go:

a few of my favourite images from the assignments:

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Assignment 5 – Rework Reflection

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So I’ve finished the course!!

I received my final report from Clive, and it said ‘completed‘!!  It feels like a real milestone. read the report here

Debra Flynn. Brighton Day Out #3, 2018

Of course I do still need to tidy up a few bits and pieces on the blog and get it ready for assessment, but I am really pleased that the first course is under my belt.  I am definitely feeling more confident about my progress and my abilities so I hope to hold on to that to take into the next course.

The final assignment has taught me quite a lot in terms of putting together a series or images.  Clive really helped me hone in on what I should be focusing on and it’s amazing what a difference it makes when you look through your images with a different intention.  In fact he encouraged me to see that I already had all of the images I needed to meet the brief, I just hadn’t focused on the right area.

See my Assignment 5 – Photography is Simple (Reworked) here

I am much happier with my reworked assignment and the discovery of Tony Ray-Jones work was a revelation for me.

So off to complete all the loose ends and prepare for the submission for assessment in November . . . . . .  . .

Assignment 5 – ‘Hangout’

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Having submitted my final assignment, I was finally able to talk with Clive (my tutor) face to face.  Work commitments have meant I’ve only had written feedback up until now so it I felt it was really important to actually speak with him this time and I’m really pleased I was able to.  Certainly a learning point for future courses; to speak with my tutors more often.

Clive had looked at my assignment and my blog and gave me some great feedback. 

He felt that I need to get away from the ‘day out with my kids’ theme and try and put some distance between myself and subject to give them a more observational and dispassionate feel. More of a comment on what a family does on a day out rather than this particular family.

He suggested I take a look at the work of Tony Ray-Jones as he felt my work was somewhat reminiscent of his and Martin Parr, although Martin Parr is a little less flattering of his subjects. Having now done so, I totally get what he means.  My write up Tony Ray-Jones can be read here.

On the individual images Clive felt that image #1 was weak and very ‘postcardy’ which I completely agreed with him on.  I had included this image to try and set the scene, but to be honest it doesn’t inspire me so why I thought it would anyone else is a silly.  I only have 10 images to make an impact and I chose that one!!!! 

he picked out image #2 as interesting and #9 as a good ‘stock’ shot but not adding much to this project.He thought #7 was a strong image.  Having looked again at that and Tony Ray-Jone’s work I think I understand what I should be looking for now.

I suggested redoing the whole assignment, which Clive thought was a possibility but also that having looked at the contact sheets there may be enough, with some re-editing to refocus this set of images.  Having had another look through, I do think this is a possibility so am going to try that first. Especially with the inspiration from Ray-Jones and Parr I think I have the basis of what could be an interesting study.

In relation to my blog, Clive advised to change my banner photo to something more appropriate to work I have been producing as he felt that it might give the wrong impression of the kind of photographer I am to an assessor.  I have taken that advice and changed it.

I was reminded about buying a clam shell box, which I’ve already done and about printing my images ready for assessment, making sure to leave a decent sized boarder on the sheet.

Thanks again Clive, it was great to talk with you

My actions from this:

  • look up Tony Ray-Jones’ work and relate it to my own
  • rework my assignment from a more observational and dispassionate viewpoint
  • let Clive know when I’ve redone it so he can give feedback
  • start preparing my work for assessment in November

back to Assignment 5 – Photography is simple (reworked)

 

Assignment 5 – Self Reflection before feedback

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Reflection

“Check your work against the assessment criteria for this course before you send it to your tutor. Make some notes in our learning log about how well you believe your work
meets each criterion.”

For this final assignment of Expressing your vision I have returned to my first love of documenting my family on a day out in Brighton.

I knew I was going to use this for this assignment, so I was more conscious of the images I was taking and am lucky that they are so used to seeing me with a camera in my hand that they largely ignore it!  Unlike my last assignment where I was able to go back and start again because I wasn’t happy with the results, this time it was a ‘one day only’ opportunity – so No pressure!! 

