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 Most of the books are quite out of date for now but I found that I liked the most simplistic designs the most.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')