Yum

I got given a yummy cake by AOL today, a clever strategy from integrated agency archibald ingall stretton...

"AOL UK invites media agencies to join in 25^th birthday celebrations with free birthday cakes across London

Leading internet giant AOL is asking media agencies to help celebrate its 25^th birthday today by offering free cakes in a selection of coffee shops across the capital.

Coffee shops have been chosen based on their proximity to top media companies, such as Konditor & Cook on Shaftesbury Ave and Neals Corner in Covent Garden, who have been specifically asked to help join in the celebrations. AOL has paid for the entire selection of cakes in certain shops, and, when chosen, each will be handed over with an AOL birthday napkin. The napkin highlights that 2010 will be a year of change and innovation for the brand.

The birthday cake activity kicks off a rolling campaign that will gather momentum over the year as AOL enters the second phase of its plan to greatly improve the online consumer experience and scale its advertising systems. Integrated agency archibald ingall stretton... has been appointed to work with AOL on this and upcoming campaigns, marking the first time the two companies have worked together.

Kate Burns, head of AOL in the UK and Europe, said: “To mark our 25^th year the cakes are on us! We’re keen for media agencies in particular to share in our celebrations, which is why we’re ensuring they get a free birthday treat in their local coffee shop. The last 25 years have been a time of tremendous growth and change, and we’re now looking ahead to the next 25 and beyond. Look out for exciting AOL developments over the coming year.”

Geoff Gower, digital creative director at archibald ingall stretton…, added: “archibald ingall stretton… is incredibly excited to be working with AOL on this project. The birthday activity is a brilliant and fun way to kick start our relationship. The next few months should see us continuing to help build momentum for this awe-inspiring brand, and delivering some really great creative along the way.”"

from: http://www.marketinguk.co.uk/Promotions-Incentives/To-mark-our-25th-year-the-cakes-are-on-us.asp

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow is hand in day and will be last day at university, EVER! I'm really pleased to finish uni with this project as my final hand in, as it has been enjoyable and I have worked very hard to achieve exactly what I want. I also think it is quite ironic that this will be the end of my challenge but hopefully not the end of this project. I hope that I can extend the project after the hand in and work towards achieving its full potential.

Creekside Printers

I have had a really stress free experience in printing my work, the guys at Creekside Printers have been absolutely brilliant and put up with me, fussy as i am. I think they have rebound the book three times now. But they got it all done in a very short space of time and have been really friendly and helpful (and cheap).

Funding

I have made my book as professional as possible with the finance and material that I have had acess to. I would have liked to print a hardcopy book, but the printers said it would set me back £180, I do not have that kind of money! But I am really happy with what I have acheived and in my bias opinion the book looks good, I think the design is the most important aspect.

I have contacted Brighton and Hove council to discuss my project to see if they could provide funding to extend the project or consider an exhibition. I have spoken to someone who said they would be interested in looking at what I have so far, I am awaiting confirmation to come in and speak to someone. this would be a really positive way to end this part of the journey, plus it is taking me a step closer to getting published!

Stephen Lawrence exhibit

I have thought a lot about how I would like to present my work in the exhibition, which is at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery on the Greenwich Campus, It starts on the 19th May and will finish on the 22nd May (just in case you want to come). I will have my book at the exhibition on a table, I have made a spiral bound book so it can lay flat. I would also like to display some of my work on the wall, there is limited space in the gallery so I am limited to 4 prints. This will work quite well as the grouping of my pictures is split into 4 so I can pick my favourites from each. I will also get some cards printed that have the URL of this blog, there will be a computer at the exhibit so people can view the research that goes with my book and images.

in design...

I forgot how much I enjoyed using adobe in design, I have started designing my book and have sadly, got a real buzz out of deciding on colurs, fonts and styles. I've enjoyed it so much I think I would like to pursue something of this nature in the future, something to consider anyway.

edit edit edit

I have been very strict with myself today and have nearly completed all the editing of my photos, It is great that I have got this done as I have so much other stuff to focus on. With most of my photos I increased the 'highlights' and increased the definition, I think this has given the sense of a still portrait as a photo, the photos were captured as a still shot and I think its important to recognise that it is a single moment captured. I haven't quite picked out my favourite photos to be used in the book, this has been the hardest part, I like more than one for most of my subjects but I have made an attempt at cutting them down.

