Final Reflections Unit 1 & 2 December 19th & March 8th hand-ins

 Final reflections are the last opportinity to produce the content required to secure a pass.

Final reflections involve looking back at the recent work and identifying and clarifying that you've learned about specific components of your work. Most of the content here needs to be written up in the Analysis section.

Under the heading Analysis use these sub-headings and make sure you have commentary relating to each sub-heading...

*Copy these sub-headings into your work and add your commentary 

Unit 1: LO2/2.3 - What value is there in producing a proposal? 

Unit 1: LO3/3.1 - Explain the value or producing research at the start of the project - why is it necessary? 

Unit 1: LO3/3.4 - Discuss whether you feel producing research at the start of your self-directed projects is "Effective".

Unit 1: LO3/4.3 - Look at your final set of images and explain/analyse whether they are fit for purpose in terms of a potential operational context in your opinion do they look professional, what purpose could they be put to, who would the auidence for these image be and who might the client for such images be? 

Unit 1: LO5/5.1 - If you've not already done so - analyse and explain your use of Visual Language in one of your own final images. As a minimum discuss the Person + Background + symbol + involvement formula and 4 other visual language elements. 

Unit 1: LO5/5.3 - Explain whether you feel that there is any value in the knowledge of visual language, are you aware of how using visual language knowledge when taking images impacts on your image in terms of narrative and story telling. Explain at least 2 examples. 

Unit 1: LO6/6.2 - Looking at your work - point out an example of where you've reflected on an aspect of your work and then reacted in terms of developing, improving, experimenting or learning more.

Unit 1: LO6/6.3 - Do you see value in writing up the reflections or simply reflecting on your activies - explain the value of using reflective practice when producing a project. Why do we do it? 

Unit 1: LO7/7.4 - What methods do you use to generate ideas for your work, do you continue to research mid-project, what methods do you use? 

Unit 2: LO1/1.3 - Looking back at the materials used recently to produce your 2D work what are your reflections relating to the quality and suitability in terms of professionalism. *This can include Research materials as well the chemicals and papers used in the production of your analogue work. Do you feel they were fit for purpose? 

Unit 2: LO2/2.3 - Looking back at the materials used recently to produce your 3D work what are your reflections relating to the quality and suitability in terms of professionalism. *This can include Research materials as well the paper used in the production of the 3D models, and the paper used to create the white backgrounds. Do you feel they were fit for purpose? 

Unit 2: LO3/3.3 - Looking back at the materials used recently to produce your 4D work what are your reflections relating to the quality and suitability in terms of professionalism and fitness for purpose. *This can include Research materials. This relates to the use of the Pinhole cameras and the creation of the creepy/sinister images as well as the papers and chemicals. 

Unit 2: LO4/4.4 - Look back at your recent work and identify 2 problems you have encountered and discuss how you resolved your problem. Was your solution affective - was there any negative impact to the solution - explain the negative impact. *ISO is an easy one to explain or shutter - or the use of a Grey Card to make reasonable initial exposures. 

Unit 2: LO5/5.2 - Looking back at the darkroom work - explain why it was important to be aware of the H&S implications. 

Unit 2: LO6/6.3 - Reflect on your presentation knowledge - how much do you know about framing, mounting and the types of materials that photography is printed on when used in a professional context. Look at your work - does your work look consistent and tidy in terms of its presentation - do you use a consitent size and type of font. Do you you use headings to point towards important components of your work - is it clear where your reflections are and your plans. Does your work flow in terms of the creative process - is it the right order?

UAL Reflective practice criteria

1-2.3 Review the implementation of the project proposal to meet the requirement of the brief

1-3.1 Explain how research sources and methods are used to support creative processes

1-3.4 Assess the effectiveness of research to influence and inform creative processes

1-4.3 Assess intent and purpose within own processes

1-5.1 Analyse visual language in creative processes

1-5.3 Assess the effective use of visual language within creative processes

1-6.3 Assess the effectiveness of reflective practice to inform and direct creative processes

1-7.4 Assess the effectiveness of methods used to generate initial ideas

2-1.3 Assess the use of materials, methods, techniques and processes used in 2‑dimensional creative practice

2-2.3 Assess the use of materials, methods, techniques and processes used in 3‑dimensional creative practice

2-3.3 Assess the use of materials, methods, techniques and processes used in 4‑dimensional creative practice

2-4.4 Assess solutions to problems encountered within creative practices

2-5.2 Assess the requirements of safe working practice

2-6.3 Evaluate the effectiveness of presentation techniques to communicate creative practices

Bare minimum requirements "Sufficient"

The bare minimums you have to do by the deadlines. 

AO1

(A). The first thing you have to have in your work is your version of the details of the brief. Read through the brief and in your own words explain what it is you have to do. This should be on the first page. This is then followed by the proposal. Having examined the brief and done this, you might be able to make a start on the proposal... 

(B).  As discussed in class, to meet assessment objective No.1 your work has to have a proposal. On teams if you look in 'Files' you'll find a template that I've filled in with an example of the kind of thing you need to write. There's a series of headings. Use the headings in the proposal and meet the word count indicated.

Remember - you write the proposal over the duration of putting your project together. As you get more sense of what you're doing you update the proposal to read as though your wrote it at the start. Do not write it in the past tense.

Once it's written and presented at the deadline it should say I am going to do a,b,c and then when I look at the work I can see that you have done what you proposed. 

The more detailed the proposal with indications of using a good range of experimental approaches and MTP's, along with a broad approach to your research (Use of journals/books as well as the internet) with a good bibliography and a detailed week by week description of what you do, will potentially attain higher grades. 

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AO2

(A). Each photo-shoot (Your own self-directed shoots)  must have a detailed plan preceding the evidence of  the work (The Photos). 

(B). It should follow that the work that follows the plan is relevant. 

The more detailed and knowledgeable the planning, the greater the potential for higher grades. 

