profportfoliojg

[profportfoliojg]

Video Presentations Pitch

For my video presentation, I prepared my notes and pitch so that I know what to say. It follows a simple overview of my work, practice and plans.

Introduction

Hello, I’m John......

I’m a fine art, documentary photographer. In my work, I explore the notions of isolation, identity & sense of belonging. As I grew up in both Nepal and UK, I’m fuelled by my own experience of seeing which is in this peculiar mix of both eastern and western culture. My images are manifestations of my own view of the world.

Photography is ultimately personal, I have this diaristic approach towards photography where it becomes an autobiography of my life. 

The driving force of my photography is my life. I think my work is quite neutral and reflective where I’m quite open in terms of sharing my own feelings and views. In a sense, my work becomes this vehicle to communicate my feelings to the audience. It’s like my diary. 

Practice- Personal Projects

Currently, I’m working a personal project where I explore my Nepalese heritage and identity. Really, what I’m doing is to reach back and rekindle my relationship and identity. It essentially depicts my sense of attachment but also comprehends my separation from it.

In a sense, I’m out of place everywhere and at home nowhere. I’m really an outsider with no sense of belonging, this is quite influential in my work, where I have created personal projects where I attempt to be more of a local which I think, looking back is idealistic. I think most of work comes from having an interest in certain subject matters whilst also depicting my separation from them. 

Distance can create connection.

I think photography helps us to feel close to our life, we feel connected to it. It helps us to share our experiences through life, through hardships, through failures, through success. We understand a historical document intellectually, but we understand a human document emotionally. 

Fashion

In my commercial work, I tend to shoot fashion where I explore various identities which relates back to my personal projects. Fashion has this power of projecting a view without having to say much at all, it informs people of our identity, it makes who we are. We choose and wear certain clothes which convey a sense of our self which can be decided unconsciously or intentionally. This idea is very interesting to me, fashion is not just about clothes, but it’s us, it’s who we are and choose to be.

I don’t want my fashion images to be ‘lookbook’ heavy where it’s focused purely on clothes, I’d rather have photographs that play around the clothes but focus on a story or an idea.

With not too many experiences in the commercial industry. I’d want to incorporate similar approach from my personal projects. I like having cohesiveness in my work. I don’t think there should be a fine line between the commercial and personal work, merging the two helps you to grow and to create a cohesive body of work.

Branding

For my brand, I have a very simple design. I experiment mostly with texts, colours and the images. It’s minimal yet playful which I think reflects my work. I don’t want the design to detract from the work, it’d rather compliment my work instead. 

For my website, I have a minimal approach to it. It lends well to my work. It’s very straightforward and informative. It has a photography website feel to it with conscious design choices.

Recently, I have created a blog where it offers rough insights to my practice. My website offers a more professional out look where as my blog adopts a more playful approach where I showcase different images and also present some writings that I like to do.

The overall look of the brand has an ‘artist’ feel to it. I think my website and blog covers not just photography but everything in between. My branding is certainly not finished. I still have lots of room for improvement. Like my identity, it will be refined as I progress along this journey.

Further Improvements / Plans

Although over the years, I have improved portfolio and practice, I still don’t think it’s strong enough yet. In the future, I want to continue to pursue personal projects whilst I delve on the commercial world after Uni as I want to learn more about the business side of photography.

Life after Uni can be challenging as we are no longer under the shell. I think the most important thing is to be and stay proactive. I just don’t want to stagnate as this is where the motivation of creating work deteriorates. I want to continue learning, continue experimenting and continue creating.

Behind the scenes

[profportfoliojg]

Evaluation

University of Hertfordshire 2016-2020

My approach to photography has changed and evolved as I become more clear of myself and my identity. The way that I had thought about photography has changed my way of thinking of photography. From second year, I have been heavily inspired by a conceptual artist, Marcel Duchamp who had rejected the “retinal eye”, intended only to please the eye. Instead, Duchamp wanted to use art to serve the mind. This was the main driving force of my “change” where I thought more conceptually about my photography projects. This is evident in my shift in personal projects from second year at Uni where I focused on a theme or a subject rather than just think of taking ‘good’ photographs. I started to have more project minded mentality where I focused on particular subject matters. This approach has fuelled my creativity and motivation since my second year. 

Now, as I prepare to leave Uni. I have come to realise how important marketing and self-promotion is, especially for young creatives. It’s a very competitive and challenging industry therefore it’s important to get yourself out there as best as you can. Upon my industry research, entering competitions online or self-promoting your via contacting various publications is a simple yet effective way of getting out there. In this semester, I have achieved part of that where I entered various competitions, I also have plans to enter future competitions as well. I am content with the creative decisions that I have in this semester as opposed to last semester. I have pushed my creativity to another level, I begin to think more seriously about photography. I have been speaking more and more to the tutor and peers around me regarding my work, constantly showing and getting feedback was a great way to improve myself. I took photographs on a regular basis and I felt as if my technical and visual knowledge has improved. 

My brand has also been refined. From my design and identity of the brand, I think you can sense youthful and a experimental approach in the work which also reflects in my portfolio. My overall ‘look’ has an  ‘artist’ feel to it as it’s quite simple and photography heavy which is geared to an audience who enjoy art and photography. I like to think that my work covers not just photography but everything in between. Just like my identity, my brand will be refined and adjusted as I progress along in this journey.

My portfolio and work are still in the progress. In the future, I will still undertake this process of shooting for portfolio, organising, designing, sequencing, branding, etc as I leave Uni. I am planning to enter more competitions and email more various publications and magazines to get more exposure in my both portfolio as well as my final year degree project as there are lots of places that take in final year projects. I feel quite equipped of leaving Uni as I have learned a tremendous amount over the last couple of years. Now, next goal is to get into the creative industry. I want to learn as much as possible within this experience. In addition, I would still like to purse my personal projects in the side as I want to improve my practice in that field. As long as I stay proactive, resilient and persistent in my approach.

THE AND

[profportfoliojg]

Portfolio Interview

To get better insight and to really explore my personal motivation and thought process. I wanted to ask myself questions about those topics. I thought it would therapeutic yet informative. I have made some sets of questions for myself which can been seen as ways to talk more about the work and talk about things that I have been doing unconsciously, this is where I confront these topics and answer genuinely.

Artistic Practice

I'm a fine art, documentary photographer. In my work, I explore the notions of isolation, identity & sense of belonging. I’m fuelled by my own curiosity to people and the world. My images are manifestations of my own view of the world. As I grew up in both Nepal and UK, I’m fuelled by my own experience of seeing which is in this peculiar mix of both eastern and western culture.

Photography is ultimately personal, I have this diaristic approach towards photography to the point where it becomes biographical of my life.

-Who are you? (Website Introductions)

John Gurung is a photographic artist based in South-East, UK. He's currently studying Photography at the University of Hertfordshire.