The above screen print (a sneak preview of an image) is a photo that I had a lot of trouble with as I had to edit out another person in the shot, because of the context and the fact that he was training I couldn't ask the other people to move out of the shot, I have managed to completely remove the other person from the image after many hours of 'clone stamping'.

Gus

A friend of mine is facing the biggest challenge of his life, he is sadly extremely ill in Thailand in intensive care, not able to breathe for himself. It still isn't known what is wrong with him. The story featured in the local and national news, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8654175.stm. The challenge extends to his friends and family who are trying really hard to stay positive. It is amazing to see how people come together in a crisis and how much people want to help. Sending all my love to Gus, his girlfriend Nat and all of his family.

Paul Floyd Blake

I came across this photographer a while back and admittedly completely forgot he existed. That said, his work is something that should be remembered. I am particularly interested in his 'Young Olympians' collection. It is a set of photographs of the young people who are set to be involved in the 2012 Olympics. If that isn't a challenge I don't know what is. These young adults are going to be training for four years to achieve their goals that I think is remarkable. Their lives will be focused around their sport.

The images are really strong and are set in the sporting environment, this follows the theme of my project and how the portraits will reflect the location and personality of each person. Though taking it into consideration that my subjects lives aren't necessarily depicted by their challenges. I would expect Blake's Olympian subjects are quite the opposite and these sporting environments take up a huge proportion of their lives.

coincidence

Today I read my horoscope, like I always do even though I don't really believe in them. BUT today was different, it was quite strange particularly as this project has been playing on my mind so much. see for yourself-

Firstly note the 'challenging' aspect of my passion, and the reference to design and photography. When you think about all the horoscopes that have been wrong the probability of getting a horoscope that relates to you must be quite slim, but this is really quite specific and mentions three aspects of the project clear as day. I may be getting too wrapped up in this project but really...coincidence I think not.

multitasking

This week there has been about 101 things to do, I have had a number of deadlines whilst still trying to get on with the project. I think I have been fairly successful and have really tried to enjoy the stress and pressure as much as possible as after all these days will soon be forgotten. I'm not sure its working, I have never figured out whether I enjoy the pressure or not, I think in some strange way I kind of do. The project has been a big pressure but has been focusing my mind and teaching me. Who knows I may even miss the learning.

final photos

I had a great weekend and got all the shots I needed down in Brighton. There was a moment of panic when I didn't have enough people on the Sunday but I found some in the end and felt very relieved. I had difficultly with a few people this weekend and I encountered a number of people who weren't as keen to have their photograph taken as I had hoped. I got there in the end and met some very intriguing people.

I'm looking forward to editing all the photos and seeing how they all look together. Now I'm making a book I need to ensure they all look great together on the page. I am much closer to the end and feeling fairly confident, not sure how long this will last though.

Composition

There seems to be a theme in the way my photos have been composed. I have tried to make the subject the main focus as in some photos there is a lot going on. This was exactly what I wanted though as it gives a depth to the photograph and invites the reader into the stories.

The angles and styles in the photographs are complimentry and I think they will look great together on the page. With each subject having their own focal point I can play around with the composition of each image on the double sided page of the book.

ready, steady, Go!

I'm getting ready for my final shoots happening at the weekend. I have contacted most of the people now about the shoots and have arranged something for each day. I just hope the weather holds out. I have also been editing and looking through the existing images, I want to know the strengths and weakness's of the images so that I can improve upon them in the next set of photographs. Having the time to think about what worked last time has been really helpful. I now know exactly what I want from the photos this time round. I'm armed with my camera and hopefully effective guidance for my participants.

preparation

So, the end is near, I have put together a to do list for the project. It is quite long and making me a little nervous but I think I will enjoy it (most of it)...

• find more subjects
• take the final photographs
• edit all of my photographs
• design book
• get book printed
• plan essay
• keep up to date with blogging
• hand it in!!!

