I was really pleased with the outcome of my shooting week and the work that was produced, barring some obstacles on the way, I definitely feel as though I achieved what I set out to do from the beginning!
FINAL NOTES:
- The process: It was a lot smoother than many of the other projects I have tried to accomplish for previous brief’s and I think that was due to spending an adequate amount of time doing research on, and off the internet. I have had to overcome a few things and something I really struggled with in the past is asking for help, but after many hiccups, I have realised the uprise in the quality of my work when I accept guidance from my tutors.
- The concept: I really connected with my concept, therefore encouraging a lot of passion and ENERGY into the project, as shooting every single day for a week was not the easiest of tasks and required a certain level of motivation, but each day seemed to be getting easier and better as opposed to harder! I serve with a better attitude this time around and I think that definitely reflects through these images, however there are always things to work on!
- Confidence: My confidence has definitely increased, especially through talking to strangers and allowing myself to be an open book, in order for them to reciprocate. On one of the shoot days, I didn’t invite anyone in so I wasn’t expecting anyone external. I relied completely on my ability to be able to socialise with people and convince them to have their picture taken! I know that isn’t the best method, and there should always be a back up, but to tell the truth I really wanted to, in a way, put myself to the test. At one point, I was so nervous to talk to people that I probably went to every floor giving myself a pep talk (lol) until I finally got back to the ground floor and just went for it! I’m so glad that I did because after that it started to flow a lot more naturally.
- Lighting: I had some trouble with my lighting, as I stated a few posts down, where I made a mistake with the soft boxes. I believe I rectified it the best way I could and didn’t let it deter me from my end goal! It was really bothering me at one point because I couldn’t get the colour re-touching equal enough but I realised that I was doing a little too much and actually what I should’ve been doing is keeping it simple, as I intended to from the beginning.
- Shooting: Another mistake I made was shooting on the last week, I’m not entirely sure why I even arranged for it this way but I guess I am still trying to break out of some old habits. I tend to mix up my priorities at times and it enforces a ‘last minute’ type of behaviour which currently I am eradicating. Aside from this, shooting went quite well, I had a room and equipment for each day and the practice of setting up and taking down each day has definitely improved my skills and my speed in the studio! I now feel much more confident when shooting as well as when assisting others. I was able to freely experiment and help my peers with their experimentation throughout the week and this is aiding me in learning the manipulation of lighting and the roles of various sets of equipment.
- Images: I loved the images, and the expressions that my camera and I were able to capture throughout the week! It’s definitely a project I am interested in continuing and developing over a longer period of time. I was a little frustrated with the shadows in the images at one point but I felt that things seem to work a lot better when I don’t try to enforce perfection at all times! I often forget that there’s always still things to learn and go through as a photographer. I was also quite anxious about making the decision to have the final photo as a self-portrait, but being such an expressive person myself, and wanting to really feel apart of this project on all levels, I sat in the seat and wanted to be able to relate to all parts and I definitely did. I didn’t necessarily intend to include myself in the final sequence for the awards but I am glad that I did! I really like the image of myself and I feel that it represents my emotions towards this project 🙂
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKBOOK 