Part One – reflection

I’ve now completed Part One of the course so I thought this would be a good time to give an update on how I’m finding the course, reflect on my progress to date and identify the areas which I need to work on in the future.

What I’ve done:

• completed the exercises for Part One
• planned the assignment and shot some of the images
• finally got around to starting a paper-based sketchbook/journal to run alongside my blog
• read ‘Behind the Image: Research in Photography’ (Fox & Caruana) and ‘Understanding Exposure’ (Peterson) and written reviews of both
• started reading ‘Learning to See Creatively’ (Peterson) and have ordered ‘The Photography Reader’ by Liz Wells as my next piece of academic reading
• been to two exhibitions (albeit the first was a small local one put on by my local camera club but an exhibition nonetheless) and tried to look at them through critical eyes
• started looking at the genre of fine art photography, beginning with the work of Ernst Haas
• joined an on-line regional OCA Flickr group and am planning on attending organised events and meeting other students

How it went:

I found this set of exercises more interesting than the introductory exercises and also for the most part easier to get to grips with, although I did almost lose the will to live during the ‘Vertical and horizontal frames’ exercise due to the number of images required.  Apart from that minor blip I enjoyed this section and I feel that I’m now getting into the swing of the course.  In the main I was happy with the images I took although I would have liked them to be more individual to ‘me’.  The weather also outwitted me on occasions hence the grey lifeless skies in some of my pictures that even Lightroom could not pull back to any significant degree.

The Golden Section was a new concept for me and I struggled with this for a while until I found a way of understanding it that made sense to me.  I do find myself thinking about it now when I compose images and have used it a couple of times where before I would have used the Rule of Thirds.  The idea of creating balance in an image was also new to me and initially confusing.  I had to do some research to recall the principle of the lever and the positioning of uneven weights. It was interesting to look at my previous photos and work out the balance in them (or not, as the case may be) and I can see how balance makes for a more harmonious image.  It’s another thing that I’m trying to remember to think about when I’m out and about taking photos but to be honest it doesn’t come naturally yet. I do like the idea of deliberately not using balance to create tension in an image and this is something I would like to play with in future.  Another benefit I got from this exercise, although not strictly course-related, was that I found out about Skitch from one of the OCA-related forums which, as a Mac user without access to MS Paint, I’ve found to be an extremely useful drawing tool.

I’m now much more comfortable using my blog, although I still get stuck on occasions and then waste time trying to sort out how to do something, which is frustrating.  I’ve  also finally sorted out my pile of newspaper clippings and the notes I’ve made on my mobile phone and have started an A5 journal/sketchbook to run alongside my blog.

I’m still running behind my time-table but I’ve enjoyed doing the exercises and I feel that by taking longer, looking a little deeper into the learning points and trying to take the best images possible I’m getting more out of the course.  My original plan was to finish TAOP by the end of this year but given my slow progress so far, I think this is now unrealistic.  However, I will try and speed up during Part Two.

At the end of my reflection on the introductory part of the course I noted down a list of the things that I planned to do next and I’m pleased that I’ve managed to do all of these apart from participating on an OCA study visit.

What I’ve learned since the Introduction:

• how to create better-composed images by conscious use of the frame and the deliberate positioning of the subject within it
• the selective use of balance within a photograph to create either harmonious or more dynamic images
• how perspective and the use of focal length can change the overall look of an image
• what the Golden Section is and how I can apply it to composition
• how to plan and research a project (from reading ‘Behind the Image: Research in Photography’ by Fox & Caruana)
• I feel that the critical analysis of my images and my reflective writing have both started to improve, although the writing up of the exercises still takes me a long time
• planning definitely pays in terms of organisation and time-saving

What I’ve noticed:

• I’m thinking much more about my photography, particularly with regard to composition, and also trying to take more creative images than I did prior to starting the course.  I’m amazed at the amount I’ve learnt so far even though I’m still near the beginning of the course
• I have a definite liking for colour and strong shapes.  This was very noticeable in the ‘A sequence of composition’ exercise (based around a local market stall); my favourite images from that set are all of close-ups of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables.  I’m really looking forward to Part Three of the course which covers working with colour
• I still really dislike having people in my images but am starting to accept that the odd person in the frame can enhance an image in certain situations
• the exercise I enjoyed the most in Part One was ‘A sequence of composition’ and working through a series of shots to reach an end result (it suited my logical yet grasshopper mind).  So I think working on projects in the future is something that will suit me
• I feel that most of the images that I’ve taken so far for the exercises don’t reflect ‘me’ (although I’m not quite sure what ‘me’ is yet); I’ve taken images to fit the purpose of the exercise rather than images that I like that also meet the exercise criteria
• I’m really enjoying carrying out research on other photographers however I easily get sidetracked on other photographic bits and piece when researching (it’s that grasshopper mind again).  It’s enjoyable (and useful) looking at other stuff but also very time consuming so I need to be more disciplined
• I now actively look out for exhibitions and other photographic/art events to visit
• I’m beginning to recognise other photographers’ work through their style when I read a magazine or visit an exhibition
• when I look at a photograph I’m starting to see something more than just the literal meaning of the image and to think a little about why the photographer chose to take that particular image and what it was that he wanted to say.  I first noticed this when viewing images by Edward Burtensky and David Maisel at the Landmark: Fields of Photography exhibition; their beautiful and awe-inspiring photographs in fact depicted polluted and scarred landscapes which raised a number of questions in my mind and made me think a lot more about the context of the images rather than just taking what I saw at face value.

What I could do better:

• timing is still an issue so there is room for improvement on the organisational front.   I still take a long time to write up my blog and I’m looking forward to receiving tutor feedback after the first assignment to make sure that both the blog and I are going in the right direction
• remembering everything I’ve learned from the course when I’m behind the viewfinder. I still have a tendency to concentrate on certain aspects of a shot at the expense of others.
• I usually forget to consider balance when composing an image so I will make an effort to remember this going forward
• I’m still taking photographs based purely on their literal meaning; I haven’t been able to make the step yet of taking images that convey more than their face value. I’m not quite sure how to move on here apart from by keep looking at other photographers’ work and hoping that the penny drops at some point
• now that I’ve got Part One of the course under my belt I want to start taking more interesting and creative photographs for the exercises going forward, making them more individual to me.  I don’t find the creative side of photography easy (which is the reason why I am doing this course!) but I’m hoping this will get better with time and practice
• I’m currently finding it difficult to jot down my thoughts in a coherent and legible manner in my sketchbook as I’m so used to keeping stuff in my head or as notes on my mobile phone. However I had a go at a couple of mind-maps when planning the assignment and found these very helpful in arranging my ideas so I guess it’s just a case of sticking with it and hoping it will get easier with practice
• I don’t yet feel confident about commenting on images in an exhibition in a critical manner, although I think this will develop as I visit more exhibitions.  I would like to attend an OCA study visit sometime soon which I hope will provide me with some practical tips in this area
• my critical thinking and reflective writing skills still need improvement

What I plan to do next:

• finish the assignment and submit it to my tutor
• make a start on Part Two of the course
• make sure that I think about balance when composing images so that it eventually it becomes second nature
• continue my research into fine art photographers and write some reviews
• write a review of the Landmark: Fields of Photography exhibition that I went to recently
• go to some more exhibitions, both locally and further afield
• read ‘The Photography Reader’ by Liz Wells
• go to a meeting of my local camera club and see whether I am interested in joining
• attend the next OCA study visit that’s of interest to me and also meet up with other students from the regional OCA Flickr group that I’ve recently joined
• attend a crash course in metering and exposure (already booked) in an attempt to sort out my metering gremlins
• go to a university photography degree show in early summer so that I can see the standard of work a final-year degree student is expected to produce.  I’m in unknown territory here at the moment so would like to get an idea of what is expected of me
• save up to buy an iPad so that I can carry out on-line research and draft my blog posts during my daily commute in order to make better use of my time