I have lots to do but I'm pleased I have got most of it done already or I'd really be in trouble. I'm really proud of myself for getting everything done as I tend to leave things til the last minute. Maybe I've finally learnt my lesson?!

The Photobook

Today I had my first meeting with Avery Hill library, I got out some photography books as they don't have much to offer at the Greenwich campus. I found a book by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger that looks at the history of photobooks with lots of examples. Most of the books are quite out of date for now but I found that I liked the most simplistic designs the most. I already have an idea about how to layout my book, I haven't found any influences so far. Maybe its best if the design is completely mine anyway, then I can be proud of my own design skills.

a book...

So, I've decided how to present my work. I need the photos to be backed up with text so I have thought about sticking the photos into a book and writing statements with each photo BUT it seems a bit sloppy after all the work I have put into the photos. I remembered that I'm really quite good at In Design so I'm going to design a book and get it printed. I'm know I'm giving myself loads more work to do but I know I can make it look really professional and exactly how I want it. It will be nice to have a final product that I can keep forever too.

£

Being a student is starting to take its toll. I want to eat food from m&s and buy designer bags but most of all I want to be able to afford more camera equipment. I have a great camera already, a Canon EOS 450D that I adore, but there are so many accessories- flashes, lenses, tripods that I simply cannot afford. I'm just hoping that my photographic and editing skills will be enough to produce good quality shots. Let's hope this degree gets me somewhere so I can take my photography to the next level. A leica camera will be mine one day...

tutorial...

Today I went for a chat with my tutor, as per something didn't work. No. Nothing worked, after trying both a disc and and usb to show my tutor my work we gave up. But I was pleased to have a chat about what I need to do next and to start thinking about the next stages and presentation. We also spoke about only having one person in each shot which I think is something that will really improve how all my photos look together and give them more continuity. So I will re-do a couple of my photos, I want to do everything I can to make the images work together.

me in the frame?

I think I'm going to get someone to photograph me handing in my work- handing in this project will be my last ever day at university and my last ever piece of work. The photo will represent the completion of my biggest challenge in life so far and the project itself has been a big challenge for me. I think it will be an important moment and one I will want to remember forever...a sense of achievement that will never be beat!

macbook fail!!!

The WORST thing happened today- my beloved mac book pro malfunctioned, the warrenty runs out in september so I suppose it is a blessing in disguise. I always back up my work by emailing it to myself but ALL of my project photos so far are on there (I've emailed myself the favourites) and they won't all fit in an email. There were tantrums and tears and when the panic died down I sped to uni to back up all my work- I have the most amazing technicians to thank for that! So now the macbook is off to be repaired (Thanks to my amazing Dad who came up to collect it and donated his laptop til its fixed)- I hope it comes out alive!

Jo Spense

Jo Spense is a pioneering British photographer, she worked on projects right up to her death in 1992. What initially attracted me to Spense's work is the challenge she faced battling cancer and how she used photography as a sort of therapy for what she was going through. Spense captured moments for her treatment in 'real' way, she used the environments that became her own whilst she recieved treatment. The hospital being the place where her challenge was the most focused.

I have since gone on to read "Cultural Snipings" which is a book of her work's and projects that have been put together by a friend. The book is very interesting and gives an insight into the life she led right up until her death.

Photo Therapy is a key concept discussed by Spense- the idea that taking photographs has the ability to heal. I believe that the challenge project has been healing in some way for the participants, talking about your struggles can't be a bad thing I'm sure. My thought was that having to think about the challenges we face would have a ppositive effect on how we view our lives. I am also hoping that my project will in some way prompt an emotive response or have an effect, either in me or in the reader? Maybe. We'll see...

organisation

Today was organisation day- I've decided when to go home to take more photographs and made a very long list! Being back at uni has helped as I have got my structure back. I have thought alot about who to shoot and have contacted a number of people to get involved! I'm so ready for the next 3 weeks, lets hope it stays that way!