John searches for the ordinary in the extraordinary, exploring his fascination of photographing his curiosity in the world and it's people.

-Descriptions of your commercial practice

I don’t like to differentiate my commercial and main practice too separate. I like to make it as cohesive as I can with just minor tweaks as I explore different medium. For example, in my recent fashion editorial work. From major influence from my recent personal body of work that explores my Nepalese identity.  I embodied this idea onto the fashion editorial piece where I wanted the images to be more story board and less look book. As I grew up in both Nepal and UK, I’m fuelled by my own experience of seeing which is in this peculiar mix of both eastern and western culture. I think that this really informed the selection of images and also how they were photographed. Each image tells their own story, they even work well as a group. The nods towards Nepalese street style, such as the girl wearing traditional Nepalese kurtha with a more eastern makeup-- it’s a nostalgic update on that classic clash of east/west I grew up with.

I like this cohesiveness in my work that I try to pursue as the theme opens to new medium and challenges. I don't think there should be a fine line between the commercial and personal work, merging the two helps you to grow and to create a cohesive body of work.

Photo Projects

-just passing through…

It's an exploration of a relatively "ignored" and small town, home of University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield which is a popular destination for commuters as it's a passing town. It's a place that you always see but yet explore. It's a "temporary home". In the series, you are greeted by gentrification's by-products, tension, alienation and absence. The casual eye of the stroller reflects the purposeful gaze of the detective. The emptiness of the space in the photographs are related to what Walter Benjamin described as the scene of the crime. The process of strolling seeks out traces and excavating clues that embody a past, present and future which attempts to affirm the physical and psychological condition of Hatfield, a city ripe with history, texture and mystery. 

 -Food is Life

Photography is full of narrative possibilities. Despite not showing people in it, the notion of people is ever so present which speaks of their character and who they are. Food is Life are the choices and certain characteristics that students make based on their unstable finance. Student life is poverty. In a post-financial crash landscape of austerity, university students have been deeply affected by this through the result of initiation of fees and little amount of money that is left over for students to live, the Polaroids that you see are a strong signifier of this. It also challenges this so called perfect “foodie” photographs of expensive gourmet of food that you see in social media. Showing you the hidden truth of modern student lives.

 -Mero Pahichaan

This project focuses on my fading Nepalese identity. I'm a British Citizen who has lived in the UK for nearly 14 years now. Despite having lived in the UK more than I have in Nepal, I still feel a strong sense of belonging in Nepal. This underlying theme urges me to rekindle my relationship with Nepal and it’s rich culture. Using my camera as a tool that functions as part anthropological enquiry and part personal story from my depleting Nepalese identity to explore intimacy, distance and often tensions be­tween my torn identity. The project attempts to manifest a sense of attachment to my Nepalese identity but also comprehends my separation from it.

 -Nostalgia

Nostalgia is potent and intoxicating. It’s one of my running themes in my practice. Through this portfolio, I’ve worked on series of images that seem as documentary photography but with a subtle fashion element to it. Fashion has always been a huge influence on me, it forms us of who we are and how we are portrayed. The images are less look book, more storyboard. I’m fuelled by my own curiosity to people and their culture. The images are manifestations of my own view of the world. As I grew up in both Nepal and UK, I’m fuelled by my own experience of seeing which is in this peculiar mix of both eastern and western culture. I think that this really informed the selection of images and also how they were photographed. Each images tell their own story, they even work well as a group. The nods towards Nepalese street style, such as the girl wearing traditional Nepalese kurtha with a more eastern makeup-- it’s a nostalgic update on that classic clash of east/west I grew up with. The images evokes a kind of playful nostalgia.

A little foolishness mixed in with a little thought.

 -Biya (Stepping Stope in Life) – A photo essay (Working project)

2020, that means I'm 22. I have entered the 'glamourized' decade of my life where I am expected to achieve certain goals or accomplishments in life. As I grow older, I am expected to check off certain things in society's checklist for 20+ year olds. This essay voices my opinions and thoughts of this preconceived golden years of one's life.

 -What inspires you?

My own experiences as I experience life. Life inspires me all the time. I am also inspired by other creative fields such as fashion, music, movies, paintings, sculptures, etc. It drives and influences me to experience other people's work as they use the mentioned creative fields to fulfil their creative vision.

 In my work, I am more interested in taking series and evolving the into different manifestations as they grow. I have learnt more about my position as an estranged "tourist" in my work where I'm an outsider. I let these spontaneous, mishaps in photographs influence my work in some way. Being a stranger and almost alien like is great critical position to be in. Everything is new to the eye, it's a good meditative state of mind for strong work. As things become more familiar, it becomes increasingly difficult to look at things with a critical eye. Therefore, in my projects, I'm exploring ideas and my responses to these ideas whilst being quite receptive & neutral in my work. It's this driving curiosity that pushes me to pursue my personal projects.

 -What does your portfolio consist of?

My portfolio consists of themes ranging from identity, separation and intimacy. The various projects and photographs in my portfolio embody the mentioned themes. In most of my projects, I'm nearly always an outsider trying to look in or understand different ideals, photography simply becomes a social tool for me to engage in that exploration.

In addition to my projects, I have work from weddings, travel, holidays and events that I try to separate between my main work and commercial work. My 'main work' consists of my personal projects that I have managed to create and compile over the last couple of years which 'brands' me as a documentary, fine art photographer. For a commercial approach, I tend use work that's from commissions, fashion, weddings and events where I use photography in a professional commercial working environment. Even in my commercial side, I attempt to have a similar feel in the photographs as I do in my personal work. I don't like this idea of having a personal body of work and a commercial work that is so completely different from each other. I see it as both influencing each other.

 -Your approach to your practice what makes you and your work different

Everyone is different and unique, me being me is enough but to survive in the creative industry, it's hard and challenging. I guess what makes my approach to my work different is that it's diaristic and it comes straight from my own personal experiences. I tend to specific tool such as film cameras, various print types, retouching methods that's known to be of my style. In which, I have managed to accumulate over the last years. In my practice, I also tend to use writing to reflect my ideas and experiences to the photographs, both of which are distinctive of me.

-What do you want to tell your audience?

For me, more than telling, sharing is key for me. In my projects, I aim to evoke a sense of understanding and vulnerability, in which I hope my audience can understand and experience. Photography helps us to share our experiences through life, through hardships, through failures, through success. It helps us to feel close to our life, we feel connected to it. We understand a historical document intellectually, but we understand a human document emotionally. I recently read an interview with Todd Hido (American photographer) where he read one of his favourite comments he has ever received about his work from a stranger: “Todd Hido’s photographs do something to me. Like he remembers my memories, except he hasn’t met me, and I haven’t met him…”. This is similar to what I want to achieve in my work, somehow by implementing my own narrative and personality in his photographs, so much so that the personal photograph becomes personal to someone else. I would love to get that from my viewers, the image becoming so powerful that it makes your viewers relate to the scene, it almost touches them personally.

