Professional context / Knowledge.
LO1 demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the professional context(s) relevant to your practice and have an understanding of the professional dimensions that underpin a successful photographic practice.
The reviews I have completed to date have been oral and have relied on me either recording the session or taking notes which is not always easy when you are trying to concentrate on what the reviewer is trying to get across. I think I need to continue to explore other options of written feedback as the project develops. At the time of writing this I’m still waiting for two pieces reviews to be returned which will be written.
As I progress through SYP and move towards the final submission, I will continue to seek review from both my peers and professionals. J Sybylla Smith expressed her interest in seeing how I got on following her feedback here and I can always return to the Student Forum as they are run monthly (here).
The research for this project started with mental health and progressed to community, isolation, space, and place. Throughout BoW I demonstrated the extensive range of photographers I reviewed to gain ideas (here) and exhibitions and talks I attended (here) and this continue through SYP (here) although this will focus more on the final submission and to explore the need to bring out my voice within the final product be that book, zine, exhibition or audio visual display.
My interest in alternative printing such as that detailed in BoW (Platinum and Palladium) will continue for SYP and initial thoughts are producing a standalone exhibition of one-off prints of the images of Ngawi. Alternative printing is very much a person project as well as this is something I will continue following this course.
For Assignment One I have completed the first draft of my CV and that contains more than I was expecting as I had forgotten a number of past achievements. This part of the course also covered my Bio and Artist Statement for this project (here), but I expect that all will change over time as I draft and redraft depending on further reviews. Assignment One can be found here.
Creativity.
LO2 coherently present a body of work, making creative presentation decisions that complement your subject and/or your artistic strategies.
At this stage of the course this is very much a work in progress. I have moved the work from the final submission for Assessment under BoW to start SYP. I expect that following feedback (here, here) this will change and I’m already considering different options to address the feedback received. These changes will be shown in my Thoughts and Reflection section of SYP here.
My website which currently holds the portfolio will be up-dated as I progress through the course here, but for feedback from external parties I produced a series of pdf files that could be sent for review here.
I intend to submit my work to a number of open calls, such as AoP which is due in February 2022, Photo Ville due in January 2022, Head-on Photo Festival February 2022 and NZ Photo Festival Zine Competition in February 2022. I will up date my progress through my blog and any feedback will be applied to my work.
LO3 operate in complex commercial contexts requiring the application of specific interpersonal, professional and business skills within an ethical framework.
I have started the process of a collaborative part to my final submission. This will form an extended piece of text by a local author who’s book was key to the research of this project. This exercise has introduced new skills around detailing my requirements, explaining my project in a meaningful and precise manner for the author to understand the direction of this project. The initial draft can be found here and on initial review I think it works well.
I would also like to work with another student on the audio visual aspect of my submission as this is an area I hadn’t expected to use but due to the on-going COVID situation and the requirement by OCA to be fully digital in submission I need to include as part of my submission some form of video of either the exhibition or the book and sound could be a good opportunity to support the final product. I expect this will take a number of iterations especially as the fellow student is based in the UK.
Presentations and Outcomes.
LO4 independently disseminate your body of work by establishing relationships and networks with audiences, clients and markets.
As detailed above I plan to enter several open call events and will maintain my connect with Sybylla Smith as I think she would be a great point of contact if I decide to publish.
I have also made contact with Rohan Hutchinson an Australian photographer who has self-published over 15 books. I watch a presentation he took part in for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (here 16th October 2021) and made contact with him to discuss how I can progress my project into a Zine for the Wellington open call in 2022.
I submitted two prints for the Wairarapa Arts review (here 4th December 2021) and was successful at getting one of my images selected. I spoke about this in my Thoughts and Reflections section of my blog and I will aim to do more.
I have already succeeded in securing an exhibition slot at a local gallery for November 2022 and this will take the form of one-off bespoke platinum and palladium prints
LO5 confidently engage a public audience with your practice and analyse, review and evaluate information relevant to your practice, identifying opportunities for professional development.
Public speaking is something that I’m not comfortable with at all. I have discussed my work within various forums with fellow students throughout BoW and I have gained feedback from professionals (here) and via social media (here), but these have been via a faceless exchange of email. The Focus Student Forum (here) was the first time I had faced a number of students that I hadn’t engaged with before, so I was a little nervous, but I’m hoping that this will ease with practice. I know from reviewing the video from the J Sybylla Smith review I need to sit on my hands as I tend to use them to try and explain my vision. Its very unnerving to watch yourself.
Michele Usher 