A5—Reflection

Demonstration of technical and visual skills

• I am satisfied with the results I achieved for A5.
• I won’t dwell on a discussion of the technical and visual skills required to make my constructed image a reality because much of that has already been covered in the text of the assignment itself.
• It is worth noting, however, that once I had a clear idea of what I wanted to accomplish visually, much of the work involved solving a series of technical problems: lighting the scene evenly, eliminating all reflections that the lights left in the window, making sure that the subject’s face was adequately lit, firing the camera remotely, etc. This has easily been the most challenging and considered image I have ever made.

Quality of outcome

• I am pleased with the results I achieved, because they represent well the concept I had for the shoot. The image took clear shape in my mind before it became a scene in front of the camera.
• Beyond the issue of faithfulness to my vision for the image, I think that the picture holds up well as a photograph and I look forward to printing it. I believe that it is an engaging ‘constructed reality’ and I will be interested to see the reaction it receives from viewers.
• I tried to keep in mind the emphasis my tutor placed on attention to detail and the need to ‘dress the set’ carefully, and I think think it has paid off. I have a better appreciation of the fact that viewers will ‘read’ every element in the frame as they construct its meaning for themselves, so it is only right to do my work with that awareness. I should have known this, given the time that I take to pore over every clue and sign when reading a photograph, but it is good to be reminded when one is the writer of images, rather than the reader.

Demonstration of creativity

• The creativity in this assignment came about in two distinct aspects: formulating the vision itself and finding ways to overcome technical issues through a combination of imagination, knowledge and… work. The image was clear enough in my mind, though, that I was not willing to stop until I had the results I was looking for.
• Another creative aspect demonstrated in A5 is my continued growth as a photographer. This is my second attempt at a self-portrait and I find that the thinking and reflection involved in the work have been very helpful, both in terms of producing images and also personally. I did not expect this, so it has been a surprising side-benefit.

Context

• Much of the context for this assignment came from drawing on a combination of factors that help to feed my visual imagination: gallery visits, research for other portions of CAN, familiarity with the history of photography, and attention to my own preoccupations and thought processes.
• Part of the context for the assignment also has to do with my growing awareness of what I am doing when I make photographs. I have taken pictures for years of things that caught my eye and have usually been able to explain why I took the picture in the way that I did. I don’t think it ever occurred to me, though, that I could use photography as a tool to give expression to an active—rather than ‘passive’—vision. I knew that other people did this, but I could not imagine me doing it. The assignments of CAN are opening up a new world to me.