 -Who are your audience?

My audience are people who enjoy art and photography. I like to think that my work covers not just photography but everything in between. Photography like many other visual arts is a medium where it seems to summarise an idea but it rather re-creates and compiles ideas onto a singular frame. Photography is a way to inform and share experiences.

 -What are you interested in?

Overall, I am interested in the way we look at things, and particularly the way in which our perceptions shape the way we view our everyday surroundings. As humans we inherit our way of thinking from the past and tend to have trouble looking beyond what is in front of us. I'm merely trying to refocus our feelings and emotions to the everyday. Photography for me is this journey of finding sense of the world through my personal experiences and feelings. I like to think and see myself as a stranger, an outsider to all of my projects. Almost like an alien, which I think it's a great critical position to be in. Everything is new to the eye, it's a good starting point to be in as you're in this meditative state of mind where you are open to see more and new things. As things become more familiar, it becomes increasingly difficult to look at things with a critical eye. In most of my projects, I'm nearly always an outsider trying to look in or understand different ideals, photography simply becomes a social tool for me to engage in that exploration. Photography is my response to my life.

Career Interests

1. What areas of professional photography are currently of interest to you?

The area that I am interested has always been the documentary side with fine art elements to it. However, I have also been interested in the commercial/editorial genre of photography. In the long end, I would love to shoot editorial documentary photographs for a magazine or a company.

2. What careers are open to you given these interests?

In the commercial industry, there are lots of career options that are of interest to me, such as editorial work, fashion, portrait or of a product (still life). My main interest currently is of towards fashion and portraiture. I would like to do an internship/assist other photographers/photography agencies in order to get more experience. As I lack experience. 

3. Which careers interests you most and why?

The documentary fashion interests me the most as I have always had interests in clothes and art. I regularly visit websites and articles that discuss both fashion and photography, this has fuelled my inspirations throughout the years. I have always admired the brilliant work of Nadev Kander, Mario Sorrenti, Bruce Davidson and Juergen Teller and more recently works of Jamie Hawskworth and Francesca Jane Allen.

Practitioners

1. Identify 3-5 professional practitioners that you admire?

I admire lots of professional practitioners, it’s hard for me to pick but when I do think, three photographers stands out me.I have always admired the works of Tom Wood, Joel Meyerowitz and William Eggleston, their works stands out to me the most. Their strong, unique views on the medium of photography to depict their surroundings have always astonished me. Their works seem so much to me, they have been the source of inspiration from me. Their views and depiction of daily life in their home town has always stuck to me, to the point where I can see their work in everyday life. All three of them had this method of, a democratic approach to the banality of everyday life and they depicted in a certain way that the viewers feels attached to the photograph, you always feel something in their photograph.

2. What are your 5 key strengths?

My 5 keys are strengths are-

-Organisation

-Dependable (There when you need me)

-Hard worker

-Team Player

-Always keen to learn

3. What are your 5 key areas to consider?

-Procrastination

-Not reading enough (books, articles)

-Update on development of work (Tend to forget)

-Don’t have much photographic experience within the industry

-Research on photography

4. What are your biggest worries/concerns about working in the industry? And how do you feel you can overcome these challenges? What are you doing about this currently?

My biggest concern is that I will not get a job within the industry as it is tough out there with lots of competitions. My worry is what if I leave Uni with just a paper which proves that I am qualified?, I would need to work on contacting the industry and getting the right job for me to secure even after leaving Uni. What I’m doing currently to reduce the chance of that happening is to contact people within the photographic industry, whether they are small time photographers or photography agencies. This could possibly help me to land a job in the industry.

5. What are your targets to improve your photography this year? 

My targets to improve are to reach out to the industry, which can be a good way to secure a job there. Organising and getting my portfolio ready. Just focusing on getting myself out there.

Experience

1. Do you have any other interests that might influence your career choice?

I do other have interests such as being a documentary photographer for a particular magazine or a company, being requests to go to certain places and get specific photographs the client demands. This may be, working for a particular newspaper or a magazine. Or perhaps as an photo editor. Anything that’s creative.

Future plans

1. What are your immediate plans when you graduate?

My immediate plans is to get a job within the photographic industry, I want to be able to work in the industry. I don’t further plans to study, I want to focus on working finally within the industry that I have dreamed about working in whether  if it’s an internship or a full time job, if it’s released to photography then I will be very happy.

2. Where do you see yourself professionally in two year’s time?

In two-year’s time, I see myself settle in control of my life fully, a person who seems like an artist and think likes one. I see myself as an artist with a good wide scope of portfolio which helps me to land jobs at different places within the photographic industry. I see myself as a professional photographer who works full time for a editorial type company, taking photographs for them.

3. What are your long-term professional aims (next 5 years)?

Long-term wise, I want to see myself working within the photographic industry. Hopefully with few years of experience, my networking in the industry increases, and my knowledge of the industry also increases, with this in mind, thoughts may rise up such as starting up a business of my own. Hopefully, I will be then a full time professional photographer working for a company or a magazine, with several personal projects going on at the side.

4. Why do you want to be in the photographic industries?

To be a part of the photographic industry, it's a great deal of power and responsibility to show the world your own perspective, your own story. Photography helps us to feel close to our life, we feel connected to it. We understand a historical document intellectually, but we understand a human document emotionally. It's this drive that makes me want to be photographer.

·       Hobbies and interests:

Travelling                                                                     Reading Books

Fashion                                                                        Watching Movies

Coffee Talks                                                                Podcasts

Sports                                                                           Printing

                                                                                                                                         Personal Intake

Answering these questions have been rather challenging, yet it was therapeutic to write. I realised that I wrote some things that I genuinely wouldn’t known if I haven’t asked myself those questions. It’s a great way to get your reasoning behind your work and your motivating behind it. It feels diaristic in the sense that I become quite open and revealing in my answers. I want to explore more of this in the future as this is quite convenient and informative to some people who might not ‘get’ my photographs, the writing can help shape them an understanding of the project and the reasoning behind it. In the future, I wish to use this alongside my photographs to share amongst my peers and tutors to further introduce them to my project as well as to communicate my own personal insight to my thought process. Writing this has certainly helped me to feel closer and connected to my goals.

[profportfoliojg]

Industry Feedback

Hi John,

 Thank you for sharing all your portfolio material. It’s really good to see that you are thinking about you branding in detail. I liked seeing that you are trying different fonts, colours etc. I think this attention to detail in the design shows you are invested in your work and that will come across to prospective clients. Well done. 