Kelly O Brien

Hearing about up and coming photographers that are not easily found on the web can be so helpful. It is difficult to find out about projects like my own so I was very grateful when childhood friend of mine told me about a student from her university who did her final year project with similar implications to my own, though a very different project it was an anthropologiacal study like mine. The title of the work is 'Somewhere Between There and Home', it is a study of migration and the impact this has on these peoples lives. The images are very strong and make you want to know the story. The use of lighting is fantastic and you get a glimpse of the surrounding in each image which really opens up the audience to the lives of each person.

Check out the work- http://www.photobrien.co.uk/

fun

I have to say, I thought I would find taking my photographs quite a task but I haven't in the slightest just because I have enjoyed it so much. I have had a laugh and met some really great people too. It has been an enormous privilege having people who barely know me letting me into their lives on a very personal level. There is something quite lovely about knowing peoples stories- or maybe I'm just nosey?

Some of the participants have really made me giggle and It has made this project my most enjoyable piece of work. I'm so happy that my final hand in will be this project and that I have really made it my own and worked as hard as I possibly could. Leaving university in this way will be such a great feeling. Thank you project!

six...

I wanted to have finished all my shoots by the time I had packed my bags to leave Brighton for what would have been the last time but I will have to return to take my final six frames of six different people with six different challenges. It was quite a task getting everyone organised and finding times to suit the participants and myself. I'm hoping that the final six will make the best shots of all as I will have had time to reflect on the photos I have already taken. We shall see....

brave

Today I went out by myself and approached people in Brighton to be photographed. I was really nervous at first but I got a bit more confident after I asked the 1st person. I managed to photograph 4 people in all and I didn't get any bad responses, a few people just didn't want to be photographed but were really nice about it. I will be getting out and about again...watch out Brightonians!

editing

So I've got quite a few photos now and it is time to start editing, the first step is to pick out the best shots then I will have a play around with photoshop and hopefully make the right decisions. I will definitely keep the original copies just in case I make some bad artistic decisions.

questions revisited

At the beginning of year and during the beginning stages of the project development we were tasked to question our peers about our initial ideas. I asked myself these questions for my initial thoughts but I think it will be helpful to revisit them with my (almost) fully developed idea. So here goes...

• How does my subject relate to how I will represent it? A still image is a way of representing something and in the case of 'challenges' a photograph will be a portrayal of the truth and a photograph can tell a story.




• What tone will your piece portray? The tone of my photographs will be respectful and engaging. It will match the tone of each challenge that is being represented.




• What will influence your decisions? I have explored other artists work, visited exhibitions and looked at theories in regards to the subject. Mostly though I have used the influence of the participants who I have interviewed to influence my decisions.



• How will people access my work? The main point of this blog was to give people outside of my university an idea of what my project is. As for the final stages I haven't yet planned how the photos will be printed or if they will. I will take part in an exhibition at the Stephen Lawrence gallery in London with the rest of my course but I haven't decided on how it to exhibit my work yet, as I will have 24 photographs on completion that are all as important as each other. I may shrink the photos and have them to together on one board.



• Who will I photograph? I have and will continue to photograph people in Brighton who are willing to share their challenges for this project. They are people from generations in the following groups 15-20, 30-40, 45-60, 60-80. These groups are based on the theory that a generation is 15- 20 years or a childhood between each. I have found access to people so far through my own networks and networks of my friends and family. Tomorrow I will go out to ask people directly if they will take part.



• How can I make my work original? I have searched and searched but haven't found any other photographer who has made an enquiry like this. It is my theme and line of enquiry that are original but I will also try to stylise my photos so they are original in the sense that I am the photographer.



• How can I manage my safety during the project? So far I have worked with people I have already known or people that are part of a network. On some occasions I have taken a family member or friend with me to make the participant feel more comfortable. There are not many dangers in this project.



• Who are my audience? Anyone who has a challenge. And people who are interested in the line of enquiry. The age range I am working with is ranging from the teenage years to elderly years. It may be that the audience will be more involved with one of the generations but hopefully they will take the project as a whole as that is the purpose.



• Are you aware of other photographers? I have made a very conscience effort to keep myself aware of photographers both professional and amateur. I have made an effort to ensure that this project is original.