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AO3

(A). You have to have research on Photographers within your work and the research has to clearly have some connection with your own work at the initial stages. Shoot #1 typically would have some obvious connection with the research and this should either be a visible connection or a detailed explanation of the connection. Ideally it would be both. 

(B). Problems need to be identified within the work and seen to be resolved. *Make sure you use the word Problems and Solution In your work and possibly sign post the sections where you produce this work with these - Key words. 

(C). Ethical and environmental aspects of your work and the way it is conducted need to be identified and recorded. Is the way you work ethical? Is the way you work the best you can do in terms of its environmental impact? This needs to be explained. 

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AO4

(A). This means you record your use of equipment, materials, methods and processes. This appears in your S&K work potentially, but also must be a part of your planning, you need to show that you understand why the way you use your equipment and why you choose it for the job is appropriate. 

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AO5

(A). "Developed". This means you have to shoot and re-shoot your work over a series of shoots, improving the work in terms of quality, experimentation, techniques and use of equipment and lighting. Similarly the idea/concept also needs to be seen to develop and improve over each shoot in-line with the operational context and the requirements of the brief. 

(B).  "Meet the requirements of the brief" This means you have to provide evidence of having produced a project in-line with the theme indicated in the brief e.g. if it says you have to shoot 6 x portraits, then you have to produce portraits - images of people. Refer to the Requirements section in the brief. 

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AO6

This requires you shoot images and final images that communicate your concept and idea in-line with an operational context and an identified consumer audience. The images have to serve a purpose in a commercial sense. 

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AO7

The presentation of your work needs to be neat and in the correct order. It should be obvious how the work develops from a basic starting point, through a series of experiments into a final outcome. 

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AO8

(A). You have to use reflective practice in your work and it needs to be real.

(B). You need to be self-critical of your work, you need to look at your work in comparison with the work of professionals and ask questions of it - is it as good; Why does my work not look like theirs;  What am I doing wrong; How can I add my own twist to my images, so that it's not a pastiche; What else could I do; Is it fit for purpose; Is the purpose clear (Operational context); Does is it meet the needs of the identified audience and/or client; what more do I need to do; How can I improve it; Is there something I need to learn? 

Then follow this up with a different approach that then demonstrates refinement, development... improvement. Use the reflections as a means to force positive improvement. 

(C). Always head the reflection clearly with the title Reflection. Aways use the 3 initial prompts followed by the Analysis prompt/heading. 

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Research sources

 In Further (What you're doing now) and higher education you need to step-up your research and start to source higher quality research sources.

Probably the best research you can probably do is to actually work with or talk with the actual photographers themselves for extended periods of time. If you can assist a photographer, observe what the do and work with them as an assistant, that is valuable experience, where you'll learn an awful lot.

Another good research experience is to visit galleries and see the work first hand in exhibitons. This allows you to see the work; see how big it is, the quality of the photography, attention to detail, the texture and finish of the image, how it's mounted and presented. The galleries will also have up todate and useful information about the work alongside the work.

The best secondary research sources

The best secondary research sources are almost certainly hard copy sources such as books and journals. I would say the best by a long way are Journals such as... 

• The British Journal of Photography
• Hotshoe
• Aperture

The best thing about Journals is they introduce you to a range of different approaches and photographers in one publication. The process of flicking through pages back and forth means you tend to see a huge variety in quick time drawing you in, leading you to think "What's that about" or "Why on earth is that a thing"? Because of the vast variety journals tend to showcase. Furthermore, if you get your hands on up-todate copies it tends to be photography of the moment - brand new and what's happening now... "contemporary photography". *If you want to use this approach for your research ask Dave T and he'll let you have access to his private collection. 

 These journals are on-line, but they do not have the complete articles and all of the images seen in the actual journals. They're still definitely worth looking at. 

https://www.creativeboom.com/resources/12-magazines-and-blogs-that-every-photographer-should-check-out/

https://www.youtube.com/@showstudio

Unit 1 - LO7 Methods of generating ideas & social responsibility

 This relates to the assessment criteria which are essential and are required to pass...

Research 5 methods to generate ideas for photographic projects. Use the title/heading "Unit 1; 7.4  Generating Ideas" and write up your responses under the heading - use images if relevant. Do not copy any of the research - re-write in your own words and add your links as a mini bibliography.        

 Use the title/heading "Unit 1; 7.3 Social responsibility in Photography " and research and find examples of 5 examples of social responsibility relating to photography   write up your responses under the heading - use images if relevant. Do not copy any of the research - re-write in your own words and add your links as a mini bibliography.    

An example of a Photographer who produces work that can be seen as having a social responsibility is Ed Burtynsky and his on-going efforts to depict the injustices created in the pursuit of Oil and other minerals. 

Books: Pentimento — Edward Burtynsky

This work should appear in your "The Creative Process" PPT

 Social responsibility scenario

Imagine you're a model and you're only 18 years old and you've only done 1 shoot previously. You land a job with a photographer and you're going to be working on a beach modelling for most of the day in the hot sun with a male photographer and his usual 4 male assistants.

Put yourself in the models position, what sort of things would you hope the photographer would have in place to make your experience on the day pleasant, comfortable and non-threatening in anyway? A photographer in this situation has a social responsibility to the young female model. Explain what the photographer might do to enable this. 

Some clues can be found in Maslow's hierarchy of needs...

It might be useful to imagine this scenario played out on a Beach locally - Southend or Chalkwell. How would you feel about this shoot, what would you expect the photographer to have put in place to make your day on the set a good experience. 

Sustainability and Ethics

Sustainability

Use the content from the white-board introduction today on Sustainability - don't copy it just use it as the starting point for your own work. Use the links below to research this subject further and to produce a detailed body of work that makes it clear that you're aware of the impact of both digital and analogue (Traditional Photography).

Note: This is compulsory. This has to appear in your work - especially in conjunction with your self-directed projects such as the current DSLR project and later in the year with the self-directed studio project and the Unit 3 final major project for Year One and throughout year two. Because the content is going to used and re-used and ideally improved each time I would save it initially in your S&K power-point and then add it to your DSLR project. 