 Your work in general is strong and I like your photographic aesthetic. It’s good that you’ve put together a couple of different portfolios that reflect different sides and strengths of your work. There’s an overall feeling that you understand your aesthetic and the presentation of your portfolio communicates that well. I would be mindful of including the analogue images that are quite degraded. Not that they shouldn’t be there, but include them only if you have a good reason.

 For me the studio fashion work is less strong but it does show diversity and also demonstrates that you have command over your aesthetic.

 Overall your work and the way in which you have presented it feels professional, well thought through and shows a photographer with their own vision. I’m excited to see what work you will make in the future. 

 Thanks, CarlCarl Bigmore , 23 Apr at 16:07Hi 

John Branding: 

Your analysis and evaluation of the design process is excellent, and your solutions are thoroughly thought through and appropriate to your photographic style. Your explorations of various colour palettes has definitely influenced and enhanced your photographic style and the development of your visual language. Your understanding of composition is clearly illustrated through your use of negative space and page layout, this enables you to present your work in a stylised professional way. 

 Sequence: We have discussed your sequencing and I will paste in the feedback as an aide-memoire but with regard to the Portfolio sequence I find it clear and intelligently organised with a well-defined thread that maintains your attention. Sequencing photographs is more problematic most sequences are constructed using purely visual principles, for example what are your best images and what images look best together. However, when creating a narrative using images for a book design or magazine article it is much more subjective, it is not necessarily the best (aesthetic) images that communicate the most appropriate message. Other factors then govern how you evaluate the success of your sequence, this is why it is very important that whoever judges the successfulness of your sequence understands the context in which the imagery will be viewed. 

 Regards Mark

[profportfoliojg]

Shoot Analysis

New Shoots

As previously mentioned, I had this fashion editorial in mind where I wanted to experiment more with as well add to my portfolio which lacks fashion images. I wanted these shoots be addition to my portfolio but most importantly, I wanted to explore certain themes in the shoot. 

I mainly used my friends for the shoot, picked carefully to portray youth identity in a more interesting way. In these fashion work, I wanted to explore the idea of youth identity.

I wanted to capture the effortless spirit of the youth in the most authentic way. The images combines youthful and experimented elements using a simple approach.

I wanted to combat the notion that at some point we must grow up, therefore I took this approach to the shoot where I wanted to capture the subject’s youth essence effectively. I grew up as an sporty person as well as a city boy, this influenced my styling for the shoot. These influences are directly translated into the clothing, with each pieces possessing sporty touches as well as ‘city’ elements. It’s really a nostalgic reminder about our youth and our experiences.

Influences

Tyrone Lebon

Lebon’s imagery has always been appealing as it’s very experimental and youthful. In the image above, he explores Brixton and it’s people through an experimental and insightful manner in a collection of images.

Benjamin Brouillet 

Benjamin Brouillet

My inspiration is very simple yet experimental. The images above depicts youth identity through a personal and stylistic fashion. Although they appear ‘lookbook’ heavy, the images has the substance of youth’s character of charisma and rebellious attitude.

Shoot

For the shoot, I used a simply backdrop and I simply took portraits of my subject. I wanted to go for this minimal look where the subject present the camera in a rebellious and carefree fashion.

I think the close ups work the best such as untitled, untitled 6 and 9. It conveys a sense of enigma and charisma.

The second half of the shoot was more ‘fashion’ heavy where I experimented with the clothes more. However, I don’t think those have worked too well as I still lean towards the portraits where the clothes are minimal such as the untitled and untitled 10. 

Overall, the shoot was fun and experimental. Although most of the images didn’t work out too well, I’m satisfied with some of them, the portraits where the camera intrudes the subject’s space and offers a unique perspective that the other images don’t.

New Shoot II

As I shot women in my previous shoot, I wanted to create a shoot with men which would add more to the portfolio as well as the editorial. I used a similar lighting and studio setup as it would add cohesiveness in the editorial. 

For the shoot, I felt it would add more to the editorial if I shoot the two models together which would add more variance to the work.

Some of the images above worked out well such as untitled and untitled 3. They give a unique take on the portraits, leaning towards the experimental side than fashion images.

Personal Intake

Overall, the shoots was effectively, there are some images that I want to add to the portfolio. I found the theme and the topics that I explored were very interesting and is something that I would like to pursue more in the future.

Fashion goes far beyond clothing, it defines us who we are. It is filled with meanings and symbols which serves as an instantaneous mode of direct, visual communication. Fashion enables us to make statements about ourselves and our identities, with the use of clothes, accessories and/or other physical items, enabling us to visually communicate who we are, who we’d like to be, what kind of social group we belong to and who we are most likely not to be associated with. Whilst fashion can be affiliated with hair hair styles, make up, accessories, etc, it can also include items that have nothing at all to do with clothes. Similarly, clothing has to do with other things apart from fashion like functionality, practically and protection. A lot of other immediate assumptions can be drawn up about an individual through mere observation of dress – which part of the world they may be from, what kind of  job they may possess or what their economic position might be. Thus, fashion is about identity, about the self. 

[profportfoliojg]

Self Analysis

As self reflection, I wanted to use this time of isolation to self reflect and analyse my strengths and weakness. 

Strengths

-Proactive (Admin)- Being in placement year  has led me to be more proactive in emailing / keeping in touch, keeping in  communications with my submissions, job applications, job hunting, etc.

-General basic understanding of  photography, lighting, equipment, software

-Experience in being in professional  shoots, studios being in creative companies

-Exhibition, having shown exhibition in  London as well as outside London, being able to showcase work professionally

-Online Presence (Exposure), I have my own  website to which I showcase my online portfolio in.

-List of Contacts (Technicians, collaborators,  etc), I have some supportive people around me that I can help me when I am in  need

-Unique Perspective / Own approach to briefs

 Weaknesses

-Technical  Knowledge, this could improve in working more in the creative industry

-Professional  experience, this is the plan after leaving University, it's all about getting  more work in the industry

-Equipment, I  need to invest more into my equipment to be more flexible with my  photographic services

-Financial  capabilities, leaving University will be difficult financially

-Lack of  knowledge in business side

-Competitions, I  want to be introducing my work to the world more, to get as much exposure as  well

 Opportunities

-Emailing various magazines / organisations  / publications to promote my work

-Organisations / companies - Applying for  jobs through various online application sites

-Competitions

-Grants (Personal Work/ Project) Art  Councils

-Expand Portfolio-  Social Media (Models)

-Close to Capital London

 Threats

-Theft / Damage- Can be solves with  insurance

-Rights of Image Use / Copyright Laws

-Stagnation (Not improving creative  skillset)

-Costs / Variable / Unstable Income

-Competitive Industry

-Finding the right clients / niche

-Technological Advances of photographic  industry

-Running Costs

-Job Growth

 Unique Selling Point (USP)

 -Unique Perspective / Own approach- I have my own  approach, my own perspective to offer the world.

