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Critical Reflection of SI Project and the module as a whole.

The SI Project and the module as a whole have taught me several things about photography primarily, but they have also taught me things about myself as a person.  

I began the module as a complete novice when it came to photography. The module has given me an opportunity to learn the skill and has shown me that there is far more involved than snapping an image. To relate photography to a passion of mine, hurling, one must learn how to perform the basics before you can play. In hurling you learn how to catch and hit the ball and in photography you must learn about exposure, focal length, depth of field, timing and visualisation before you can even begin to take good images.I believe I have a far better understanding of these skills now and in particular when it came to the SI Project however I have so much left to work on. The weather did me some favours on this project and I truly believe that this is my best work to date. Through lectures and feedback on my work I learned that one must look at the subject of the image from every angle twice or even three times. What i thought was the ‘money shot’ at the time was more often than not discarded. I took more photographs for the SI Project then the rest of my projects combined, re shooting at different times in the day, when the weather changed and even if i had a new idea in terms of a new angle. This was a massive factor which I feel contributed massively to the improvement in my work and learning. Essentially I have learned through doing which is effective in almost everything one undertakes. “Practice makes perfect” to use the cliché. 

With regards to challenges I faced specific to the SI Project, time was by far the biggest obstacle. My life is hectic year round balancing two part time jobs, two sports teams, a full time college course, J1 visa application and a non existent social life. Obviously I had several other assignments to complete for other modules as well as exams to prepare for. I knew that finding time to shoot would be the biggest challenge. I tried my utmost to overcome this by allocating several days to shoot and I would conduct several different shoots throughout those days. I feel this worked well for me as it allowed my to work efficiently while getting all other assignments completed. The different times of day also had a major impact on the aesthetic of the images I was getting. I even shot at midnight after my shift as I knew from my research that the casino was illuminated with different colours at night time. I found shooting at night particularly tricky and was forced to play around with my camera settings to improve the image quality. Access also became difficult at this time as the entrance was locked meaning I had to shoot from Griffith Avenue. However this provided me with a large range of shots to chose from and play around with in lightroom. Ultimately this made it easier to find the right final image.

In a general sense this module has shown me that one must commit fully to any given task in order to do well. Some of my previous work suffered through a combination of incompetence and insufficient time dedicated to projects. This can be applied to college and life in general. Everything you undertake will suffer if it is not given 100%. I have always been a high achiever when it comes to sport or academics which has sometimes led to my reliance on talent as opposed to hard work. This module presented me with something I truly struggled with and forced me to put in hours of work in order to achieve. This struggle has been evident from my marks to date, however I am truly proud of my final project which matches what I had visualised.

On my development throughout the module I feel as though I started ok but failed to bring my work to the next level. This showed in the profile project. I took my criticism on board and looked to do better in the book covers. I increased my efforts and tried to amend my shortcomings on the previous task however my quality of image seemed to be what let me down. This indicated to me that for my final project I would need to match my effort with research of how to take better images and what to look for. For every shoot I conducted I was very aware of the layout and where the best shots would come from with regards to every location. However I still took images from angles that may not have been ideal in order to have every inch covered. Personally this led to a far higher quality of image. Looking forward I believe that there is no obstacle in life that cannot be overcome with the right amount of guidance, support and pure hard work.

In relation to my goals I have always maintained a simple mantra to look after my health and be happy. I have always been the type of person to live in the moment which I feel is lost on a lot of people. However I realise that this outlook may not help me reach my full potential. In my whole life I have never failed an exam/module/test. However I have often gotten a B when an A was within my grasp. My goal is to achieve a first class honours degree in journalism by this time next year. This will mean applying myself to work hard and fulfil my potential. This module has shown me that a ‘just enough’ approach to learning will be punished. I see this module as a major learning curve and perhaps the point where I become more focused on my short term and long term goals. I believe I can achieve a first class honours degree and that it is a realistic goal.

 In relation to my longer term goals I cannot say for certain that I know what I want to pursue. Obviously I am interested in working in the media but what section specifically is still open. Radio and TV have become more and more appealing to me as I advance through my studies. I cannot see myself pursuing photography in a professional sense however I may develop it as a hobby. In terms of my career even small things like knowing how to improve profile pictures through lightroom or just subject positioning (STAY AWAY FROM WALLS!) to give the best representation of yourself is important. Those are the small margins that may mean getting/not getting a job. The media is a very competitive and fast paced industry. The ability to learn new skills is invaluable and I believe the module has shown me this.

