LO1: Produce convincing visual products that communicate your intentions, using accomplished techniques in complex and unfamiliar environments, with minimal supervision from your tutor
I have had to progress with this submission without any formal feedback from a tutor so continuing to progress with the project based around the rural community of Ngawi. My work has progressed from a scene setting series of images which I think will still be required to one more focused on the more human aspect of the community.
As detailed in my Work in Progress blog and Thoughts and Reflections I have managed to gain a contact within the community and completed my first portrait session with a local couple who have lived in the area for over forty years.
Images for the Assignment can be found Rob and Trish
I repeated several location images to explore different angles and to try and gain the right mood and feel of the place and space. Overall, I’m pleased with how the project is progressing with the introduction of the human element. This is not my normal area of expertise and so ensuring I have time with the subject first to reduce my nerves and theirs seems to help. I knew that I didn’t want to ask them to pose for images, wanted a more natural feel and look, acting as an observer. It was important to slow down and spend time, listening and understanding their life, how they arrived there and how the community works. They would hopefully be my way in to others within the community.
LO2: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of your area of specialisation and be able to situate your own work within a larger context of practice in your field
Research has continued into the local area through a local author who completed a comprehensive documentation of the East Coast which included Ngawi. I made notes and review summaries, and these can be found in my Work in Progress blog here. This really gave me insight into the area, its history and what made the place tick. I this will be important as I move forward. There seems to be a real conflict around the community and the government with the introduction of quotas for catching cray. This may be an area to explore.
The project really needs to focus on community, space, place and mental health and so it has been important for me to research how other photographers that have addressed these areas. Initial research has concentrated on the work by Alec Soth (link here), and Susan Lipper (Link here). Both artists have given me a good grounding in how to approach a community, taking time and knowing my stuff.
LO3: transform abstract concepts and ideas into rich narratives and integrate them in your images
Both my Work in Progress and Thoughts and Reflects blog site have highlighted how I have moved on from Assignment 1
April Link for WiP
April Link for Thoughts and Reflections
The community cannot be looked at purely from the landscape aspect. To show and highlight the isolation and the mental health aspect I need to gain access to more residents.
LO4: Critically review your own work and evaluate it against desired outcomes
Assignment Two includes my critical evaluation against the criteria and this can be found here.
LO5: Demonstrate management, leadership and communication skills and have deployed them during the negotiation and production of the final body of work with your tutor and third parties
I have continued to work on my Body of Work project whilst waiting for a new tutor to be appointed. This is not without some risk but as I don’t want to fall behind with my studies I continue to manage my time and the project without support or guidance. The images produced will I believe be good examples of the location and a starting point for any future work.
Michele Usher 