-Quick Workflow / Turnaround / Free Prints

-Contemporary / Latest Look

Future Targets & Aims

 In this section, I will talk about my goals and targets as I prepare to leave Uni. 

Technical/Photographic

-Lighting / Technical Knowledge= I want to improve my lighting knowledge as I think I have the basic understanding of lights. I want to expand my knowledge and my creativity.

-Retouching Abilities= I want to improve on my retouching abilities to get the colours or the look that I want.

-Equipment= As previously mentioned, I want to invest on more lights and lenses to offer more flexibility in my creative approach to various briefs.

 Aesthetic  

-Improve Retouching abilities to expand my creativity

-Improve my darkroom printing skills (Colour Correct) to fine tune and polish my printmaking abilities

-Improve scanning films professionally (help from Photo fusion) in order to get accurate colour reproduction and tones

  Professional

-Grow network of people within the creative industry- Collaborations, possible job openings, assisting, other creatives in the field

-Improve lack of Industry Knowledge (Professionalism) / Experience by getting more involved and worked

Employability

-Grow experience in the creative industry (having the right equipment, right and good working knowledge of equipment and software being used in the industry

-To grow network, to get work through word of mouth= Digital portfolio / print portfolio

 Personal

-Financial flexibility= To be more financially stable

-Proactiveness= To be more vigorous in my approach to projects

-Equipment= Gain more understanding and it's usage to help with my creative abilities such as usage of software, lighting, camera, etc

-Ease of travel (Long term)= Obtaining a driving licence then eventually purchasing a car.

[profportfoliojg]

New ‘Portable Portfolio’

Recently, I stumbled across this video where it explored a Youtuber’s a day in life. In the video, what was most interesting was the 6x4 portfolio book which I thought was clever and very simple. I have a 6x4 printer, what better way than to experiment with this idea.

It’s a really simple yet effective idea where you can take your work everywhere with you as it’s very small. You won’t have to show your ‘Instagram’ or website, you can just show this which can show your dedication and your images in a new light, which could potentially land you a job if used in the right scenario. The little portfolio can fit anywhere in your bag, or perhaps in your jacket pocket.

Since I’m not able to print my work at professional printing facilities, I can experiment with this design and prints. Also the print quality is surprisingly good for it’s portable size. The printer I use, uses a dye sublimation thermal transfer which is something that bigger printer uses, it also uses 3 colour inks (yellow, cyan and magenta) with 24 colour depth which is very good for it’s size. 

This adds to the diaristic approach that underlies in my approach to photography. I really like this rough little book that stores my prints. It’s inexpensive method of showcasing portfolio. As you can see from the image above, it’s very small, it has it’s own charm.

I just need to invest on a small 6x4 book where I can store my prints. As 

I just need to invest on a small 6x4 book where I can store my prints with inserts such as the one below.

As you can see from the image above, it’s a very simple portfolio book with prints in inserts. That’s all there is to it, you just have to experiment with the sequence and the design aspect of it.

For the experimentation, I have printed lots of 6x4 images. I’m in the process of editing and sequencing. Whilst in this quarantine, I want to continue editing and designing for this small portfolio book. I’m also looking at various photo books online for the 6x4 book.

Memorabilia

The appeal of the book seems to take on an appearance of a diary or perhaps a family photo album which I like to experiment with. I like this playing around with this juxtaposition as the 6x4 size is used commercially, I want to experiment with this ratio to appeal the photobook using a more fine art approach to make the portfolio book appealing and striking.

[profportfoliojg]

PDF Experiments

Second Experiment in Portfolio 

For my second, I incorporated commercial images as well as adding design elements to the PDF. As I discussed in my ‘inspiration’ section of the blog. I wanted to experiment with simple design elements such as texts, colour and images. Minimal, contemporary and filled with characters of my own.

A more fun intro to the PDF.

I used colours in the PDF to make the work more appealing and fun, as the images itself are quite colourful yet soft. I wanted to accentuate this with the soft colour palette.

Personal Intake

I think the portfolio is improving. I really like these small images that’s not too small yet leaves you for more. The PDF features colourful pages which adds to the character of the work. The use of colour is playful yet adds to the flow of the work. I want to experiment more with the sequencing as it’s quite dispersed, it  feels ‘amateurish’. Perhaps grouping them, commercial, documentary would work. I want to experiment more so that the sequencing makes it feel like a big body of work rather than simple collection of images.

I want the PDF to feel like a book almost, I like this idea of it being sort of like a diary as it consists of small images, they are not big, they are just right. The design lends itself well to the images as it adds to the contemporary theme.

[profportfoliojg]

WIP Portfolio Experiment

For my portfolio, I organised and complied my photographs from over the years. I only picked out photographs that I felt conveyed a narrative and presented my artistic + photographic ability + subject matter. I tried to make the images work cohesively as well as individually.

 In my portfolio, I had images ranging from personal projects, fashion, portraits, still life, landscapes, weddings and travel. I compiled them together for a more rounded portfolio where it showcased ranges of subject matter. I created the portfolio in In-Design where I simply used 8x10″ document for the images.

I picked the image above as it’s quite stylistic and contemporary, it also links to the older days where film was used more often. The image conveys my artistic style which is this minimal yet strong in conveying a narrative. The simple hand gesture of the subject is powerful in the image, displaying charisma and integrity.  

I picked this image as it displayed my experimental approach to photography. By using a Polaroid which is very simple and easy to use as it is what it is. I think the Polaroids depict my versatility as a creative.

To add more versatility, I added the image above which is a very peculiar image as it’s quite ambiguous. It’s a very simple image yet quite powerful with it’s eerie lighting and surrounding.

I wanted to have a group portrait as I wanted to make the portfolio more versatile. In addition the image adds a youthful, rebellious aroma. 

The two image above depicts a more “fun” side to my photography where I use Polaroid and a simple portrait which hints at my character.

The image is a more “serious” image where it’s technical minded yet striking with it’s subject matter.

I added a landscape image to diversify. Whilst it’s a simple seascape, the image has it’s discolouration and soft palette which runs across the portfolio. 

Similarly, the image also is very minimal, yet it’s quite striking with it’s bland grey and popping greens.

Personal Intake

I think the overall portfolio is quite strong for a starting point. It presents my versatility and experimental approach. You definitely get an ‘artist’ feel to it with it’s contemporary and fine art take. The portfolio depicts strong subjects with simple compositions, it’s simple yet effective. For the working portfolio, I tried to sequence it  visually with similar colours, subject and form. Although the photographs are quire straightforward in terms of creating a narrative, the photographs remain ambiguous and metaphorical. 

In further experiments, I want to add more the work as the images are work from this semester and previous years. I’d like to add more commercial work to add more versatility in the portfolio. In addition, I’d like to experiment with design as the brief requires a PDF, I’d like to play around with design more as it would help to bring out the images in the portfolio.

