EVALUATION
For my project I centred it around the connections I’d made with people through the pandemic without the distractions of less intimate social activities like the pub etc. This idea started as at the beginning of the third lockdown the only socialisation I really could do was to go for walks with people and this doubled up as a good idea as I realised I could incorporate my love for portraiture in this idea. I believe my proposal was ambitious enough and I set myself a lot of different aspects to be getting on with, I also think I gave myself room for it to be moulded as the project grew and lockdown was less and less restricted. The only ‘change’ my project differed from from the proposal was including more recent photos from college/work etc so the project flowed as a storyline almost. I kept to my original idea but additionally explored how people where finding things post third lockdown to give my project diversity.
In terms of research my own primary sources where most vital to my project. I manufactured two surveys a few months apart and also gave each person I interviewed a series of questions. This helped me back up my photos and give a personal feel to them as-well as exploring different opinions to agree/ disagree with my own. I always had a idea I’d do two surveys but hearing peoples answers from the first and the personal interviews most likely inspired some of the second surveys questions as I most likely had a more bias view on what people where going to agree with. I honestly think I did more than enough on the primary research front- my only regret was running out of time and patience to finish my sketchbook pieces in the Q&A section however I think this is still a strong project and still showcases the meaning.
My secondary sources against my primary where very marginal by comparison. Apart from the original four themes I didn’t look into a huge amount of relevant sources. I believe the best source of research is the ones you find out directly yourself and plus It was difficult finding sources that where actually valid to my research and ones that I wasn’t just putting in for the sake of it. Because I like coming up with original ideas I don’t think much more research would have helped me develop my FMP and I already learnt so much through my own questionnaires and interviews which where all quite extended. Plus I didn’t really had a ‘need’ to find further research as I already had such a strong idea on what I was doing and it was a project that was quite intimate to me. The ones I did find for my secondary research however where visually aesthetic and struck something in me when I looked at the images. Especially the first photographer - Gilberston definitely made me think more about the present and what I could do with the tools I have around me. I developed my first ideas through the four themes and focusing on research on artists and photographers. I used a variety of mind maps, the internet and even documentary’s in order for me to hopefully be inspired.
Within developing my project ideas I originally started taking photos at random and spontaneously of people before giving myself structure and organisation to go forward. In my opinion I work best when I’m inspired and it’s been sad that galleries weren’t particularly available to visit for this past year. I find it difficult to concentrate when working online and finding research so in the future I believe for me mind maps and books are the way forward- there’s something way more pure and wholesome about that as-well.
I don’t know how applicable it is to write about my ‘action plan’ as that was pretty non existent. The only structure of my time I really had was my weekly reviews/ blog. This I guess really did help me realise what I had left to do and how to go forward in developing my ideas. I touch upon this in my blog but I know I could have been way more organised and effective. Especially as none of my shoots needed a plan as such as they where spontaneous and the locations where very much thought upon on the day even though they shared a relevance to the person. I think even though I successfully completed a piece of work that Im pleased with next time I would implement a actual action plan so things wouldn't be as rushed.
My context surrounding this project was based on my own personal experience and as I said before the majority of research was primary not secondary. Even though I know its important to look at other artists work - as to contrast and compare plus draw inspiration Ive already established this was a highly personal project which relied on my own sources and doing. I used what I learnt in contextual studies to describe my photos and why I enjoyed viewing them. But I only really researched one artist in this whole entirety of my FMP. I probably could have done more however I think I used my skills in a more independent way.
I believe time management and disorganisation was my biggest problem. Most of it could have been avoidable- like making sure my camera was fully charged, making sure I knew my camera inside and out, getting film developed in time etc. Some issues rose about due to other people which weren't preventable- these included chasing people to answer my questions, models cancelling etc. I got over all of these problems and now am aware for the future I need to be super definite and firm with people so that the transaction is effective and respectful.
My overall camera skills have gotten even stronger- maybe also due to my new camera but also because I am becoming automatic with the angles and settings on my equipment- quite like muscle memory. I also believe that due to COVID and having to work digitally its made me incredibly more confident at using websites. I used to find WIX such a hassle to use however it now seems like second nature. My interest regarding photography still remains to be portraiture however I really want to make sure I now always have a story behind every photo and no longer want to take meaningless images.
In my opinion my outcomes where successful even though the layout wasn't how I planned- it still flowed nicely and showed my original idea and others opinions. I originally wanted to lay it as a magazine format but indesign proved too time consuming. The issue with working at home is my laptop can really lag and isn't as quick to use as the macs at college so I had to call it a loss and arrange it all on my wix site instead.
I didn't mind doing this because I prefer having all my work all together. Originally I planned to use a slider with my photos and interviews but needing to type so much in varying lengths wouldn't have been the most practical. Again my biggest downfall was being disorganised and if I could do it all again i probably would try to lay them out together all visually in a physical place or use indesign to create a magazine format. Its very clear my outcomes communicate my concept as they have all the personal interviews right by them.
I took care in the variety of my presentation and how my site looked. The only parts that where rushed where parts of the Q&A page where I wanted to present things more visually but ended up in running out of time and patience so had to screenshot the reminder of the results. Over the past two years having looked at many practitioners sketchbooks/ websites its formed my automatic response to know where images and text look good on my page. Some pages where less polished than others however I don't think everything can be completely perfect as everyone is always still a work in progress.
Looking back on this project and using it to look forward I know my website knowledge and adobe skills will be valuable to a future employee to show that I am skilled and versatile. Learning to plan, showcase and organise work are all vital skills that will be important in pretty much any job so Im sure whatever profession I decide to proceed with I will be benefited by have had this course.
I have learnt heaps and heaps of valuable lessons by doing this personal project. It was benefitting to have complete freedom as I am now aware of my own personal strengths and weaknesses. I have become so much more confident with directing people and in my ability to construct a project and take it right to the end. Ive also discovered so much more about peoples different views and opinions and bonded to different people through my photography and this project. Even though Im not going to uni this year I will take the independence Ive gained into more of my own personal projects.
