A Final Evaluation of my WBL

Exhibition at Cafe Latte, Plymouth

 Preview Evening 

The Second Year of my Degree has seen an astonishing development of my confidence in being able to contribute and take part in the professional world of Art and Photography. I am overwhelmed by the success I have achieved, and excited about my future prospects. I have worked hard on my projects and tried to ensure that I have taken up as many opportunities that have been open to me. It has been an excellent year for me on all levels, academically, professionally and personally.

At the end of the First Year I wanted to ensure that I did not waste the summer months of 2011, and loose the momentum that had begun to build up inside me in relation to my art and photographic ambitions. With this in mind I grasped at the opportunity to work with Fotonow who were looking for Volunteers to Invigilate at a Gallery in the City, and also seeking people to help out with Camper Obscura, demonstrating the wonders of its 360° panoramic visual delights and magical capabilities. During the time I volunteered with them, I also had the opportunity to spend a few hours scanning negatives of Robert Lenkiewicz work for Archive purposes. This was very exciting as there were so many of his works that I had never seen before. I am not a great fan of his portraits, but his work includes so much more than just portraits and these were fantastic to see. It is also important to recognise that every skill is an added bonus that can enhance a CV.

I began volunteering for Fotonow in June 2011, and continued with them until the Gallery closed in September 2011. It had been a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet people visiting the space, persuading the public to have their portrait taken, and also to photographically document passers-by as they strolled around the city.

This opening began the process for me of building my confidence. I held two exhibitions at the Gallery. At first this was stressful and nerve racking, but also wonderful for my self-esteem. I have not looked back; as a result of my work with Fotonow, I feel that I have grown so much in confidence, and it has enabled me to continue working towards establishing myself as an artist in the city.

During the Summer I also stewarded for half a day at the Port Elliott Festival for Martin Parr. This was a relatively small exhibition, and I was there just to stand with his work ensuring that no one ran away with any prints and to direct people to the print space if they were interested in buying any prints. It was not the best experience of the summer. I did not enjoy it very much. The exhibition was in a small corridor which was very cold and dark. I briefly met Martin Parr, but he was busy photographing shots of the festival for his next year’s exhibition. I was not very impressed with the work he had decided to exhibit here, and felt that maybe as he is so very well known in the photography field, the quality of his work is not as important as his name. This is my opinion. I would not Steward there again but everything that I do is an experience to learn from; in this particular event I realised that for me to enjoy a work experience, I also have a need to engage with that artist, and also I like to feel that I am making a contribution in some small way, not just playing a role. As for the Curating of the Martin Parr Exhibition, it was Martin Parr’s choice to Exhibit in a small, dark and damp space, but personally I felt that it could have been improved if he had some interaction with the public, and maybe a film showing of his Festival Photography. That would have given the viewer a better insight into his work. I know that his name alone sells his work, but I believe that even if you are a very successful artist, that you should make more effort to give your followers a little more consideration, and also have a little more time for the people who volunteer to work for you.

Other events that I attended and photographed, not for any particular professional reason except to network and meet people whom I would not normally meet, was a Kite Festival at Devils Point, and I helped with a few Beach Cleans with Blue Sound. I am interested in conserving the environment and enjoy participating in events that are worthwhile, and also fun. I also believe that it is a good idea to meet and relate to as many people as possible, to take my camera and be willing to contribute to their cause, as you never know when someone will need a photographer.  If you appear friendly, reliable, trusting and professional, there is always a chance that some opportunity will arise in the future. I think it is important to remember this.

I have purposefully registered on as many Internet sites as I can so that my work can be viewed by anyone anywhere in the world. The Internet is a great resource for networking. I have registered on sites such as the Saatchi Gallery, LinkedIn, Artists Wanted, Facebook, Twitter, flickr and the Lomography site. Over the past year I have also entered competitions and submitted work to Fujifilm, AOP, Artists Wanted, Exposure and Central Park Photo Competition and Wolferstans. In the future I intend to submit work to on-line Stock Photography Sites.

During the second year of the degree, I have gained confidence in approaching people to exhibit my work, applying for opportunities that will enhance my future prospects and establishing a network of friends and colleagues who have shown an interest in my art. This has all contributed to an increase in self-confidence, and being able to contribute in a positive and professional manner towards my future success. I feel that I have succeeded beyond my expectations, and I am proud of my achievements this far. It has been a journey of hard work, dedication and commitment that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I had never presumed at the beginning of my first year that I would have been able to achieve as much as I have.