[profportfoliojg]

Video Presentations

Guidelines for your Professional Portfolio Presentations

The video presentations are to stand in for what would have been the in-person presentation day where you would have presented your portfolio to a panel of teachers, industry professionals and peers. As you know we cannot do this now.

Instead you are asked to show your portfolio, website, social media and other marketing materials in a concise 2–5 minute (approximate) piece to camera.You will up-load this to studynet or provide us with a link from a video sharing site or server.This will be submitted on deadline. The videos will be looked at by myself, Mark Wilkinson and Carl Bigmore.

The prepared and rehearsed pitch should work to introduce you to us –your audience. You should aim to get across a bit of who you are-presenting yourself, your work and your brand to us. Imagine it is a little like a job interview where you are convincing us of your skills, talent and ability. It should be professional –but not without personality. Try to find the right balance between informality and professionalism.

Response to Brief

Due to Covid 19, we were requested to create a digital presentation of my portfolio. Therefore, I decided to make a video of myself, talking about my work and my process. As a follower of photography, whether that’s through exhibition, prints, photo book, social media, etc. I regularly watch videos of photographers and their process. Upon watching these videos often and the brief’s requirement. I then came up with various ideas for the video presentation.

Ideas / Goals for presentation

-Mini Interview of myself= I wanted the video to be a formal but with character. I like this idea an interview style, as I have already created an interview of myself where I talk about my work. I thought it would fit the presentation video. As it’s a presentation, I want to introduce myself and my approach to photography, I see this as an opportunity to improve on my video making skills as well as my talking skills.

-Me in my room talking about my process= Since we are very limited to options, I thought what better way to create a video whilst I’m in my room where I spend most of days in. With the video to be a formal style, by having an environment of the room, the video can showcase my own character to it.

-Blend of video and photographs= As I’m a photographer, I will incorporate my images in the video as I talk about my projects and practice.

-Working in the field video= I have couple of videos that I have shot recently which I can put in the video to give more insight of my process.

-Incorporate your brand such as website, social media and other marketing materials= I will aim to present my brand through the video using screenshots and a short mini video in the main video showcasing my website and other marketing materials.

-Short Video= I will aim to make the video about 5 minutes as it’s enough to introduce myself, my portfolio, brand and goals. 

-Prepared and rehearsed pitch= My mini interview that I had conduced will come in handy with this as I will present myself, work and my brand.

Overall, I will present like a professional rather than a student. I will aim to find a balance between professional and casual, which I think reflects my work and practice. 

Inspiration

The link to the video is at the bottom of the post.

I have been heavily inspired by the video above by Negative Feedback which is a Youtube channel that talks and discusses various topics around photography. The video explores the work of a young photographer, Cian Oba Smith who I also follow. 

I really like the flow of the video as it follows and explores Smith’s approach and practice through a professional yet informal way. The “interview” esque video in the room feels format yet quite informal, I like this juxtaposition. This is great for this particular occasion. I will aim to replicate this style.

The video also shows Smith’s photographs through a minimal and simply way whilst Smith explains his practice. I like this idea as it helps to show work whilst also you hear the feedback and ongoing thought process of the artist.

I like this varied shots in the video where the camera gives an insight onto Smith’s personal life, we see more of him and his personality through his room as an audience. 

In my video, I will aim to do the same of having varied shots to show more of myself and my room to give further insight about me.

I also liked this idea of showing Smith as he works in the real world, interacting with his subjects and doing what he does best. 

In my video, I aim to also show videos of me working in the field or perhaps a video that presents my work in a different way other than my room to give further insight to my work.

This video by Negative Feedback has heavily influenced me to create a presentation video that’s simple yet very effective in showcasing myself and my work whilst in the comfort in my room. 

Test 

Through the inspirations, I wanted to test right away. I did so with two cameras, one at each side. Unfortunately due to planned problems, I misplaced my tripod socket therefore I had to improvise. I used household solutions to my problem which you can see from the image above.

The image above shows my lighting, video and audio test. The lighting was perfect as the room faced the east, the lighting was bright as I faced towards the window. The only minor issue was the audio as I was on a busy street, there were occasional noises coming from the outside which I had to be wary of. I also have my post production sorted as I’m already familiar with  and use Premiere Pro. 

The test was a great success, giving me hope and clarity that I neeed.

Pitch

As the presentation was to be assessed on our pitch, I have prepared a list of notes that I want to talk about in the video. 

-Brief intro about myself= Casual introduction to yourself, what you and your practice in photography.

-Artistic Statement= Since I created mine earlier in previous posts, I can use my statement to introduce the audience into my practice whilst being brief and clear.

-Projects= With regards to the statement, I want to the talk about how I have explored the things that I mention in my statement. For example, exploring identity in my recent project.

-Diaristic practice= I want to explain my approach towards photography and my own thoughts about photography.

-Branding= Explaining my brand identity, website, social media or other marketing materials.

-Commercial work= The first talk talked about my artistic practice. In this segment, I want to explore my commercial work and how that pieces together and how that’s influenced by my personal work as well as my brand.

-Reflection= Evaluate and reflect upon your work up until, explain your strengths and weaknesses.

-Aims= For the ending, I want to talk about my life after Uni and my plans for that part of my life.

Evaluation

Now that I’ve got the technical aspects of the video down. In future posts, I will plan my pitch using the notes above. I will expand on these notes but will aim to keep it brief and clear.

Reference

NegativeFeedback (2017). In Conversation With | Cian Oba-Smith. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVA-8eHQdd8 [Accessed 19 Apr. 2020.

[profportfoliojg]

Competitions

Photography competitions are a good way to exposure in my work as you get your work out there where it gets exposed to the public as well as people in the industry. It's a great addition to include in a photographer's achievements. Although some competitions are overpriced & difficult to enter. Through competitions, your work will be published and sometimes, get reviewed by professionals in the industry. It’s a great way to get exposure to your work.

Our previous photographers/ artists that have come in for art talks had positive outlook on competitions, it's through that, they have got more work and are able to continue creating photography. In terms of genre in photography, the two photographers, Adama Jalloh & Carl Bigmore are the two that is relative to me and my work.

Adama Jalloh

Jalloh is a portrait and documentary photographer, my work is similar to her as she creates intimate personal photographs of her family and her sense of identity which is her Sierra Leonne heritage. She entered various competitions through out her graduate years and has been shortlisted many time, whilst also winning a couple. In 2015, she won the 'Undergraduate single image', British Journal of Photography Breakthrough Awards of her final year project. This enabled her to get noticed by editors and potential clients which through this, she was able to get work post graduate years.