Film or Digital? Which Type of Photography is Better for the Planet? - American Chemical Society

Click on this image for a video on the issues relating to Sustainability and data storage. 

In terms of digital photography one of the key components relating to sustainability is the generation of Electricity - The key aspect to this is that traditionally electricity was generated by the use of coal, oil or gas all of which are associated with the production of greenhouse gases and pollution and global warming. 

Check this link here for images of other impacts of the Oil industry (Oil needed for electricity generation) Photographs: Oil — Edward Burtynsky

Another link where Burtynsky Photographs extraction of minerals to supply the electricity industry among others - Edward Burtynsky on climate, abstraction, and hanging photos like paintings - 1854 Photography

Other links 

This is another good video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8TDOFqkQA

Capturing Moments, Consuming Energy: The Environmental Impact of Photos | World Cleanup Day Blogpost

What precious metals are in your camera and similar electronic devices - remember you more than likely use PC's to handle your files The Royal Mint | Recovering gold from electronic waste

The question is what can you do as an individual to reduce the use of materials to improve sustainability? 

Ethics 

1. What ethical issues are linked to theme/s, subject matter, or imagery in my work.  
2. Have I represented people, cultures, or communities in a respectful and responsible way? How do I know? 
3. Where did my materials come from and how sustainable are they? 
4. Did I reuse, recycle, or source eco-friendly materials? Give examples. 
5. How has my work impacted the environment (waste, chemicals, energy use)? 
6. What steps did I take to reduce my environmental impact during this project? 
7. Did I consider the social impact of my work on different audiences? 
8. Have I researched artists or practices that focus on ethics and sustainability? How did this influence me? 
9. What changes could I make to improve the ethical and sustainable quality of my future work? 
10. How does embedding ethics and sustainability strengthen my identity as an artist? Content to be added soon. 

Operational contexts (Types of Photography)

 In your work as you produce it, you need to show increasing awareness of the context e.g. you need to know what type of photography you're producing and where it fits within the world of work and employment and how you could make a living from it.

Have a look at this post here see the link and have a read through the main 'Operational contexts' most often seen in Photography.

Level 3 Photography resources: Types of Photographic Practice

Post Research Reflections - how to

 These follow the research and use the same structure as the practical reflections...

(1). What happened (Requires just a couple of sentences - keep it simple just say who you researched and what research methods you used). 

(2). How do you feel it went. (Again a very basic response, a couple of sentences saying how you felt about doing the research - whether you felt you learned a great deal, whether you were inspired, if it was hard to find the relevant information and you struggled. 

(3). What was good/bad (Another quick response a couple of key points about the research process that were good and one bad one. 

(4). Analysis.

This is the bigger section, this is where you write about the value and usefulness of the research, you might explain why it was useful in terms of kick-starting your project. What aspects of the research did you find inspiring, what will you 'Borrow' from the research and use in your own work; this might be things like...

• The basic premise and idea
• How it's done
• Their style
• Techniques 
• Lighting
• Poses
• The mood and feel 
• View-point and perspective 

Explain what you're going to borrow/use in your work in your first shoot

Also show that you understand the value of your research in the longer term - use the term "Progression goals". 

These are things such as...

• Passing the task
• Passing the Unit
• Passing the first year
• Passing the course
• Getting into University
• Getting a job in Photography

Once that's done you need to write a Plan

3D (3 Dimensional task)

 This is an In Class activity and will be added to your S&K design sheet (PPT).

Try and keep this short and to the point. Use the info and images from the session today and we'll continue tomorrow and get this done and out of the way. In the meantime get all the written bits done. Do a tiny bit of research for this - just show that you're aware of the Brillo boxes - some images and a brief description relating to the Brillo boxes and their history/context. 

Research

You'll need to do some really basic research for this showing what the work has been influenced by. Use the links here below 

Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film (Brillo Boxes) - Music By Brian Keane

Andy Warhol. Brillo Box (Soap Pads). 1964 | MoMA

The basic principal that we're going to explore here is we're going to photograph a 'Net' of a box we're all familiar with (HP5+ film box) and then re-construct it. The reconstruction in the same way as Warhol's boxes will no longer function as a box for reasons that will become apparent, but will now be something different... "Art"

A box unfolded is known as a net.

Post Research Reflection

Again keep this as short as possible - literally a few lines.

Plan

PS You should have this done already in class this morening 

Execute

* Use all the work you did this morning and the notes that were on the white board. You'll need to use your DSLR/Phone  and work out how to photograph the net as best you can - filling the frame as much as you can and then printing the work off on Photo-copy paper.

Then you'll re-form the HP5+ box into a much bigger form as a 3D object.

You'll then need to shoot the work against a background of your choice. 

Development....................................................................................................

Explain and reflect on each of the stages (Ultra minimal) just acknowledge the work at each of the stages is not good enough to constitute being considered as a final product and then show the stages of how it was improved stage by stage with the different approaches and experiments. 

Reflect 

After tomorrows additions - then produce a final reflection 

Tomorrows additional work will require taking portraits of each other - full face head and shoulders and then print off the images at A3 size. Then you'll screw them up a bit and shoot them against a white BG in the style of Christianne Feser

Modelle — Christiane Feser

Unit 1 - 1.2 Explore creative processes within the context of the creative industries (Yelena Yemchuk)

Add this work to the end of the 'Creative Process' design sheet/PPT. 

Title it...

"Unit 1 - 1.2 Explore creative processes within the context of the creative industries"

You'll then have to write up your own detailed account of how the shoot came together. In some part this will be speculation, but all you have to do is use the images found via the link below and make observations relating to what she said in relation to the research and explain and point to the evidence you can see that would support the idea that the shoot came together potentially using a process similar to the one we use...

When it comes to the reflection aspect refer to the exposure mistake that she's attempted to rectify and correct at the printing stage. 

*Use the images via the link below to support your work. 

Prompts...

What evidence is there that she "Researched"

Explain what she may have gained by reflecting on the research... Post research reflection

Looking at the pictures... she's used professional models, they're style in 1960's clothing - explain what planning may have been involved Planning.

