Developing Professional Practice and Reflective Personal Practice: Philosophical points.

A few matters came up while talking with a fellow student, and I've discussed them with Jamie, and he suggested putting the points across in my Journal, so here goes.

The first important matter is that I am NOT shooting subjects what I am already "comfortable with" for these projects.

This course is - very much - about education and learning to me. I didn't come here to be a better sports photographer, nor to simply punch out portrait after portrait, or fashion shot after fashion shot. I'm self assured enough (Arrogant enough?) to believe I'm as good as any - given the same chances and equipment. I already know how to do that. I also know a fair bit about street photography, and although I used that particular skill within "Weston Out Of Season," I also went down more uncomfortable avenues during that - hence (for example) why I went with things like the postcards, etc. It's also why I used "permissive" shooting, etc..

The same can be said for my "Light: The Language of Light" project for the Reflective Personal Project. I considered the "Safe" options (Hockey, Rugby and Soccer would easily have got me good grades) but I wanted something to stretch me.

I could have punched out perfectly "nice" portraits or fashion and been safe in the knowledge that they would have been "acceptable" within the framework of the course, but I've chosen to go down the avenue of the light project.

Instead of "keeping it safe" in somewhere like a studio, I've been chasing the Northern Lights @20 below, or frequenting subways in the midnight hour. Or - even when I'm in the studio - I'm pushing things (The 15 second exposure, with LED cloak and single flash is an example of this). Or instead of just doing "nice" portraits, doing portraits designed to envisage a widow getting the "Missing In Action" telegram is another. Empowering a sexual assault victim is another...

I think this is the only way to move ahead. Challenge myself, measure myself, and to "Take Risks." It's who I am.

Ultimately, that approach may cost me marks. It may tick people off when I want to show a paraplegic as a fully empowered person. It may even cost me marks because my "Light" images are not as good as someone else could take them. But, hopefully, the last image I take for the project will be better than the first one I took... Which is all I can hope for.

The second issue that raised its head was based around my attempts at the ARPS (And ASISLP and ASIFGP).

I UNDERSTAND that I will be awarded the ARPS when I get my BA (Hons) - IF I get my BA (Hons) - but I want to get it as an "Award" because my peers looked at the specific images I created, and awarded me it. I want to earn the letters, not have them attached like a sticky note to my degree...