Awards

2019 'TPG Talent', Exhibition and Mentoring Award 2018 'NEW WAVE: Creatives, The Fashion Awards in partnership with Swarovski' 2018 'Africa Media Works Photography Prize' - Nominated 2018 'Foam Paul Huf Award' - Nominated 2016 'Magnum & Photo London Graduate Award' - Nominated 2016 'Foam Paul Huf Award' - Nominated 2015 'Undergraduate single image', British Journal of Photography Breakthrough Awards

Carl Bigmore

Bigmore is a documentary photographer. He works on multiple projects and have self-published his own book, 'Between Two Mysterious'. Throughout his post-graduate years from graduating with a Masters in Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication, he has entered lots of competitions, have been shortlisted as well as winning some which he encouraged to do so as it enabled him to get more exposure and was able to network through it, as a result, got him work and was able to work full time in the photography industry.

Awards

2017- Winner, Magnum/Photo London Graduate Photographers Award

2016- Winner, Royal Photographic Society/The Photographic Angle Environmental Bursary

2015- Shortlisted, Bar Tur Photobook Award

-Winner, The Louis Roederer Foundation Student Public Award, Planche(s) Contact

-Shortlisted, Royal Photographic Society/The Photographic Angle Environmental Bursary

-Shortlisted, Luma Rencontres Dummy Book Award Arles

-Winner, Magenta Foundation Flash Forward Emerging Talent

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Semester B Goal- Enter Competitions

My aim in this semester was to enter more competitions, and I have completed this goal. However, there are still more competitions to enter in the future. I want to hone my skills as a photographer and will keep the goal of getting my work there as part of my workflow. Competitions / open calls is very important for, especially now as I’m about to leave University as it’s one of the main ways to promote my work since I won’t be under Uni’s guidelines.

I entered various competitions / open calls with my FMP project, Mero Pahichaan.

Guidelines & Requirements

For my submissions, I complied a set of photographs that were the strongest of my project. The above image shows my selection, I chose those sets of photographs as it represented my project most effectively whilst being quite enticing, which can help pull audience in the work. I had the original scans and the edited high quality files of the photographs, I just had to follow the guidelines and requirement of the competitions / open call that I entered. It was a relatively simple process as I had to reduce my file size to the required size. I also had to rename my photographs to my name to organise the files conveniently.  

Some submissions required 12 photographs instead of 15, the sequence above was curated by myself for the requirement as taking the last 3 away, the rest of the 12 photographs would’ve still had an impact and story of the project.

Since some submissions didn’t require statement for the project, I added captions for the photographs to give further insight onto the subject. The following are the captions that I have used for the photographs (see img above).

Captions

JohnGurung1= Gurkha Beret

JohnGurung2= Taku, Gorkha

JohnGurung3= England

JohnGurung4= Aama in the garden

JohnGurung5= Baje

JohnGurung6= Boy in the hill

JohnGurung7= Homeland

JohnGurung8= Ex Soldier

JohnGurung9= Ghar

JohnGurung10= Aama

JohnGurung11= Puja

JohnGurung12= Baba

JohnGurung13= Aaam ko Maala

JohnGurung14= Aama ra Baba

JohnGurung15= Nepalese Calender

Some submissions required a practice and project statement. As I have already had this before hand, it was very convenient and helpful in my submission.

Practice Statement

I’m a fine art, documentary photographer. In my work, I explore the notions of isolation, identity & sense of belonging. As I grew up in both Nepal and UK, I’m fuelled by my own experience of seeing which is in this peculiar mix of both eastern and western culture. My images are manifestations of my own view of the world.

Photography is ultimately personal, I have this diaristic approach towards photography to the point where it becomes biographical of my life.

Project Statement

This project focuses on my fading Nepalese identity. I'm a British Citizen who has lived in the UK for nearly 14 years now. Despite having lived in the UK more than I have in Nepal, I still feel a strong sense of belonging in Nepal. This underlying theme urges me to rekindle my relationship with Nepal and it’s rich culture. Using my camera as a tool that functions as part anthropological enquiry and part personal story from my depleting Nepalese identity to explore intimacy, distance and often tensions between my torn identity. The project attempts to manifest a sense of attachment to my Nepalese identity but also comprehends my separation from it.

Website

For promotional aspect, alongside the work, I also submitted a link to my website whilst can help promoting my work further.

Link- https://www.johngurung.co.uk/

Submissions

With my position of being a fine art, documentary photographer, I looked at various competitions, open calls and magazines that has showcases/promotes the work that I similarly produce. Through this I aimed to enter my project to the organisations.

Documentary/ Fine Art Photography Genre

-Photograd

Link- https://www.photograd.co.uk/submit

It's an online platform documenting the journey of photography graduates from UK based courses. It's aim is to showcase support, and encourage both older and more recent graduates, and provide an incentive to continue making work which we feel can become lost post university.

Bonus- It’s FREE

Open Call for 2020 Photography Graduates= Photograd

I submitted my project via email whilst following the guidelines and requirements for the open call for the 2020 photography graduates.

2020 Photography Graduate Zine

This open call was quite similar to the previous zine but this one was for Photograd’s upcoming graduate zine edition which I have entered.

As a student of Photography, I have been referred to Photograd since the beginning of my course and have been a follower ever since as it helps students like me to share work to the world, it’s also a great source to get information from fellow creatives. I hope from submitting my final project, I will be able to promote my work to the wider audience that Photograd has captivated. I want to be able to continue working in the creative industry next year and I think Photograd can help me get the exposure / network that I need to help me achieve the goal.

-Lens Scratch

Link- http://lenscratch.com/student-prize/

It’s a daily journal that explores contemporary photography and offers opportunities for exposure and community. It had a open call / competition for a ‘2020 Lenscratch Student Prize’ which supports student work through an annual Student Prize each June. It’s an enticing journal that helps creates opportunities for students like me to get exposure. The prize only allowed one entry. The journal is geared towards the contemporary, fine art photography which suits well with my practice and my project.

Bonus- It’s FREE

The submission was relatively simple, it was via email. I had to tweak my bio / artistic statement to a 3rd person which was required for the submission.

Project Statement in 3rd Person

John Gurung is a photographer based in Kent, England. Through his practice, he explores notions isolation, identity & sense of belonging. Growing up in both Nepal and UK, he his fuelled by his own experience of seeing which is in this peculiar mix of both eastern and western culture.

-AOP (Association of Photography) Student Awards 2020

Link- https://2020.aopawards.com/enter/

AOP Student Awards are a celebration of the best in photography amongst students, helping to provide that all-important step up to the professional arena. By supporting new emerging talent, the Awards are an opportunity to get a first look at the potential stars of tomorrow. I entered the student awards, I got a discount for my submission since our University is affiliated with AOP

I opted to submit my work to the ‘AOP Student Awards- Series of Images’ which I thought suits my project the best. The images work the best when they are together therefore I entered the project in the series of images.

Within the submission, I had to pick my category of my photographs. I picked people since my work is portraiture heavy.