The images obviously demonstrate the fact that the plan was executed (The 'Doing' phase).

Your explanation relating to whether there's any evidence of reflection needs to point out that she got the exposure wrong (Indicate where this is apparent) and explain as a professional photographer this is a bad mistake and she would have reflected on how she got that so wrong and figured out what she needs to do in future to ensure that doesn't happen.

In relation to the fact that your photography projects develop over a series of stages and this is not the case with professional shoots - they may have been preceded by 'Test shoots' though... When confronted by very challenging shoots, it's not unknown for photographers to conduct 'Pre-shoots' with their assistants where they test out aspects they're unsure of to make sure they get it right on the day. 

Primarily the development aspect e.g. the repetition of Plan - Execute (Do) - Reflect just happens by virtue of shooting continuously on different jobs. 

Poodle No.1: Yelena Yemchuk ID Magazine The Location Issue - Turn on the Bright lights

Planning for practical activities

 Updated 19/11/25 - Ethical and Environmental considerations. 

Planning - Proposing

Use these prompts below to generate your plan

1. Clarify (Describe) what the intention is e.g. why you're making this work, making a direct link with the assignment content. Reiterate what the requirements of the brief are, mention the key things you've got to do within your project - identify problems, problem solving, deadlines, how many images are required for the final submission, experimentation, development of the idea and your techniques and skills, use of a range of materials, methods and processes, awareness of ethical and environmental concerns relating to photography and continuous use of reflective practice. 

2. Where - say where your making the images - studio, location, explain why you're doing it there - strengths and weaknesses of the location/studio. Problems you might encounter what you'll do in advance to alleviate those problems. 

3. When - The date, time, explain why at that time, especially if on location - as the light will be dramatically different at different times of day. Be as technical as you can when talking about the light. Write about the time in terms of urgency and the assignment deadline.

4. What with - What camera and equipment are you using, what focal length lens, what tripod, what additional equipment will you need - will you have a back-up camera? Use a check-list in your book, have everything on the check-list - Empty SD card, charged batteries, additional batteries and SD cards. Tripod plates, cables, hotshoe adapters, light meters, extension leads, flash heads and other studio kit (Use the names/brands of the equipment).

5. How (Technique) - Explain how you're going to shoot the images, what approach will you use, how do you want it to look? Is it going to like or borrow something of a famous photographers style or technique? How are you going to ensure that you get the exposures right - what method will you use to do your light readings - maybe explain what metering pattern you use and say why. What are you going to do about your backgrounds? Do your backgrounds play an important part in the images visual language/narrative? How are you going to use the back-grounds - out of focus or in focus? How do you intend to use depth of field generally? What shutter speed will you hope to be using and why? What white balance will you use and why? What file type will you use and why?

6. Who with - Models, assistants, make-up artist, stylists, drivers etc. Who will you use as the model, could you find models? Are you using the same model again and again - why? Do you think that when you show your folio to prospective employers or Universities they might view this negatively? Have you used anyone else to style it or do any of the other roles in photography - see the image below of a Location shoot I witnessed as well as the photographer and the 1 model (Yasmin Le Bonn) there were at least 12 other people... Stylists, Make-up artists, hair-stylists, 4 x assistants, art director. Could your images be improved with more effort and attention to detail?

Whoever you do involve - say what their role is going to be as part of your plan.

7. Using what light Before you shoot, you should have some idea of the kind of light you want, what do you want the light to do - define shape, form and texture, or do you want light that wraps around the subject with low contrast? Again, make connections with other photographers work... I want to get the same effect as photographer a and b and write about the light using the correct terminology. With the light you should write about the time of day and weather and what you're hoping for - you could support this with weather reports - with images of charts showing the weather you'll probably get and then also include a weather contingency plan.

With the light - if you're in the studio use a floor plan diagram and add images or diagrams of the lighting equipment you're going to use and explain why and what effect this might have on the outcome.

8. Health and Safety Many of the units have a requirement to address H&S, so within your plan make sure you write about the H&S aspects that you have to deal with and explain what you do to ensure you, your model and any others that are involved in your shoot are also safe.

9. Weather Mentioned earlier - the weather has a massive effect on location shoots, you might want a particular type of light for your shoot that meets your creative intentions if the light isn't right, explain what you'll do to deal with the light being not quite what you want.

10. Problems Look back at all of the things you've considered and detailed in your plan and identify where any problems might arise. Then suggest what you'll do if the problem arises (Contingency planning - back-up plan). 

In addition use the "On the day" checklist that is on Teams in the 'Files' section. Print this off and show that you've actually used it e.g. put ticks against the checks, scan that and put into your design sheet. 

Typically the things that you should detail in your plan...

• Your idea/intention - outline of what you're going to do/learn
• Describe the potential operational context of the shoot
• When you plan to shoot.(You can include a weather report if shooting on location outside). 
• Where you're shooting the pictures.
• What camera you'll be using. (You can use images)
• What media your using.
• What focal length you'll be using.
• Whether you'll experiment with different focal lengths or change lenses.
• What kind of lighting you'll be using - soft, harsh, diffuse, point etc.
• If your copying someone's lighting techniques say who's.
• Who your model will be.
• Whether you're using tripods, reflectors, or any other equipment.
• Who your assistant will be.
• What you're testing out.
• Transport details
• Details about emptying SD cards - charging batteries.
• Contingency (Back up) plan in the event of any changes - models/light/weather
• When you intent to have films processed by and the work in your design sheet. 
• Any H&S issues and how you will address them.
• Problems you'll potentially encounter and methods to resolve  them
• Identify any environmental or ethical considerations and explain what you'll do to address them if possible. *Make sure you use the 2 key words when you write this up... Environmental and Ethical 

Top Tip Copy the bullet pointed list above and paste directly into your design sheet. Then write up your plan in response to these prompts and delete the prompts as you go.

*Note, you wont be able to use all of these prompts every time you write a plan as some suit different situations. Use as many as you can. 