• What do you want your audience to get from it? I would like my audience, participants and myself to gain something from this project. I would like the audience to realise that everyone has a challenge in life and they will vary as you go through the stages of life. I think it is important to recognise the challenges of others to overcome your own. I would like my participants to have gained something from having to reccognise their own challenges and then speaking about them- some of the participants have had to really think about their own challenges and have got back to me- I hope the thought process



• What resources will you need to use? I will be using secondary research sources and also primary research sources through my interviews with the participants. I will be using my equipment as a resource etc.

Rules

I have picked up important tips over the years that I try to utilize when I'm taking photos. The main one that has stuck in my mind is the rule of thirds but I think it is something that comes naturally. What the photographer sees in the composition tends to follow some of the rules as it is said that the eye is pleased by a photograph separated into thirds. That said, there are photographers who break all the rules and their photographs are great. I'm not sure if I want to risk being rebellious at this stage but its something to think about.

There are some great tutorials on Digital Photography School about this: link

Set up

Working with real life situations has definitely made things smipler in regards to setting up the shoots. Photographing people in their environments has mean't not much need for lighting etc. I have been lucky with the weather to- the natural light has worked really well for my images so far. I have though been thinking of the set up for each shoot every time I have been presented with a participant. I have tried to think creatively as well as thinking of ways to portray the challenges. I just hope all this thinking pays off in the final result.

Anna Bauer

I met Anna Bauer during London Fashion week a couple of years ago. At the time I was working for Red Bull and I was asked to drive Anna to all her locations in the Red Bull mini. I wasn't aware of how talented she was at the time. On one of the days she came back to me and handed me a copy of London Fashion Week Daily- one of her photos was on the cover and it was brilliant. She was quite modest and told me that Fashion wasn't what she usually does and spoke very lovingly about her brothers. It is amazing that I really had no idea of her status and spent two whole days with her.

I looked at her website shortly after we had met and discovered she had photographed the likes of Kate Moss and Karl Lagerfield (wow)...

Anna's fashion work is great but I have fallen in love with her personal work. Her photos have such beauty and truth in them. She has photographed people in their own environments too. Her personal work is centralised around her brothers who she had expressed so much love for.

Lorna

I had my first shoot today- I think it went really well. It's been quite an eye opener too, I hoped when I started this project it would help me to see what everyone else has got going on in their lives. I wanted to uncover everyone's challenges regardless of how big or small they are. I hoped that I could make sense of the things that others find hard and pass this onto others through my photos.

Today I got to photograph Lorna who I had met before to ask if she would take part. It was such a wake up call to really get to know the life of someone who is very limited with what they can do- arthritus has taken away the use of her hands and taken one of her legs which had to be amputated leaving her in a wheelchair. She didn't really make a fuss and smiled and laughed while she told me stories from her past and she posed like a pro. She told me how she was so ill at one point she had to be airlifted to a hospital, she told the story as if it was a normal event. What a lovely and extraordinarily brave lady with a huge determination to stay independent.

1st shoot

I've made arrangements to start shooting in the next couple of days- I'm quite nervous but very excited to actually get some photos. The first shoot will be with some over 70's who I have already chatted to and set a time and date. I've made sure everything is ready and I'm prepared for the day. Lets hope the weather is on my side for once too as I will be doing some shots outside. Without my Nan this wouldn't have been possible- she's been like my marketing assistant with the over 70's community!

my style??

I'm not really sure I have a photographic style and that can't be good thing. I've been looking through some of my favourite photos of my time with my Canon to see if I have made any stylistic decisions- thought I would share... (let me know your thoughts on my 'style')

Martin Parr

English photographer Martin Parr is brilliant, all his shots make me smile. He seems to be able to find humor in everything he sees. These are from his 1985 New Brighton collection...

Photo envy

I'm looking at photo's on Flickr to inspire me for my project- I've found some great work that was all done in Brighton:

1) .. by Steve Glashier

2) Bird Imitator Brighton Seafront by Gerry Webb

3) ______by Steve Glashier

4) 87/365 by Rob Orhard

5) Outside the Brighton Museum by Elephi Pelephi