Statement of Application to Year 2:

Throughout the course of year 1 as a group we have learnt lots of different photographic techniques and skills, ranging across quite a few different mediums. The course started with us following the theme of environment. To complete this we had to take photographs over the course of a few months which we thought related to environment according to our research and lessons. However, this theme was also put in place for us to learn lots of photography techniques and types along the way. Throughout the project we would have many lessons where we were taught how to screen print for example, as well as how to create cyanotype images, lots of print making methods including etching as one of them, how a digital camera works, film and darkroom techniques and finally lots of computer based lessons where we would gain knowledge and understanding of the different techniques to use on photoshop.

The next project we began was our Final Major Project (FMP), despite idea changes along the way, my FMP idea was a documentation of my brother, where anybody looking at all the work produced for the project would have an understanding of my brother, Beau, and his hobbies, interests and lifestyle. Some shoots included me photographing Beau drumming, skateboarding, and documentation of his days out and his morning routine. The techniques I discussed from the beginning of year 1 came into play within my Final Major Project because part of my idea was that I wanted to portray Beau in a range of different mediums and formats. The most of it was taken using digital cameras, although I still produced prints in a cyanotype format and used different darkroom techniques. Due to using digital I managed to pick up on some of the specific photoshop techniques that we were taught, portrayed in my sketchbook.

I was quite happy with the outcome of my documentation shoots with Beau as I think they told a story quite well through photographs of his days out and morning routine, with some strong shots in there as well. However, I also like lots of the photographs I had taken of Beau skateboarding due to the location of lots of the photos being so high in contrast and colour, making the photos become quite eye-popping but I also have a liking to them because of the capturing of motion and movement.

Although, as always there was room for improvement and weaknesses. A strong example of this is of a specific shoot I did with Beau capturing movement of people using a slow shutter speed and natural density filters and having him stay still so that he remained looked sharp and detailed in the image. The shoot didn't come off as good as perhaps I thought it should as he was not enough movement captured in people walking by or Beau came out blurry from moving too much. To overcome this I could have retaken the shoot and been more accurate but I chose not to and to pursue with other photo shoots. ​