Chance, Challenge and Change
1.Reflect on your previous projects/modules and write and overview of what you learned. Link your chosen area of study to your previous work, knowledge and understanding based upon your chosen theme of FAITH, FAMILY and COMMUNITY. Include examples of previous work to illustrate your thinking.
Part 1 – Chance, Challenge and Change
Our first A2 module was set in June, entitled ‘Chance, Challenge and Change’. For this module we had to explore these three different concepts, using the idea of ‘subversion’, incorporating this idea in our study. The idea was to learn about the idea of ‘Performance in Photography’, making a series of outcomes at the end of the six weeks.
The 2015 Archisle Photographer in Residence Tom Pope worked alongside us in this project. We went to St Malo half-way through the project to see first-hand the type of work that Tom does, whilst making our own responses at the same time. Tom was very much a case study which we used to learn about the core characteristics of the topics.
On reflection I struggled a lot with this topic. I found it quite hard to create ‘performance’ in my work and my overall outcomes were not outstanding. I enjoyed some of the work we did, for example learning about some of the early 20th Century artists movements such as Dadais, aswell as learning about the work of comtemporary artists/dramatic performers, Remy Gillard and Dynamo. All in all however the work we did I found challenging and it was definitely at steep learning curve.
This was in my opinion, my most creative outcome from this module
Part 2 – Family and Community
I have enjoyed the most recent module a great deal more than the previous.
The concept behind ‘Family and Community’ was to study these two themes and then make a series of responses related to one of the two. Before this however we looked at a mini-topic entitled ‘Documentary Photography and Photojournalism: Standards and Ethics’. In this project we looked at definition/principle of photojournalism, and researched the history of this photographic genre. We then explored the ethical questions and concerns of photo-journalism. My favourite outcome of this topic was a news article style blog post I made. I think it was creative, thorough and well argued.
Family
I studied the theme of family to begin with, looking at the work of photographers such as Yury Toropstov and Richard Billigham. During this period I started to explore the style of vernacular photography, which over time I have continued, practised and improved.
The basis of my photographic response was the continuation of part of my AS Photography task where I visited my Grandma (as a do every Wednesday) and made photographs of her and her house. I have completed a variety of shoots during this time (including an audio recorded conversation) and have an extensive both of work, which I will continue for my personal study.
During this time me and Mr Toft came across a concept to explore, a retrospective exploration of my Grandfather who died 30 Years ago. The basis of this project is to learn more about him.
I enjoyed this topic and have improved greatly as a result.
This is my favourite image from the topic. It is an environmental portrait of my Grandma in her Salvation Army Uniform.
Community
After ‘Family’ I then studied then explored theme of Community. As I had already (more or less) decided that I wanted to continue with my Grandfather project for my personal study, I therefore didn’t make any direct responses to the theme of community – expect for existing street photographs I made over the course of the summer holidays, and a photographic response to ‘Battle of Britain’ day. Instead I use the theme as an opportunity to extend upon my own research and understanding in relation to my project and the theme of family.
During this topic I explored the work of photographers such as Martin Toft, Alec Soth and Jonas Bendiksen.
This blog post of a case study of Martin Toft’s ‘Altanus’ is my favourite piece of work from this theme.
https://hautlieucreative.co.uk/photo16a2/2015/10/13/atlantus-analysis/
Picture Story
For the final few weeks of this term we have been looking at the design of picture stories. We then experimented in making our own. This is one of my outcomes.