The DSLR task

 Here's a step by step list of the things you need to include in the DLSR Project. The newest update will be visible with the older content below and you'll need to scroll down. 

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Update 13/11/25

Research should be completed...

At this stage you should all have completed the research. The research (See link in side bar) should comprise of 3 sections with a page allocated to each section. 

Page 1 - images typical of the specific work you're researching

Page 2 - General details about the photographer, how they make a living, what type of photography they produce (Operational context), where their work is seen, who their clients are and who the audience is for their work (Demographic details). This should comprise of images you find that support your claims with regards to how they make a living through photography.

Page 3 - This should be a single image that you've analysed and deconstructed in terms of visual language - e.g. analysis of how the image has been composed, constructed and designed to convey meaning and narrative. Use the link in the sides or click here 

Post research reflection...

Ideally you'll have also completed this. This needs to be clearly headed Post Research Reflection and you should explain what it is you've learned from doing the research, explaining what you're 'Borrowing' from the research to use in your first shoot e.g. how the research influences your initial idea/pictures. To really do this well, you also need to explain and demonstrate that you understand the value of researching - explain why researching is of value to your in terms of your longer term progression goal of being a photographer. *Key words to use here in your written response are...

Value, Progression goal and Influence

Now you're ready to plan and execute your first series of images on your chosen theme. The plan is really important and it should be detailed with clear consideration of potential problems that might arise before and during the production of your images. See here for details of how to write a detailed plan. Use the list towards the end this post. It's really important to identify potential problems and explain how these might be alleviated or dealt with *This is one of the key criteria for this qualification. 

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10/11/25

In this session Monday - 10.00 - 11.00 you were tasked with addressing the criteria 

2.1 Unit 01 - Analyse the requirements of the brief. 

This work will be the Introduction to your DSLR power-point.

For this you need to read through the assignment brief (Find on teams in "Files") and explain what the brief is directed you to do, mention this like how much time you have to do it, when the deadline is, how many images are required as a minimum. Also read through and explain the type/genre of the photography and how it may be used, (This may become more apparent once you've done the research) and you might come back to this intro and add to it later? 

In essence what you need to do is read through the brief and re-write it in your own language. Try also to explain what you'll learn from it - what are the skills you're going to acquire as a result of producing the work for the brief. 

Note from now on this is how all of your introductions for each task will start - your analysis of the brief. 

11.00 - 12.00____________________________________________________________________

1.2 Unit 01 - Explore creative processes within the context of the creative industries. 

This work will be produced in your Creative Process design sheet 

Look at this link here Poodle No.1: Yelena Yemchuk ID Magazine The Location Issue - Turn on the Bright lights

This is the work of Yelena Yemchuk. The work is Editorial Fashion photography. Look at the work and read through the blog post. Discuss in class how Yemchuk may have gone through a Creative Process in order to bring this work together and execute it. 

Look at the work, can you see the mistakes that were made, how would she have dealt with these mistake in terms of reflections and planning? 

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As with all projects you're going to need to produce the research in the first few days, certainly within a week of being informed of the Photographers. (See the brief and Teams) Get it done by this coming Monday (10th November). Usual format...

Do not use AI as your main source of information (There's new stringent rules about the use of AI coming in the next week or so). 

• Page of images
• Page that identifies how the Photographer makes a living - try and use as many images as possible
• Single Image analysis of one of the Photographers Photographs focusing on the use of Visual Language, the images operational context and how meaning and narrative are conveyed (Use the prompt sheet here to generate this content). Or use the side bar on the blog. 
• Bibliography 
• Quotes 

You also need to have a look at the Photographers below and decide which one (Or two) you will research influence or inspire your own self-directed project. Your own images will need to feature a person or people that you're going to shoot and re-shoot a number of times developing your idea and techniques aiming to produce a high-quality final set that would be suited to an operational context that you identify and discuss in your work as it progresses.

https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/skater-s-eye-zorah-olivia/

https://www.palhansen.com/blog-1-1

https://americansuburbx.com/2010/01/theory-bill-owens-suburbia-2000.html

https://raniamatar.com/publication/press/2012-press/a-girl-and-her-room-book-reviews/

https://www.derekridgers.com/

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In class task

Basic camera functions and controls______________________________________________

Go on-line and find images of each of the things/components we looked at in the lesson. 

Your own camera - Use this website here and find your camera - you'll via the link there are numerous images of the camera and the displays. Use these in your work to explain how your camera works. Canon EOS 450D (Digital Rebel XSi / Kiss X2 Digital) Review: Digital Photography Review this review is for the 450D, but look around in the reviews section - find your make and then use control + F to find your model. 

For the work in your S&K try and use images as much as you can to illustrate your knowledge and awareness of what it is you're recording/explaining. 

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"Manual mode M" on the dial - manual gives us complete control of the camera - we tell the camera what we want it to do.

Explain/Use image of The aperture symbol on the camera body and the display that shows which aperture you're using.

Explain - reiterate why we use 1/125 shutter speed. 

Explain how you change the ISO and the advice I gave with regards the use of ISO...

In these exercises (In-class tasks) given the fact we have no choice but to use the light that is available to us in order to enable the lesson activity we have to shoot using a higher ISO that in most professional situations would be unacceptable. We need to acknowledge this fact and normally we would avoid this approach at all costs because of the impact it has on the image quality - noise in the shadow areas, perception of poor sharpness and colours increasingly muted as the ISO number increases. 

The way this would be tackled in a majority of professional scenarios is the shutter speed would be lowered and a tripod used, or additional light brought in - studio lighting or portable systems. 

 Explain - Dioptre and adjusting it to your own eyesight - what and where it is and the impact it has on viewing the scene.

Explain the controls on the lens relating to Auto Focus and Manual Focus

Comment on how the light reading was done (Here's a clue - the floor was a mid-tone). What other ways could you have done it? What is a mid-tone and why is it important to take the reading from a Mid-Tone. Show and explain what an 18% Grey card is - how are they used?

