As the Course Guide for assessment of Photography units (OCA, 2021) suggests, we must acknowledge the learning outcomes listed for our unit. We must also provide evidence of our understanding of these by selecting 2-3 learning log entries for each LO; choose and submit three assignment outcomes, submit any critical reviews/essays and evaluate the unit as a whole.
The learning outcomes for PH4EYV – Photography 1: Expressing Your Vision are as follows:
LO1 – demonstrate an understanding of photographic techniques and image making.
LO2 – present a selected body of photographic work.
LO3 – develop and communicate your ideas as a photographer.
LO4 – demonstrate a critical and contextual understanding of photography and reflect on your own learning.
Learning outcome 1: ‘Understanding photographic techniques and image making’.
Exercise 1.3 Line.
The use of lines in photography can either add depth to an image or flatten the pictorial space depending on how you implement them within your work.Â
Exercise 1.3 Line helped me appreciate the importance of leading lines and how they can draw the eyes around or through the images you take, enhancing the overall experience of photographic viewing and compositional strength.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2019/11/12/exercise-1-3-line/
Exercise 2.2 Viewpoint.
Focal lengths can heavily influence the result of your images, dependent on how long or short it is set to, as well as your physical distance from the subject.
Exercise 2.2 Viewpoint allowed me to see and acknowledge the distorting differences between a long focal length such as 55mm and a far distance from the subject, compared to a short focal length such as 18mm and standing close to the subject who hadn’t moved.Â
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2020/02/05/exercise-2-2-viewpoint/
Assignment 2 – ‘Collection‘.
I explored various lighting techniques, camera filters and framing to understand the process of image making. I learnt that black and white photography visually enhance your subjects by capturing heavily contrasting details, while the use of negative space draws attention to the chosen focal point.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2020/02/26/test-shoot-contact-sheets-for-collection-assignment/
Learning outcome 2:Â ‘A selected body of photographic work’.
Selected body of images.
This assignment encouraged me to revisit and re-evaluate all my assignments from a critical standpoint to decide upon the strongest one before explaining why.
Languages of light pushed me out of my comfort zone, encouraging me to explore controlled lighting and the possible results if used effectively. Taking inspiration from film negatives and MRI scans allowed me to create a powerful, coherent collection of images to document my understanding of the brief, light sources and develop an idea into a complete assignment.
The following learning log entry explains the reasoning behind my chosen images and how I came to decide on these shots in particular:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/25/preparing-for-assessment-lo2-a-selected-body-of-work/.
(Extra learning log entry to provide context to the development of my knowledge on controlled lighting)
Exercise 4.3 – Ex Nihilo.
This exercise helped me acknowledge how the quality, contrast, direction and colour can affect the photograph overall. It was the exercise that aided me in completing assignment four successfully.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/05/07/exercise-4-3-ex-nihilo/
Learning outcome 3: ‘Develop and communicate ideas as a photographer’.
Assignment 3 – ‘The decisive moment‘.
The assignment allowed me to develop the slow shutter speed knowledge I learnt from exercise 3.2 Trace and my research on Michael Wesely, a photographer who shot long exposures of fruits and flowers to show the life and death we don’t see with the naked eye. This exercise helped me understand how slow shutter speeds can record traces of time within one image.
Learning log references: Exercise:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2020/03/20/exercise-3-2-trace/
This assignment encouraged me to develop my skills with slow shutter speed and further explore double/long exposures.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/03/28/contact-sheet-and-final-image-selection-2/
Exercise 5.1 – The distance between us.
This exercise turned out to be a subtle reference to my first assignment, The Square Mile. I visited a local area and took images of subjects that encouraged empathy. The emotional and physical effects of deforestation and urbanisation are shown subtly and directly through the topic or the juxtapositions captured throughout.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/13/exercise-5-1-the-distance-between-us/
Learning outcome 4: ‘Demonstrate critical and contextual understanding of photography and reflect on your own learning’.
Over this unit, I have learnt how to research and understand how practitioner influences can help contextualise the work produced. Practitioner research was something I avoided in my first assignment to prevent being heavily shaped by someone else’s work. Inspiration is critical to explain your work and develop it.
Exercise 5.2 Homage – Research Point.
Studying Terry Barrett’s essay and summarising it provided me with the information I needed to contextualise the ‘Homage’ exercise and any other works following that.
By understanding the meaning and technical approaches behind Carol Sharps nature shots, I could explain the contextual type for my work. As well as this, I was able to describe why I chose specific visual techniques and camera settings to portray the delicate nature of flowers and plants. I was also able to discover the context type for an old homage example as well.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/13/exercise-5-2-homage-research-point/
Assignment 5 – ‘Photography is simple‘.
Analysing Zinqian Liu’s work, acknowledging her reasoning for combining nature and the human body, learning about instant cameras aided me in contextualising ‘Photography is simple’ and the complexity of both the human body and camera. This assignment pushed me to be more critical about image selection and presentation, acknowledging the importance of editing as a photographer.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/21/final-shoot-plan-images/
Exercise 4.2 Artificial light.
Sato Shintaro and Rut Blees Luxembergs night photography provided context for this exercise by investigating the influence light can have on photography’s overall mood and details. Looking at images from a critical point helped me further understand the technical and visual impacts lighting has within photography.
Learning log reference:Â https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/04/27/exercise-4-2-artificial-light/
References:
OCA., 2021. Photography 1: Course Guide for assessment of Photography units – July 2021 onwards [pdf] Barnsley: OCA, pp. 1-3. Available at: https://learn.oca.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/24144/mod_resource/content/4/AG_Course%20Guide%20for%20assessment%20of%20Photography%20units_120421.pdf [Accessed 25 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2019) Exercise 1.3 Line [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2019/11/12/exercise-1-3-line/ [Accessed 22 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2020) Exercise 2.2. Viewpoint [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2020/02/05/exercise-2-2-viewpoint/ [Accessed 22 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2020) Test shoot contact sheets for collection assignment [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2020/02/26/test-shoot-contact-sheets-for-collection-assignment/ [Accessed 22 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2020) Exercise 3.2 Trace [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2020/03/20/exercise-3-2-trace/ [Accessed 22 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2021) Preparing for assessment – LO2 – A selected body of work [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/25/preparing-for-assessment-lo2-a-selected-body-of-work/[Accessed 25 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2021) Exercise 4.3 Ex Nihilo [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/05/07/exercise-4-3-ex-nihilo/ [Accessed 25 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2021) Contact sheet and final image selection [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/03/28/contact-sheet-and-final-image-selection-2/ [Accessed 22 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2021) Exercise 5.1 The Distance Between Us [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/13/exercise-5-1-the-distance-between-us/ [Accessed 22 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2021) Exercise 5.2 Homage – Research Point [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/13/exercise-5-2-homage-research-point/ [Accessed 25 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2021) Final shoot plan images [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/06/21/final-shoot-plan-images/ [Accessed 25 June 2021].
Powell, L. (2021) Exercise 4.2 Artificial Light [online] Available at: https://laurenpowelloca.photo.blog/2021/04/27/exercise-4-2-artificial-light/ [Accessed 25 June 2021].
Lauren Powell OCA 