As regards my overall learning experience I would feel that I have seen myself truly struggle to grasp a new subject in a short semester. However I have never been one to complain nor feel sorry for myself. I feel as though I took what feedback was given to me and tried my best to apply it to the next task at hand. I have a reinforced that one should reflect on the past, always move forward and learn from success and failure. To quote Conor McGregor, “you win or you learn”. Ultimately this culminated in a series of images for a SI Project that portrays the beauty of my local area. 

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SI Project Profile of Marino

Marino is a north Dublin suburb that was developed around the 1920s. The aim at the time was to develop an area just outside the city with affordable housing. The area now consists of about 1,300 houses but is constantly expanding. 

Marino was built on the former grounds of the Earl of Charlemont, William Caulfield. Caulfeild decided to name his estate Marino after the town of Marino in Lazio, Italy. He was inspired following a 9 year tour of Italy. There are several locations of historical importance all around the area.

Griffith Avenue

Griffith Avenue is the main road of Marino. It runs for approximately 3 miles stretching from Fairview through Marino all the way to Glasnevin. During the spring and summer months the avenue is particularly beautiful. It is flanked by two sets of trees on either side of the avenue. Interestingly the avenue could also be classified as a boulevard which is very uncommon for a road so close to the city centre. Several places of note can be found along the avenue such as the area’s St.Vincent de Paul. 

St.Vincent de Paul 

The parish church of Marino was one of the first buildings put in place when the area was constructed. Building began in 1924 and the church was completed in 1928. Along with the construction of the church the parish built two primary schools, St.Vincent de Paul school and Scoil Mhuire CBS. The schools could cater for up to 1,200 children. 

St.Vincents Gaa Club

Not too long after the construction of the church, St.Vincents Gaa Club was established. The club was officially opened in 1931 however its grounds were based in Raheny up until 1987 when the club moved back to Pairc Naomh Uinsionn where it still resides today. The club is the most successful Senior Football club in Dublin with 28 titles and 3 All-Ireland titles. The club also boasts 13 Senior hurling titles. Brian Mullins, Jimmy Keaveny, Kevin Heffernan, Diarmuid Connolly and Tomás Quinn are among the biggest names associated with the club.

Marino Institute of Education

Marino Institute of Education is the only third level institution in the area. The grounds were originally used by the Christian Brothers as a training centre however the focus shifted towards primary school teaching. In 1929 the Department of Education recognised the college as a teacher training college. The college began admitting students who weren’t Christian Brothers in 1972. However the Christian Brothers still remain Co-Trustees. 

Casino at Marino 

Marino is also home to a National Monument. The Casino at Marino was designed by Scottish architect William Chambers around 1750 with construction completed in 1755. It was built for William Caulfield aka the Earl of Charlemont. It is not a casino in the modern sense however with ‘Casino’ being derived from the Italian for house ‘Casa’ more specifically ‘Little House’.

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Inspiration for Book Covers

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Book Covers Project

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Reasons for change in  shoot 1 and shoot 2

In this particular assignment we were given the opportunity to initially shoot our images, receive feedback and conduct our own analysis, then re-shoot our images with this new knowledge. In almost all cases i completely changed my images from shoot one to shoot two.

Working Image:

In my first shoot i decided to just shoot in the newsroom. I positioned myself so that the light was directly behind me and the light was even. However the major problem with my image was the lack of focus on the subjects face.

shoot 1

In my re-shoot I wanted to utilise a more active image while also maintaining focus on the subject. I utilised a side window and long corridor in order to achieve my subject in light while the background is dark and quiet. The subjects face is also far more engaging.

shoot 2

Home:

In my fist shoot i tried to cheat but in the wrong way. Although I was generally happy with the image it is clearly not taken at home. A side note would also be the radiator head in the background. 

shoot 1

In my re-shoot i went to great trouble to travel to rush to shoot on site. I decided to utilise the background to indicate a strong sense of a students bedroom full of personality whilst maintaining focus on the subject.

shoot 2

Social media profile:

In my first shoot I wanted to capture my subject while creating a sense of personality through the use of background and the headphones. However the feedback suggested that the background was far too distracting without adding to the image.

shoot 1

In my re-shoot I decided to go for a much tighter shot as suggested by the feedback. I also shot on a wider angle lens to blur the background keeping focus on the subject. I still wanted to have an interesting background as for social media I believe there is room to convey something more about yourself than just the way you look. In this case an identity as and Irishman, with emphasis on the river and green white and orange colours visible in the background.

shoot 2

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Portrait shots: Reflection

After completing the most recent assignment there were several things that I learned. When it comes to taking a good portrait image there are several things that one must take into account. Largely through both feedback and trial and error i learned that keeping the background largely neutral is important as to not distract from the subject. I went about doing this by positioning myself in such a way that the subject was central to my shots. However the background did present me with several challenges such as sufficiently blurring it and getting the right depth of field. I feel as though my camera limited me in this field however after playing around with the settings for quite some time i managed to better achieve this effect. 