Get a good selection of the images you shot and comment on the images with regards - (a). Composition: You were all instructed to compose - crop the image "In camera" just above the head and mid-way through the thighs. Have you done this? What went wrong if you didn't - if you were to do it again, what would you need to do to do it correctly? 

Top Tip: Go into your menu (Use your manual) and try and figure how to set-up your metering system and set it to 'Centre weighted'. Also have a look at this video and review what is said about the pro's and cons of each option. But generally, just look to familiarise yourself with the options and how to access them. CAMERA METERING: Spot, Evaluative, Partial or Center-Weighted? Which one to use?

Once you've done that - explain the three main metering modes/methods. 

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Monday  

Megan Monday 3B18 - Photoshop session for the 1st hour

TTL light metering 

Reflective Practice (Practical work)

Reflections' on your practical work need to follow these guidelines...        Updated 18/11/25 Environmental and Ethical

The basics are - Once you have executed any practical activity - usually photoshoots you then have to reflect on your activities and learning.

Plan - execute - reflect

When you do this you should write up your response to these prompts... (Use the bold headings in your work to demonstrate you're using a process to work through the reflections. 

(1). What happened? - This only needs to be a very basic explanation made up of about 2 sentences.

(2). How do I feel it went? Similarly this only needs to be a couple of sentences and is usually an emotive response... I was unsure/confused/apprehensive/confident/optimistic/nervous out of my comfort zone etc.

(3). What was good/bad? Again a few sentences, highlighting in basic terms 2 good things and 1 negative aspect to the activity/work.

(4). Analysis; This is the important bit. The Key here is not to describe the obvious and things that we can see in your images and annotations. 

This is where you have to critically un-pick what you have done and explain the value of doing the work. Every-time you do this, you should consider you're on this course with the intention of becoming a professional photographer, therefore any new learning, any advancement in knowledge or skills has value and this needs to be explained in your analysis. 

• What have you done that was new - how will this help going forwards?
• What new equipment have you used - how might this impact on your development as a practitioner? 
• UAL are obsessed with "Problems" and "Problem Solving" (See diagram) so use these as sub-headings in a part of your Analysis and identify and discuss problems you faced or encountered and explain what you did to resolve the problems and if the problem is likely to be encountered again - what will you do to negate it? 
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  4.4 is to identify at least two or more solutions and assess which is best. 
  
  
• What have you learned that relates to the technical aspects. This can be about any of the following.
• Using the camera
• Light
• Exposure
• Composition
• In the reflection critique your work in terms of its 'Operational context' suitability. Compare your work/images with the work of others (Your research) does your work look anything near as good in terms of quality, lighting, composition, design and structure e.g. do your images look professional? 
• Looking at the basics - what did you get wrong - composition, focus, exposure, consistency of approach?
• Be clear about the operational context (Intent) of your own images - how could they be used (Purpose), where might they be seen, who might commission or buy such images (Client). Who would look at and use such images what are their demographic details and at this stage - are your images fit for purpose?  (Unit 1 - 4.3)
• Is there meaning behind your images, is there a story, does one image tell that story or do you need to present the images as a 'set' of images to get the meaning across to the viewer (Audience)? How have you used visual language in your own images, is there more you could do to help convey meaning or narrative in your images? 
• Look at your images and consider a 'Lay persons' perspective - would they understand the images, there purpose and use? Does this even matter? 
• Make sure you use the word value and write about the value of the learning and knowledge gained. 
• What do you think you could do to improve them further or develop the idea further? 

Once you've written the reflection, you're now at the stage where you need to write a plan for the next shoot to evidence further experimentation, improvement of your photography or your idea. "The work needs to develop" e.g. be improved at this next stage. 

Final reflection (At end of project before hand-in)

The final reflection is an overall reflection using the prompts above looking at the whole project primarily, but has to include a few additional components...

• Discuss the effectiveness of your research, explain why it was useful in terms of starting your project, maybe reiterate what it was that you were influenced by and how that was integrated into your initial shoot and perhaps later developmental shoot. (Unit 1 - 3.4)
• Discuss in general terms referring to your plans as proposals why these were important in the development of the project. (Unit 1 - 2.3)
• Discuss/Analyse your use of Visual Language in your final images. Has it worked, could it be improved - if so how? (Unit 1 - 5.3)
• Explain/Analyse the value of using reflective practice throughout your work - what impact did it have on your learning and the development of your project? (Unit 1 - 6.3)
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• 7.4 Reflect/Analyse your research methods - explain how you did your research, what methods (Primary/secondary/empirical) you used, did the research help to generate you initial idea and what were the key aspects you used from your research that you took forward into your own. work? 
• Discuss any ethical or environment concerns and impacts your activities would have created, was there anything you could have done to address these or reduce them. 

Introductory Reflective Practice.

This post only relates to the start of the year and is 'Entry level' Reflective Practice.

You'll need to use a more detailed approach later in the year.

Practical work Reflective Practice 

This is done in response to your practical work - The Deadpan shoot in the atrium.

Once you've completed a practical activity such as the deadpan shoot we all did in the atrium, you should then write up a reflection. When you do this you should write up your response to these prompts... (Use the bold headings in your work to demonstrate you're using a process to work through the reflections. 

(1). What happened? - This only needs to be a very basic explanation made up of about 2 sentences.

(2). How do I feel it went? Similarly this only needs to be a couple of sentences and is usually an emotive response... I was unsure/confused/apprehensive/confident/optimistic/nervous out of my comfort zone etc.

(3). What was good/bad? Again a few sentences, highlighting in basic terms 2 good things and 1 negative aspect to the activity/work.

(4). Analysis; This is the important bit. The Key here is not to describe the obvious and things that we can see in your images and annotations. 

This is where you have to critically un-pick what you have done and explain the value of doing the work. Every-time you do this, you should consider you're on this course with the intention of becoming a professional photographer, therefore any new learning, any advancement in knowledge or skills has value and this needs to be explained in your analysis. 