Technically, I have often struggled with taking picture of people moving in the past but since finding the auto ISO setting on my camera, I am now able to reduce blurring so am much more confident in that respect.

Having taken over 200 photos, my biggest challenge was whittling it down to just 10 photos.  Unlike other assignments where I ‘made’ the images and could take what I need for the project this was more about selecting 10 images that work individually, together and tell the story. To do this I set myself some strict criteria, each image must contain either a member of my family or myself (in some way).  It must add new information as per the brief and it must be compositionally pleasing.  I also wanted them to work together as a set and tell the story of the day.

Needless to say there were a number of permutations considered until I came up with my final 10. So I tried to imagine what it would look like as a magazine article and picked images that I thought would go enhance the story.  It meant having to leave out some images which I really liked, but I guess that’s what this assignment is about.  The ability to express your viewpoint for a subject within a limited number of images giving more impact and greater context to them.

mock up of what a magazine article might look like

Ultimately I am pleased with the results and the images I have chosen.  I do believe they are a coherent set which tell the story I wanted to tell and meet the criterion of the brief.  This section more than any other has made me think about how I select and present my work.  

and just to prove I was there on the i360 here’s a picture of me taken by my husband. A rare event indeed 😉

Ralph Flynn. The Day Trip, 2018

back to Assignment 5 – Photography is simple

Assignment 4 – Tutor Feedback & Reflection

read tutor feedback here

I’m really pleased that Clive agreed with my decision to reshoot my assignment. I must learn not to doubt myself.  I knew once I’d finished the images that I was much happier with the results and Clive’s comment that “the reworked assignment shows you how important it is to follow your bliss” has a real resonance with me.

I was called out on my lack of book reading and he’s definitely right, I have done quite alot of research on line, but not books, so I have rectified that by buying a few of the books on the reading list. (secondhand from Amazon!)

  • The Genius of Photography, Gerry Badger
  • The Photograph: A Visual and Cultural History (Oxford History of Art)
  • Ways of Seeing (Penguin Modern Classics)
  • How to Read a Photograph: Understanding, Interpreting and Enjoying the Great Photographers.

The first one arrived this morning, so expect a book review shortly 

Clive’s advice for the next assignment, is to take my time and ‘find what feels most you’. This will the be last impression an assessor will have of my work so it needs to show my progress from assignment 1.  Having had a quick look at the brief, I think this could be very interesting

 

 

 

 

aaaargh

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with just under two weeks to go until I have to submit my next assignment – still in a state of complete confusion.  

Light is everything with photography in my opinion and at this time of year there is so much to choose from!!   

I have 3 separate projects going on and I really don’t know which to plump for.  My thoughts are that the most easily achievable in the time frame is a study of the light around my home at different times of day. The second is using a combination of all types of light to tell a story of a couple and the third is a full on film noir/Christopher Doyle studio lit set.

To be honest, although I love the idea of the film noir, the beautiful weather and the spring light is really drawing my attention at the moment.  

Oh why is it so difficult?? lots of inspiration and no time!

making the ordinary resonate

Quote

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What do you think should be the mission of an artist?

To express their intellectual curiosity. Just like Emily Dickinson said, to reinterpret the obvious world in the way that enlightens it and enriches it. As artists, we have the obligation to do so, because we have the gift to see things differently from other people. If the world we present to the viewers can challenge them, provoke them, and even change their situation, so much the better. And if it is beautiful at the same time, that’s icing on the cake. That’s my own mandate: to make beautiful art that also is about something. I want to make the ordinary resonate for my viewers in a universal way.

source: http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/01/interview-sally-mann-the-touch-of-an-angel-2010.html

Assignment 3 – Tutor Feedback and Reflection

View Tutor Feedback

Having received Clive’s feedback, I am very much encouraged with my progress. When I first got the submission date, I thought it seemed ages away, I actually enjoyed the time free of coursework to concentrate on the assignment and opportunity to visit my chosen place a few times.  I think this improved the results.

