portfolio

final reflection: challenges, successes, insights, aspirations

At the beginning of this course, I would have said that I have a fairly good eye, but needed to understand my camera better and improve my technical skills. Looking back I realize that while I have had a lot of growth in the technical aspects of my photography, I’ve also developed a better visual eye. In my first assignment, there were a few shots that I considered to be good images at the time. I now see that while their composition may be fine, there’s nothing unique about them — no punch. They’re images that many people would see, as opposed to a reflection of my own distinctive style.

I learned the most from the aperture, shutter speed, and light assignments, as those were all completely new areas of exploration for me. Because they dictated a methodical approach, it was easy to see the results of various adjustments and that helped solidify my understanding. The shoots I enjoyed most and that generated half of the images in my portfolio were for the Eggleston and composition rules assignments. Given their purpose, it makes sense that those represent the point in the semester where I did feel like I was starting to develop my own vision.

The most challenging assignments for me were the studio assignments and the narrative series — for exactly opposite reasons. The studio assignments brought out the perfectionist in me, and I spent far too much time nitpicking and re-shooting. It’s a frustrating endeavor because any attempt at perfection produces diminishing returns — eventually there is little additional improvement. That kind of excess shooting also makes selection very difficult. In the end I did feel that most of the images in the lighting set were a success, and the still life image was a sentimental favorite for me since it represented my mom. 

The narrative series was difficult because half of the images were shot on the street and I had to accept what I got in the moment. I couldn’t go back and reshoot, so if I had the settings wrong or didn’t frame things well I lost the shot — there were no second chances. That really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but a few of those images are among my favorites from the semester. There’s something about successfully capturing a fleeting moment that can make for a really compelling photo. 

Going forward, I hope to continue working on both the technical and visual aspects of my photography. I no longer need to refer to my aperture card, but I think that even more practice will help make the exposure/aperture/ISO triangle second nature. I’d also like to continue my visual growth and in particular to further develop my own photographic style.