• What have you done that was new - how will this help going forwards?
• What new equipment have you used - how might this impact on your development as a practitioner? 
• What have you learned about light and lighting techniques?
• In the instance of deadpan photography - can you see any reason for applying this approach to your own images - what value does it have? 
• Has this shoot and the associated research into the Bechers broadened your understanding of the different genres of Photography - what are your thoughts on this? 
• Do you understand the principles of objectivity in conjunction with Photography?
• Looking at the basics - what did you get wrong - composition, focus, consistency of approach - look and see from your contact sheet whether you can get 4 images shot against white or dark backgrounds? 
• If you've started to print your images - are your images fit for purpose? Compare your images and their sharpness, tones etc with the image of the boy with glasses on the wall of 3B17
• Discuss/analyse your work in terms of it's Operational context what type of photography do your images look like - what and how could they be used?
• What do you think you could do to improve them further or develop the idea further? 

In this current work (35mm SLR Analogue Portraits) - the second phase of the practical activities is the printing and darkroom practice. Mid-way through the duration of the task around October 13th you should do a 2nd Reflection using the same approach looking and discussing your learning around Printing. 

The Creative Process Task

Stage 6 : Our creative process The Developmental phase

Read through this section 'Stage 6 'and explain this part of the process in your own writing - do not copy and paste. 

Stage 6 involves repeating stages 3,4 and 5 over several shoots in order to improve and develop your initial idea. 

Your first shoot in response to your research is not going to look like the real thing that would appear in a magazine or a publication for numerous reasons and it's this which would have been analysed and discussed in your reflection. You would have hopefully drawn conclusions at Stage 5 (The Practical reflection) as to why this is so...

This might look like something like this...

"Having printed the deadpan images we shot in the atrium, despite the fact that the plan was to shoot them with a small gap above the head and cut off just below the hands, somehow I've ended up not doing that at all and they look nothing like the reference image we were all shown as guidance. What's more, because of the inconsistency with regards, the choice of models and the different backgrounds it would be hard for me to present these as a coherent set of say 4 images of either boys or girls. 

The conclusion therefore is I need to make a plan to re-shoot the images differently to correct these mistakes. I need to potentially stick to one colour background - probably white using a plain white background, not a poly-board with texture and shoot only girls or boys to make the process easier. I might even get people from outside of my class and make a 'Typology'... 4 Blonde girls with long hair and the 'Hair' aspect could be the 'Type' aspect"? 

 So, now you write up a detailed plan for the follow-up shoot. In the plan you'd expand on what you may have said in your reflection above. You're now into the phase where you simply look to improve and develop your idea over a series of shoots and this involves repeating stages, 3,4 and 5...

PLAN - EXECUTE - REFLECT

You write a plan for shoot 2, actioning the improvements mentioned briefly in your reflection.

You execute the images as detailed in the new plan and get these images into your design sheet with annotations and explanations.

Then you reflect on shoot 2 - again criticising your work, looking to improve it further or experiment with new ideas that arise from conducting the 2nd shoot. 

Then keep repeating this Plan - Execute - Reflect approach over the following weeks looking to make the work better each time or more experimental - more your own work rather than a direct copy of someone else's work. 

Stage 5: Our creative process Post activity Reflections 

*Note this very similar to the post research reflection - but far more detailed. 

Read through 'Stage 5' and explain this stage in your own writing - do not copy and paste. 

Stage 5 is one of the most important sections within your work when you're producing your own self-directed work. After half-term your activities will be divided up into... 

(a). In-class activities, where I'll teaching you directly the basics of shooting images using available light on location with DSLR cameras. These activities will be uploaded and saved in your S&K design sheet as they are technical exercises.

(b). Will be a self-directed project which will probably be shot outside of college featuring people you choose for your subject matter. 

This work will be structured using the creative process. You'll (1). Research 2 Photographers. (2) You'll produce a Post research reflection.  (3). You'll write a plan for your first shoot. (4). You'll execute the shoot e.g. take the pictures and upload them to your power-point. Then you'll reach Stage 5...

The Post activity Reflection 

This is where you follow these prompts here... 

(a). What happened? - This only needs to be a very basic explanation made up of about 2 sentences.

(b). How do I feel it went? Similarly this only needs to be a couple of sentences and is usually an emotive response... I was unsure/confused/apprehensive/confident/optimistic/nervous out of my comfort zone etc.

(c). What was good/bad? Again a few sentences, highlighting in basic terms 2 good things and 1 negative aspect to the activity/work.

(D). Analysis; This is the important bit. The Key here is not to describe the obvious and things that we can see in your images and annotations. 

This is where you have to critically un-pick what you have done and explain the value of doing the work. Every-time you do this, you should consider you're on this course with the intention of becoming a professional photographer, therefore any new learning, any advancement in knowledge or skills has value and this needs to be explained in your analysis. Other things you should do each time you do this - is look at your work and compare it with the work of professionals - how does it compare? Is it anything like as good as the work of professional photographers? Make a case one way of the other. Another thing to look at and explain is the purpose of the images... how could they be used, what sort of images are they? Are they stock images, editorial, art photography, where might these types of images be seen, who might the client be, what demographic group does the client belong to? What are the images trying to convey in terms of meaning, message or narrative? Does one single image tell the story on its own, or do you need to see the whole set of images to understand what the story is? With all these considerations - are your images fit for purpose? 

Draw some conclusions based on your analysis using these prompts - how can you improve your images, what will you do next to improve your work - are the issues - technical issues relating to poor lighting and poor camera work, or is that the images are simply not fit for purpose? 

The idea is you're ruthlessly self-critical and come up with solutions to improve your work through this process or self-reflection. 

The Task - Explain the above in your own words - show that you understand what reflective practice is and its purpose and where it sits in the creative process. 

_________________________________________________________Stage 4: Our creative process Execution (The doing part).

So, you researched a Photographer or two, reflected on your research and made sense of it  and how it informs your work and you've written a plan; Now you Execute your plan, you shoot your first set of images. 