Printing the images was particularly interesting as I don’t do a lot of it.  Now we have a reasonable printer, I think I will do more of it, cost of cartridges permitting 🙂

I also posted my assignment on the Critiques page of the Student forum, to see what others thought.  ( I must admit I did wait until after I’d received Clive’s comments, I think next time I need to be braver).

From comments received, more about the concepts than the images, I was surprised that others don’t grasp the concept of the Decisive Moment.  I didn’t think it was that difficult really!  For me it’s just a concept for describing what we do every time we press the shutter button (or it should be!)  in as much as, when we decide to take a photo, we choose where to take it, where to stand, at what time to be there and the exact moment to press the shutter button. Usually when someone or something such as light makes the image perfect to us.

The decisiveness is in you the photographer, not the moment.  The moment just quietly happens and you by, be prepared are there to capture it at just the right time.  My husband and I often go out together to take photos, but most times we come back with very different images. It’s about what we see, what interests us and what makes a perfect image for us.

We do quite a lot of event photography, where you can’t control the environment or what is happening, we may even be standing side by side, but our images are never quite the same. 

I believe it is me, my vision, my awareness, my choice what the decisive moment is or isn’t, and this section has been about recognising that fact within you.  After all the course is called Expressing Your Vision. 

I have long passed the desire to just go out and walk around taking pictures of what I pass.  I now really want to have an idea of what I want, where I want to go and what I am trying to achieve before I go out.  The only thing that I worry about is becoming blinkered, so I must try and balance what I’m trying to achieve with being open to something new if it comes along.

 

Mind Whirring

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At the moment, I have a number of ideas for Assignment 3 – The Decisive Moment, and was hoping to get out with my camera a start my set, but to be honest, I don’t think I can.  For the last assignment, I mapped out my thoughts and came up with a coherent idea and then prepared my equipment to go out to the right places to capture the images I wanted.

At this stage, ideas are are whirring around inside my head and I just haven’t nailed it down yet, so I think it would be foolish to just go out with my camera and hope I get what I’m looking for.  From the research I’ve done so far, I am convinced that the photographers, researched their locations, including the time and and usage before taking their cameras out.

So I’ve given myself some SMART objectives to get this done:

  1. to nail down my concept and make a decision by the end of next week (2.2.18)
  2. to research my chosen location/s by 9.2.19
  3. to have taken all images by 28.2.18 to enable printing in time for submission.
  4. to carry on with the coursework (Part 4) so that I don’t loose momentum.

“Self Knowledge is a lifelong Process”

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“Self Knowledge is a lifelong Process” that was the line in my fortune cookie last night!

I thought it was very appropriate as I sit down to try and put my thoughts down in writing.

So first thoughts around the feedback I received from my tutor on Assignment 2 – Collecting:

at first I felt a bit despondent about the comments he made about some of my photos, but having reread the report and tried a couple of his suggestions I’m feeling much more positive.  In fact when I reflect that he has given me quite detailed technical feedback, I am encouraged that he actually thinks I can understand it, so early in the degree journey.

It’s quite a thing to put your work up for expert opinion and when you invest in it so emotionally, it can be a kick in the teeth. However, that is the very reason I am taking this course, to get out of my comfort zone, to push my knowledge and to produce images that I love and am happy to share with others.

I think I need to consider each of Clive’s points and reflect on them before I formulate my response.

I did immediately have a go at one of this suggestions though:

“Image 5 has a similar problem to 2 but not as acute.  The eye is led across the bread as you say but again is denied the interest of what it’s been lead to.  Being sharp from back to front and shot at a more propitious moment for the two figures it would have been a good companion to 1 and 4”.

I definitely do see the difference in the images and I understand Clive’s point about being able to the viewer being able to delve into to different parts of the image at their leisure. I also did an image that pulled back and gave a greater because I liked the reflection in the window.  Not sure which one I’d pick so I might pick up the courage to put them up on the critiques page to see what others think.

On reflection, I now see that the couple at the back of the photo aren’t doing anything that you could call a ‘decisive moment’ hence I am now not really happy with the image at all.