Personal Statement Progression Post

Personal Statement - Draft 1 – Yvean Hale

Photography

Photography has been a strong passion in my life for the last 5 years in my life now. I find that photographs are an amazing way to hold on to memories and to tell a story through one to a selection of images. In my eyes I see photography as a universal language, people from anywhere in the world are able to look at an image have a powerful idea of what went on behind taking the image and what is happening in the image itself. This being said I am constantly striving to adapt and to learn new approaches/skills in the photography industry, and would be enthusiastically intrigued to progress with the skills I already carry as well as learn more on this foundation experience.

In my free time, outside of education I work part time in an authentic Nepali street feed café. The job entails speaking to customers, talking them through the menu, taking their orders and waitering. I’m involved with cooking some of the basic food, preparing meals and making drinks too. It’s coming close to 2 years that I have worked there now, the café has been a great place to adapt to learning great people skills, learning what goes on in the business side of things, being good friends with the owners, and gaining knowledge on the Nepali culture. Being a keen photography student I have always got an eye, looking at things from a photographers perspective in my everyday life that would work well for photographs and projects. I would describe myself as being an outdoors type of person that has interest in travelling to new places, seeing new things, enjoying playing football and constantly keeping active and busy with friends.

Studying photography at GCSE level at first, 1 year as a sixth form subject and one year so far following this foundation, has really allowed me to value the process of getting feedback to further my intensions, thus allowing me to constantly develop and keep progressing with work. Studying on this course at university will allow me to progress with new techniques and ideas, gaining feedback each time from a new perspective, furthermore the new living location increasing possibilities for me to take different photographs.

Studying photography so far I have conveyed my work using sketchbooks heavily, and also using powerpoints. The sketchbooks and powerpoints have included detailed analysation of the images I take, analysing what went well and what could be improved on. I look and explain various photographical techniques, both analogue and digital, explaining how and why I’ve edited images in a certain way. The sketchbooks and powerpoints I make for different projects will always include photographer research and influences to my own work. Exhibitions that I visit will also be logged. Portraiture and street photography is a key element to my photography, I like fashion (often incorporated into my portraiture) and documentary styled photography. I base selected images and projects of mine on a live website with a blog running alongside, for anyone to visit.

I aspire to use this course to shape my future into the photography industry. Photography careers that I can see myself being involved in would include shooting for magazines, or festival/event photography. Having created my own editorial magazine before for a project, this was something that I was very keen and enjoyed being involved in. My skills in media studies and English language & literature from sixth form came in very handy for this, as I knew the structure and magazine technicalities that are a must in print work, not to mention the know-how on how to write and make a magazine article flow. I’m very motivated and ambitious to achieve my goals and would ultimately be delighted to complete this course to begin a rewarding and enjoyable career.

Personal Statement - Draft 2 – Yvean Hale

Photography

Wordcount: 3427

I believe that photographs are the best way to hold on to memories and to tell a story through a series of images or one instant shot. I see photography as a universal language, people from anywhere in the world are able to look at an image and fully understand the message being portrayed. I am constantly striving to adapt and to learn new approaches and skills in the photography industry, and would be genuinely enthused to progress with the skills I already carry as well as to develop my knowledge to the next level of education.

Whilst during my current education, I also work part time in an authentic Nepalise street food café. The job entails speaking to customers, talking them through the menu, taking their orders and waitering. I am involved with cooking some of the basic food, preparing meals and making drinks. I have worked there for two years, the café has been a great place to learn great people skills, and further understand best business practice. The work at the cafe has often been an inspiration to many of my photography projects. The day to day work, the people, the working environment and the vibrancy of the culture have been captured through my photos. I intend to visit Nepal as a volunteer to support the charity foundation set up by the family who own the cafe, helping rebuild schools after a recent devastating earthquake. I feel this will be a challenge with great personal and photographic rewards.

Studying photography at GCSE level at first, 1 year as a sixth form subject and one year so far following this foundation, has really allowed me to value the process of getting feedback to further my intentions, and allows me to constantly develop and keep progressing with my work. Studying to degree level will enable me to explore new techniques and ideas, gaining feedback each time from a new perspective. I would like the opportunity to continue to share my thought process and work with other like-minded people.

Through my sketchbook presentations and powerpoints, I have been able to analyse my strengths and weaknesses within my work and develop my own style. I have experimented with both analogue and digital processes and have enjoyed and selecting final images. Portraiture and street photography is a key element to my style, I also like fashion and documentary photography. A key influence of mine has been Andreas Gursky ……. ……….

I have kept a full record of my work, exhibitions attended and blog on my website: LINK

I intend to use this course to help shape my future in the photography industry. Photography careers that I can see myself being involved in would include shooting for magazines, or festival/event photography, marketing and commercial. Having created my own editorial magazine as part of a previous project, this was something that I was committed to and enjoyed being involved in. My previous education in media studies and English language & literature came in useful, as I knew the structure and magazine technicalities that are necessary in print work, alongside the knowledge on how to write and make a magazine article flow.

I would describe myself as affable and personable, who enjoys fitness and being outdoors.

I am very self-motivated and ambitious and would be fully dedicated to this course to assist me in beginning a rewarding and enjoyable career in the photography industry.