Tutor feedback Assignment 2:Elements of design

January 2012 and revisited when working on assignments

I was pleased with the positive and constructive comments from my tutor feedback for my second assignment. I had looked at all the previous recommendations and actioned them effectively which was evident from the comments written. 

“This was a good second assignment submission for you Nicola with some strong individual images included with a thematic approach adopted to the work.”  

My tutor thought I was beginning to ‘see’ more now and I certainly found it useful completing all the exercises and working through the assignment. It gave me an understanding of the terminology used and began to build up my photographic vocabulary.

Assignment Feedback
As a collection of still life photographs of raw food materials, I was encouraged to be informed that they worked well together. I had produced some good images, and where I had not been entirely satisfied, I had reflected on how I could improve the situation.

Where I could benefit from more technical knowledge is with the lighting. I am really looking forward to starting these exercises and learning about light. 

I took on board the comments relating to the vinegar bottle. My dilemma at the time was whether the label needed to clearly visible or whether the brand name is seen as advertising. I think it would be better to see the name. (April 2013 Technically I can now achieve this because I can light the subject and use a long exposure and tripod. At the time I was reliant on natural lighting where possible. I would now also be able to use a snoot on a flash to control the colours of the oranges and lemon.) 

I have updated my assignment to include the dictionary reference in the bibliography.

Learning from last tutor feedback 

• Blog developing well and covers OCA / Photographic related matters. Developing a physical ‘workbook’ – somewhere you can gather thoughts / ideas / research / literature (April 2013 - Developed a section on Test Shots on my blog to record abandoned assignment ideas. This worked better for me as a focus.)
• Researched Henri Cartier-Bresson 

 Suggested reading/viewing

• Parr, M.2004:Think of England. London. Phaidon Press Ltd. ISBN-13: 978 - 0714844541
• Eggleston, W.2002: William Eggleston’s Guide. New York. MOMA Press ISBN-13: 978-087070378
• Shore, S.2004: Uncommon Places. London. Thames & HudsonISBN-13: 978-0500542873

Follow Up Work

• Continue looking at composition
• Look at work from the three photographers listed above.
• Look at the Magnum Photo Agency [http://www.magnumphotos.com] to understand what it is all about.
• Look at still life work of Edward Weston or Irving Penn

I have continued to look at composition. I sat in a bookshop reading photography books by Shore (Steven Shore, Uncommon places, The complete works, Aperture, New York, 2004) as my local libraries did not have books by them. I then researched the photographers on line to look at more images. I looked at the magnum photo website and joined the facebook site to remind me to look at works periodically.I bought a book about Edward Weston because his work appealed to me.(Manfred Heiting, Edward Weston, Taschen, GmbH, 2001).(April 2013- I found this book very useful for assignment 4) I researched Irving Penn’s work on line.