This course (accredited by Liverpool John Moores University) has been diverse in media as well as theory based work helping me gain knowledge in all aspects of art. It has helped me try different ways of working which I would not have tried by myself.
Another Successful two sales on my etsy shop :) Two custom orders for pufferfish plushies for a woman in California who is going to travel the world with them as her mascot :D lol Cute! Anywayz just need to check them, package them and post them tomorrow as she has already paid! Hopefully many more sales to come in the near future.
A meeting tomorrow about our degree show exhibition catalouge at 11am sharp. Let’s see what we can get for our money, hopefully something classy and expensive looking that wont break the budjet! lol
I have ordered some new buisness cards from moo.com a few days ago and I am very excited as they have already been dispatched. Designed by myself with all my own work, they stand out compared with other cards and cannot wait until they arrive. I have only ordered 50 just to see how effective they are. The information space on the back was just big enough to tell the public my name, what I am photographer etc. and my contact details. I recommend this contemporary site to everyone though who wants to stand out from the rest.
Today, I entered my first photography Competition at Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre, the theme being ‘Our Wonderful Wirral.’ Obviously it would be nice to win but I am happy just to take part as it will help promote my work and the prints will be for sale if anyone wants to buy them. The maximum print allowance was two per person. I will post the results of the competition when they are announced which will be about the 27th March. The entrie exhibition will be from Monday 22nd March- Friday 16th April Wish me luck everyone!
I tried to capture two different elements of the natural side of the Wirral. We have such diverse wildlife and some beautiful places that we dont take notice of sometimes. I varied my approach to the subject as I did not want to take photographs of Wirral landmarks as it would be to much of a ‘postcard’ image. Although some would say that my landscape photograph is exactly that. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
My online Etsy shop received an order for one of my pieces. I sell handmade items from cuddly toys to bespoke jewellery. It was not a piece related to my current module as it was for a previous module in my first year. This small stuffed toy went to a woman in Ohio United States for the pricely sum of about £13 all together lol. (Better than nothing) It gives me satisfaction that she got in touch a week later to say that her little girl loves her new toy :) I have been so busy trying to run this shop aswell as my degree work AND enter photography competitions Phew! So much to do so little time! I need to concentrate on my elective work at the moment as the assesment deadline is looming!
What makes a good Photograph?
To capture a sense of place in the photograph.
An image that is personal and has a meaning that you can relate to.
An unusual scene that has been hidden from public sight such as a derelict building or a buzzing foreign marketplace away from tourism.
A photograph should provoke a feeling or emotion.
The composition or layout of a photograph is what ‘makes it.’
A sense of depth and distance is vital for any photograph to work.
In my mind a good photograph should make a ‘statement.’
To capture the expression of the subject, usually found to be from the eyes.
Creativity and imagination is the key factor.
I like portraits that capture the character of the subject.
Candid photography captures real life which is the most important part of a good photograph.
Vivid colours, clarity and sharpness.
Unusual Perspective makes a good photograph stand out from the rest.
An image that I am instantly drawn to.
Something natural and un posed.
Black and white with a hint of a dominant colour.
I find the nude model inspiring in photographs.
A photograph that has been unedited by computer software or digitally manipulated.
A scenic landscape that changes your mood.
A good photograph takes you back to a distant memory somewhere in your sub conscious.
Something minimal without the fuss of old ‘fashionedness.’
Something that shows your personality and who you are as a person.
The answers (above) shows the results from the biggest question that I face in this module:
What makes a good photograph?
The locations of my survey varied as I wanted a wide range of opinions from different people with different ages, interests etc. I asked people inside shops selling camera equipment around Liverpool such as: Currys Digital, The Sony Centre, Maplin etc. My results showed that these people had a technical view rather than relying on a ‘visually based’ opinion. I also discovered that the majority of older people preferred landscapes and traditional subjects whereas the younger generation showed a broader opinion ranging from traditional through to urban environments and contemporary pieces.
Other locations for this survey were: Liverpool Museum, Libraries and the Albert Dock. These opinions were harder to acquire due to people either not interested in the question or their answers being naive and wary. They seemed annoyed at being stopped from their rushed walking probably due to the fact that Liverpool is usually littered with endless charity campaigns and company advertising which they try to walk past and ignore.
I agree to a lot of the opinions, I feel like most having been thoughtful and inspiring. The survey clearly shows that photographs mean different things to different people. Personally, photographs are close to my heart as they can show happy moments in time, family portraits and they also let me express myself in a way that other mediums cannot fulfil. It is quite refreshing to hear people’s views as it has put my personal practice into perspective. It has made me clarify my thoughts and inspired me to photograph using a broad range of techniques and subjects.
When producing my own photographs I will take all my results into consideration to improve my images and think about the end product. I am open-minded in my photography as I feel that experimentation is just as important as technical factors. Although I know that I will also need to research and study the practical features that make good photographs into great ones.
My blog is now situated on my website so please visit there for all up to date projects.
Thank you.