(no subject)
Hi, whats with me posting on Livejournal all the time now? I need help. Please read my first draft of my personal statement:
My decision to study photography to a degree level has been influenced by many years of interest and work experience based in image-making, 2D design and practical arts. I have grown up being encouraged to have a keen eye for imagery, frame and composition, and have studied Art to GCSE and A Level, as well as Media and Photography to A Level and AS Level respectively, gaining A and A* grades. I had naively utilised photography throughout my art courses up until my second year of college, having been fascinated by the concept of "painting with light" and curious as to how I could use lens-based media as a new way of expressing my ideas. However, the opportunity to take up an AS Level in Photography in my second year allowed me to become deeply affiliated with the subject and broaden my knowledge and understanding of the medium.
Studying Photography encouraged me to explore the subject as a true art form and ask myself questions as to how every-day life is, and can be, represented in photographs. I began to develop my use of the photograph as a medium, as a means of description or documentation and also as a piece of art.
Fine Art photography is something I have been eager to experiment with, ever since seeing After The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (the prologue) by photographer Jeff Wall, exhibited in MOMA, New York. His highly constructed image was created as a means of illustration to Ellison’s short story, rich in detail with a hyper-realism created by his use of light boxes. I was most interested in Wall’s creation of a scene and the grand theatricality of the photograph with its thousands of suspended lightbulbs framing the central solitary figure, like a set from a play. I have years of experience working in the lighting and stage design departments at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, and during my paid placements there I enjoyed the challenge of seeing things differently, having to study spaces and sets and working out how they could be best modified to signify meaning. In this way I connected with Wall’s work, and I felt inspired to use my imagination and creativity to create scenes of my own and literally painting with light.
On the other hand, the themes of Documentary and Environment in the AS course helped me consider the psychology behind taking a photo and having your photo taken, and people’s reactions to a camera. At first I felt uncomfortable with the idea of documentary photography but have since realised that an eye for fine art and imagination also need to be utilised when documenting people and places, but instead of props and lighting, timing and composition are most important. In a Foundation or Degree course I hope to develop my confidence in this medium; the confidence to embrace a theme and work with the subject, connecting on more than an aesthetic level, and most importantly, taking risks.
With photography, I am not just interested in the final product, but how the photograph is created. I have a large camera collection and like to experiment with different formats, lenses, films and development methods to push the boundaries of image-making. I have a deep interest in the history and techniques of wet photography and taking a City & Guilds course in Photography during my Gap year has allowed me to refine the darkroom skills I learnt on my AS Level course and I am confident with developing black and white films and enlarging the negatives, and have well-practised studio skills.
During my year out I have travelled widely throughout Europe and the USA and am looking into undertaking some extended photographic work experience in New York, as I hold dual UK/US citizenship. I have also spent time doing photography for Fashion Design degree students and music photography for City Life magazine, band websites and manchesteronline.co.uk. I have also secured a lot of paid running work on high-profile photographic and film productions, including music videos, Umbro advert shoots and magazine/catalogue shoots. My experiences working with professional photographers, producers and production teams opened my eyes to the gruelling but rewarding schedule of everyone involved, and it helped me understand many aspects of professional practise. Throughout my Gap year I aim to broaden my experience working with professional photographers, and to continue travelling, gaining inspiration in preparation for studying photography full time.
and give me some feedback on it. Any words I should substitute with others? do I say "explore" and "image/ry" too much? Which parts are unneccessary and should be cut out? Honesty please, post anonymously if you have to. The "During my year out ..." paragraph is really fey and badly written I know, but I have a bit more time to work on it. And by the way, that whole work-experience-in-NYC is a blatant pipe dream, drawn from Jay Blakesburg (nyc based) gripping my hand for a little longer than neccessary when I met him and repeatedly coming over to talk to me, and secondly I think my ma wants me back out of the country for a few months. I have romantic notions of living in the Ghetto in Brooklyn with Loui and doing acid and going out at 3am for milkshakes. ANYWAY READ IT AND COMMENT.
