Assignment Two was submitted on the 28th January and a video feedback session held with my tutor on Saturday 5th February (NZ time). The start of the discussion was based around the series of portfolio reviews and the experiences I had received. These had not been included in the Assignment submission but I had provided written accounts on my blog following each and the additional research completed (student, J Sybylla Smith, James Gilberd, Rohan Hutchinson). Overall, I would say that most professional photographers and fellow students have been helpful, constructive and pleased to help because they remember being in the same position or are currently working their way through the same course. Others have not even responded to requests or when they do it’s clear that they haven’t read your request or looked at your work. The intension of undertaking this course was never to change career but to improve my photography, to push myself outside my comfort zone and to meet other photographers. I can only imagine the affect some of these comments could have on someone a lot younger with the hopes of making a career in photography. As a qualified PSNZ Judge (Photography Society of New Zealand) I was trained to provide constructive feedback, ways to correct, frame, process to improve an image. I would never dismiss or demoralise someone’s efforts. The course notes stated you needed a thick skin, but I think additional research into the people you approach and possible reviews by others that have already completed a review with that individual is worth considering before you come away from the review wanting to throw your camera away.
Following this we discussed my proposal which I was please to find had no major issues. I do need to add a section to my ‘Thoughts and Reflections’ section on the main reasons as to why I’m using platinum and palladium printing. I also need to add my image selection progress. These images need to tell the story of the women but also my story. The review by Rohan Hutchinson highlighted to me that I could still tell their story without using the portraits, to not be so literal with my representation. Their presence can be seen through the aspects of their everyday life.
We discussed the importance of the project being my story and experiences and that is how it should be told. I’m not a natural portrait photographer and it wasn’t my aim to ask the women to sit or stand in a particular way, but to simply be an observer of their lives in the same way Robert Frank produced ‘The Americans’ (first published in 1959). I didn’t want to be a part of the scene but in away I can’t help but be part of it. It’s me pressing the shutter, I decided what to include, where I stood, so it is my story, a story of how I saw these women on the day. This clearly links back to my CS essay and how the role/use of the camera has changed, from observer in the case of Riis and Hine to the subject taking control through photovoice and other art therapy techniques to now, that of the observer. This project is very much about the community, capturing a very unique period in the lives of these women and probably from a very unique position of being a woman myself.
Although I have returned on several occasions, I need to try an organise a meeting to show my work and to try and arrange a local exhibition either outside along the road or in the fire station which is the local place for social gatherings on a Friday night. I also need to consider if there are alternative ways to represent the women, maybe through still life, or artifacts.
The idea of a bespoke book for the exhibition was given the green light however we did discuss the cost and other possibilities such as something smaller and more intimate and postcards using just two selected designs. These would be idea as a form of self-promotion as my details plus the website could be added to the reverse. They would be relatively cheap to produce, but I will need to do a little more research into that as things in New Zealand seem to cost a lot more than in the UK.
Finally, ideas for Assignment Three as I’m not able to complete a work placement. It would be interesting to understand how many distance learning students do. It was interesting to know that my first suggestion of looking into forensic photography wasn’t a complete no, but was encouraged to find a contact and form my questions. Other possibilities include interviewing the gallery owner where I will be holding my exhibition and finding a photojournalist that I would like to interview. Lots more work to do and time is running out.
Michele Usher 