Overall feedback
There is a clear narrative to the portfolios presented and the work shown on the website, however during SYP we need to look at ways to bring out the narrative further. There are clear links and evidence of gender, community and you as the observer but how do we get the viewer to see this more clearly.
Think about how to rearrange the images to fine tune what you are trying to say. Some of the previous feedback asked about sound and text. This maybe an area to explore more depending on your final ideas of presentation.
Books and exhibitions are fine but consider your audience and what you would like then to experience from your work. This is a social documentary piece and this community could be anywhere in the world not just New Zealand, so it needs to relate and be relevant to the audience and to the greater narrative of social documentary, its applicability and relevance to our lives and gender. These are connecting factors that can help you unify your approach and make it relevant everywhere.
Ask yourself – ‘what are you trying to say?’ What story do you want to tell and to whom?
With reference to obtaining feedback – it is best to go with someone you don’t know and someone working in the social documentary genre. Of the ideas suggested within the Assignment Sybylla Smith would be worth approaching. Others closer to home should be considered but look for people in the same genre. Be prepared before you approach and keep asking yourself – ‘what do you want to say?’
Feedback based on Learning Outcomes
LO1 The core work is there. The images presented show an understanding of the narrative but some further fine tuning will really bring the narrative out. Consideration to the final audience will help this process.
LO2 The core work is set and this shows a gender divide/consideration. The community is there and the flow of the book works well. Further experimenting with text and sound should be considered to enhance the narrative
LO3 networking has started well be interactions with possible exhibition spaces and collaboration with other students and professional authors around adding text to the work. Care will need to be applied to ensure the images are not lost.
LO4 Great start in getting you work disseminated with entries into competitions and other exhibition work.
LO5 Evaluation by experts within the social documentary genre will be developed following this feedback.
Action points
- Review photographers that link text with images within the social documentary field
- Consider and experiment with sound and see how this would work with your final submission
- Draw up a list of questions to ask the reviewer prior to approaching so that you gain as much as you can from the time.
- Continue to review and reflect and record
Michele Usher 