In photography when we're learning or producing big projects we do so over a series of 'Shoots' sometimes referred to as test shoots or developmental shoots. Later in the course, you'll be given projects to undertake over several weeks where you'll have to shoot and re-shoot, each time planning each stage and reflecting on the results. Using this process you'll improve and refine your techniques, ideas, making more informed decisions about your images, developing your skills and ideas. 

This first shoot is usually an opportunity to do something basic and quick, trying and testing things out to see how easy or hard it's going to be to get the results and quality you're striving for. In many situations and you can do these initial shoots using your phone just to explore your ideas, location, whether your model is going to be any good, or looks right for your pictures. It just needs to be basic in order to start your project and should be done ASAP, potentially as soon as you've figured out an idea - mid research possibly?

You should shoot plenty of images and experiment with ideas, angles, poses, models, focal lengths, viewpoints and subjects. For each of these shoots you should look to shoot a minimum of around 50-60 images.

You should also do wide shots of where you're shooting - showing the environment and the light source. If you're working with others - models, assistants, make-up artists etc, these should be photographed too. Also identify the equipment and camera you're using along with what you've done in terms of H&S for yourself and others you're working with, this is evidenced in your work through a combination of images and explanations. 

The image here above shows a decay project using dead plants as the theme for 'Decay' and shows the development over 3 stages from an initial idea shot on a phone on white paper in a very basic way developed over 3 stages. This approximates a very basic approach where each stage results in 2 pages of work. This would be a minimum requirement and isn't an exhaustive example. 

Stage 3: Our creative process Planning

Re-cap; We always start with stage 1 - Research. This should be done within a few days. This is followed by a post research reflection where you reflect on the usefulness of your research. We follow that with Stage 3... a Plan also referred to as a proposal.

You need to explain in your work that a key part of most of the creative or design processes is a plan whereby you explain what you're going to do and how you'll do it, where it's going to happen, when you'll do it by, where you'll do it and what resources you'll need. In Photography this is quite detailed and specific see this link here... 

Level 3 Photography resources: Writing plans for Photo-Shoots

Use the screen grab I sent you on teams on 21st Oct to show the list of things to typically include in a plan. 

Stage 2: Our creative process. Reflection 

Start this part of this work by researching "What is reflective practice"? Look at the definition and write up your own definition of it.

Once you've written the definition and have some sense what the purpose of reflective practice is reflect on the first deadpan shoot...

Each time you produce a significant body of work such as a photo-shoot, this has to be reflected on and made sense of. Use these prompts here... 

(1). What happened? - This only needs to be a very basic explanation made up of about 2 sentences.

(2). How do I feel it went? Similarly this only needs to be a couple of sentences and is usually an emotive response... I was unsure/confused/apprehensive/confident/optimistic/nervous out of my comfort zone etc.

(3). What was good/bad? Again a few sentences, highlighting in basic terms 2 good things and 1 negative aspect to the activity/work.

Then in (4) Analysis (The detailed section) You have to discuss and identify what you actually learned and identify things that went wrong and explain why this may have happened and what you'll do to get it right next time. For instance everyone was given the instructions to compose the images in a specific way, see the image below...

The instructions were - crop the image just above the head and just below the hands. Now look at your images and others in the class and see if you've followed the instructions. What happened, why did you all get it so catastrophically wrong with the exception of 2 people? Analyse why you got it so wrong and explain what you'll do to get this right next time? 

Discuss the 'Objectivity' aspect of your images- did you get this right (All of you did). Explain what makes the images objective, what design element decisions were made to ensure the images are objective? How do these images you've shot, differ from the approach you would have adopted if left to your own devices? 

What do you make of the lighting used? Maybe reflect on the quality of the light and it’s impact on the image in terms of being objective. Is the lighting dramatic or neutral – how does this work in terms of making the images more ‘Objective’?

It’s in your reflections where you analyse what you’ve done and demonstrate your understanding of how and why things come together in the way that you would have planned. 

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Stage 1 For this task you have to produce a body of work that demonstrates that you are wholly aware of the idea that when producing Photographic work you do so within a structured framework. This is known widely as The Creative Process and has a number of components or stages that you have to show you're aware of. Furthermore, your work needs to be produced within a creative process and through this project you will be introduced to the creative process that we recommend you use on this course. 

Create a new Powerpoint and name it... Your Name - The Creative Process. 

• Create a title page "The Creative Process" have your name on the title page too.
• The 2nd page - Using Google images search 'The Creative Process' and use a range of these images of the different types of Creative Process fill the page. 

The 3rd section

• Look at some of the websites read the explanations of the creative process and write your own explanation in your own words.
• Identify 4 components of these processes that are consistently seen and describe them. *Create a bibliography of the links you use for this work. 

The 4th section

In your own words, combining your own ideas and any further research that you do, explain what research is in conjunction with a photographic project. (Refer to the Bechers research you're currently doing and this post here that has an over-view of how to produce your research work https://ualphoto.blogspot.com/2025/09/research-guidance.html ).

What types of details need to be included in the research?

At what stage would the research need to be done? 

What are the key components of a research project?

What's the recommended balance between text and images? 

What resources are best for research. List them in order of preference and produce descriptions of them with explanations why some are better than others. 

• Books
• Journals
• Interviews with practitioners
• Galleries
• Exhibitions
• Youtube videos
• Websites

The 5th section

Write descriptions of the following types of research 

Secondary research

Primary research 

Empirical research

Stage 1 - Research OUR PROCESS

 Stipulates that in order to be a knowledgeable practitioner we must be constantly looking at Photography and reading about with a focus on contemporary and historic photographers. We should acknowledge that some resources are superior than others - Journals, books, in-depth videos, national galleries, exhibitions, and websites provided by larger art organisations. These sources of information enable us to look at a range of ideas and work and merge ideas to form potentially new ideas.

At the start of any significant work that we produce we need to produce research into associated photography to use as a launch pad for our own work, to seek alternative or associated ideas and learn from skilled and creative practitioners. 

 

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