I also learned that factors such as lighting are important. Again i found the best way to learn about these was by trial and error. Throughout my process i found that when shooting indoors images can be either very dark or the light can be unevenly distributed usually because it comes through a window. Shooting outside can be far easier to get even lighting. I also learned how to adjust the lighting in images through lightroom. This was particularly useful as I was able to improve my images after i had taken them. 

One thing that I had not considered was the amount of images i had to take and indeed conducting several shoots and re-shoots. Although at times i found it tedious at times having a larger variety of images to choose from was beneficial in the end. Obviously having the opportunity to re-take the images after feedback was beneficial as i could make improvements. 

In conclusion I feel as though trial and error mixed with feedback is the best way to go about learning. Gaining experience and frequent practice is the way to success.

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Daniel Osborne: Journalist

Daniel Osborne is a 21 year old journalist. Daniel is currently studying journalism in Dublin Institute of Technology. He has spent the last three years learning and perfecting his craft. Although Daniel, affectionately known as “Danbuca” or simply “Dan” is a man of few words his true vigour can be seen when his words hit paper.

His reporting has ranged from politics to local news to current affairs and even the occasional dose of entertainment gossip. However his one true passion is sport. Daniel is truly obsessed with Liverpool and utilises his weapon of choice, Twitter, in order to vent his anger defeat or joy in victory. However he also indulges in more serious sports journalism. As a former sports editor of The Liberties newspaper Daniel is a dab hand in analysing all sport whether it be his beloved Liverpool FC, the excitement of test cricket or even the fast paced action of beach volleyball. 

Daniel currently resides in Rush, far removed from the city centre. Ever committed to the his education, Daniel takes the 33 bus for a 3 hour round trip without fail in order to attend every lecture.

However it’s not all work and no play. Daniel has embraced  college life to the maximum and enjoys socialising with his colleagues. When the lunch hour beckons he can be found tucking into a sizzling chicken stir fry at the renowned Diceys garden. When the sun goes down Daniel prefers to party in O’Reillys bar in Tara street usually accompanied by his brigade of charming associates.

Home 

Social

Working environment 

5 Points to take a better portrait

1. Keep it simple. Don’t try to complicate the image with gimmicks or props unless they’re absolutely necessary. Focus on the subject to ensure clarity and simplicity. 

2. Avoid distracting backgrounds. A very busy background can detract focus from your subject by catching the eye. Try to position yourself so that the background remains where it belongs......in the background. 

3. Lighting. Images can so easily become too dark or washed out due to poor lighting conditions. Natural light is usually best but ensure that you do not silhouette your subject or have too much exposure on them.

4. Take plenty of photos. You will almost never take the perfect shot first time. Take at least 5 or 6 images to ensure you can always pick the best shot. Don’t forget to review your work find what worked and what didn’t then conduct a second shoot. 

5. Practice. As goes with anything practice makes perfect and as humans we learn as we do. So get out there with your camera and start shooting!

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Project Evaluation

Earlier today I submitted my first project for this module. In general I am relatively happy with my finished work however there is always room for improvement. I enjoyed taking the images, playing around with different angles and things like depth of field made a huge difference I wouldn’t have thought about before this module. I also had my first brush with the Lightroom programme. I found it to be a very useful tool which is user friendly. The subtle adjustments I made to my images enhanced them in my view, I look forward to the next project.

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Time Capsule

Football Boot: Sport has been a huge part of my life, I have made so many friends and enjoyed so much success throughout the years.

Snoopy: This is my first teddy, however being a twin i was forced to share it. Snoopy represents the first of many things that I share with my twin. 

Lanyard: My first job was as a sales assistant in River Island. This was my first taste of the big bad world and served as a major move towards adulthood. 

Paintbrush: From a young age I loved art. Painting remains a passion of mine and I believe it is one of the finest forms of expression and creativity.

Star Wars: I remain to this day a massive Star Wars fan. These lightsabers are a few of many star wars collectables I own.

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Class reflection

I haven’t had a photojournalism module since first year and to be honest didn’t know what to expect really. My first impression is that the class will allow me to express my creativity through images as well as developing physical technical skills. I look forward to working on several projects through the year however i am slightly apprehensive about the technical side to the module.