My decision to study photography to a degree level has been influenced by many years of interest and work experience based in image-making, 2D design and practical arts. I have grown up being encouraged to have a keen eye for imagery, frame and composition, and have studied Art to GCSE and A Level, as well as Media and Photography to A Level and AS Level respectively, gaining A and A* grades. I had naively utilised photography throughout my art courses up until my second year of college, having been fascinated by the concept of "painting with light" and curious as to how I could use lens-based media as a new way of expressing my ideas. However, the opportunity to take up an AS Level in Photography in my second year allowed me to become deeply affiliated with the subject and broaden my knowledge and understanding of the medium.
Studying Photography encouraged me to explore the subject as a true art form and ask myself questions as to how every-day life is, and can be, represented in photographs. I began to develop my use of the photograph as a medium, as a means of description or documentation and also as a piece of art.
Fine Art photography is something I have been eager to experiment with, ever since seeing After The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (the prologue) by photographer Jeff Wall, exhibited in MOMA, New York. His highly constructed image was created as a means of illustration to Ellison’s short story, rich in detail with a hyper-realism created by his use of light boxes. I was most interested in Wall’s creation of a scene and the grand theatricality of the photograph with its thousands of suspended lightbulbs framing the central solitary figure, like a set from a play. I have years of experience working in the lighting and stage design departments at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, and during my paid placements there I enjoyed the challenge of seeing things differently, having to study spaces and sets and working out how they could be best modified to signify meaning. In this way I connected with Wall’s work, and I felt inspired to use my imagination and creativity to create scenes of my own and literally painting with light.
On the other hand, the themes of Documentary and Environment in the AS course helped me consider the psychology behind taking a photo and having your photo taken, and people’s reactions to a camera. At first I felt uncomfortable with the idea of documentary photography but have since realised that an eye for fine art and imagination also need to be utilised when documenting people and places, but instead of props and lighting, timing and composition are most important. In a Foundation or Degree course I hope to develop my confidence in this medium; the confidence to embrace a theme and work with the subject, connecting on more than an aesthetic level, and most importantly, taking risks.
With photography, I am not just interested in the final product, but how the photograph is created. I have a large camera collection and like to experiment with different formats, lenses, films and development methods to push the boundaries of image-making. I have a deep interest in the history and techniques of wet photography and taking a City & Guilds course in Photography during my Gap year has allowed me to refine the darkroom skills I learnt on my AS Level course and I am confident with developing black and white films and enlarging the negatives, and have well-practised studio skills.
During my year out I have travelled widely throughout Europe and the USA and am looking into undertaking some extended photographic work experience in New York, as I hold dual UK/US citizenship. I have also spent time doing photography for Fashion Design degree students and music photography for City Life magazine, band websites and manchesteronline.co.uk. I have also secured a lot of paid running work on high-profile photographic and film productions, including music videos, Umbro advert shoots and magazine/catalogue shoots. My experiences working with professional photographers, producers and production teams opened my eyes to the gruelling but rewarding schedule of everyone involved, and it helped me understand many aspects of professional practise. Throughout my Gap year I aim to broaden my experience working with professional photographers, and to continue travelling, gaining inspiration in preparation for studying photography full time.
and give me some feedback on it. Any words I should substitute with others? do I say "explore" and "image/ry" too much? Which parts are unneccessary and should be cut out? Honesty please, post anonymously if you have to. The "During my year out ..." paragraph is really fey and badly written I know, but I have a bit more time to work on it. And by the way, that whole work-experience-in-NYC is a blatant pipe dream, drawn from Jay Blakesburg (nyc based) gripping my hand for a little longer than neccessary when I met him and repeatedly coming over to talk to me, and secondly I think my ma wants me back out of the country for a few months. I have romantic notions of living in the Ghetto in Brooklyn with Loui and doing acid and going out at 3am for milkshakes. ANYWAY READ IT AND COMMENT.