My Submission- Since, I could only enter up to 4 images, I entered four of the images from my work that I think works best as four images. The ‘Gurkha Beret’ image introduces you to the project whilst the portraits of my mother are my one of my strongest portraits in the work and the landscape image added further insight to the project.

Submission Price

AOP Members: £5.75 per image Non Members: £8.50 per image

- -UH Creative Arts Photographic Portrait 2020

It’s a UH portrait prize, the work has to be portraits. “Photography concerned with portraying people with an emphasis on their identity as individuals”. I could enter 6 images to enter. Photographs could be anything, “can be black and white or colour & made within any genre of photography. Fashion, street, commercial, photojournalism etc if they include people then all are relevant.

For my submission, I submitted 4 of my ‘strongest’ images which was work from my recent personal project. I picked photographs that were visually striking, bold yet subtle in it’s ways. 

-F Stop Magazine

Link- https://www.fstopmagazine.com/submissions.html

It’s an online photography magazine featuring contemporary photography from established and emerging photographers from around the world. Each issue has a theme or an idea that the unites the photographs to create a dynamic dialogue among the artists.

Throughout the years, it has open calls for submission for their new issue / interview/ collaborations. It’s a great magazine that supports emerging photographers, they are free to enter.

Bonus- It’s FREE

I submitted my photographs to ‘Issue 101′ which was didn’t have a theme but was open for all fine and documentary photography which suits my project.

-Lens Culture

https://www.lensculture.com/photo-competitions/street-photography-awards-2020

Lens Culture is one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching resources for discovering contemporary photography talent around the world. They publish competitions frequently.

I looked to submit to their ‘Street Photography’ competition where it was a free to entry, only downside is that you can only enter one photograph.

For the submission, I opted to the enter the photograph below (as in screenshot above) which I shot of my aunt as she gloriously welcomed us through the deep mist. It was a genuine welcoming moment for us.

- Source Magazine

Link- https://www.source.ie/graduate/submission/index.html

Source is a quarterly photography magazine published in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It publishes emerging photographic work and engage with the latest in contemporary photography.

It has a competition for students who’s graduating from a Photography Degree or Masters Course in 2020. It’s quite pricey at £33 per student. In addition, the cost includes  a free 1-year digital subscription to Source (worth £26.99) with access to their extensive back issue archive and their monthly e-bulletin which will ensure you stay informed with all the latest news and opportunities from the photography sector.

Although I haven’t submitted to the open call yet. I want to discuss amongst our class members since it offers a group submission, I want to get majority involved since we won’t be able to exhibit this year. There’s still time to submit since the deadline is at May. With my recent submissions, I already have files ready for submission. I just need to communicate with this to my peers.

Deadline for BA Students- 12th May 2020

Personal Intake

What I have learned through entering

-File Preparation= It’s important to make sure your photographs / other files is ready for submission. It’s key to read the guidelines of the submission’s requirements as it may lead your work to be disregarded. I found it handy to have both original (scans / raw) as well as high quality jpeg that you have edited for the file compression to be more convenient in the submission.

-Artistic Statement= This can help introduce people to your project and your practice. It’s very important to always have this within your reach. Especially entering competitions, statements can be a gateway to your portfolio, it can help people understand your work more clearly.

-Strong set of photographs= Having a strong set of portfolio of images beforehand is vital, as it keeps you prepared and ready to submit. Having about 15-20 photographs in hand for potential submissions is a strong starting point, I found as competitions normally request for about 10. You can have extra where you can narrow down your set of images for only the best. It’s very important to make sure the set of photographs is coherent and complimentary to it’s sequencing.

-Light room Edits= This can help create more coherent editing in the process of selecting your photographs for submissions. Using Light room is key as you would use to reduce your file size for the requirements of submissions. Having your meta data set is also key as it helps you to maintain the originality of the photographs, especially at a time, where you have to submit your work amongst many others.

- Up to date with deadlines / submission requirements= Being up to date with the deadlines and the submission requirements is very important in submitting work. I have missed various competitions recently due to my lack of organisation skills. To avoid this, I have made reminders on my book and laptop where now, I am up to date with the deadlines and future competitions to make sure I don’t miss any key competitions / open calls in the future.

Previous semester has been quite a busy one with creating work and maintain a schedule for it. In this semester and in the future, with these competitions in mind, I will aim to promote my work through various organisations and magazines to get exposure. It's not a habit of mine to look for open calls and submissions, in the future when my work is more refined and ready, I'll be entering lots of competitions. I have to get used to this when I leave University as I won't be covered by the University, I'll have to self-promote and publish.

[profportfoliojg]

Commercial Work- Wedding

In my portfolio, I also have a wedding section. Over the past years, I have accumulate some wedding photographs. I don’t particular enjoy photographing wedding but it’s something that I’m willing to work with. As it’s simply documenting and very fast paced, it’s sometimes feels repetitive. However, I have changed my outlook on the whole idea. I have started to become more experimental in my approach, influenced from my personal projects and style, I now see wedding in a new perspective. Even though it feels repetitive, I now see it as a something that I can improve on, for example, photographing strangers and improving my organisation skills.

Commercial Options

As much as I'm interested in fine art, documentary photography. I know that for that type of work, there’s not much opportunities for regular finance and potential work. Therefore, I am now slightly leaning in the commercial aspect where I think there are higher chances of employ ability. My personal work is quite aimed at the contemporary fine art documentary world where it's very competitive and quite unstable in terms of work, but it is what I'm most curious about. My aim is to compile a portfolio both that's targeted towards a more "fine art" side and a more commercial / fashion side to appeal to wider audience. 

This slight shift is what motivated to shoot more wedding. In the start of year, I accepted to photograph two weddings which I thought could help me refine my commercial work in my portfolio. The following showcases the wedding images.

Reflecting on the work 

As influenced from my industry research in previous posts. My approach towards the commercial aspect of the work has shifted as I now think that shooting commercial work can also be part of your personal project. In the era where being a photographer is very easy. Having an idea or an approach is what sets you apart, anyone can take a photograph but not everyone can create photographs. With this in mind, I found motivation to bring my approach in my personal work to commercial. Unlike the usual standard images, I found that by bringing our “artistic” traits to commercial work can make creating commercial work fun and interesting. For example, in the images above, I really wanted to convey the couple’s intimacy as well showcase their heritage and identity through vivid colours and using the location around them. This can help you set apart from others as you have your own “look” and approach which can help you with employability. 

The wedding was very fun to be a part of, it was a pleasure to be a part of their special day. I’m quite pleased with the results and so were my clients which is always a bonus. These collection of images are great addition to my portfolio, it can help attract potential clients who’s looking for a wedding photographer. 

With some experiences in wedding and other few jobs such as assisting and placement jobs which I done in the previous year. I feel more equipped and ready for life after Uni as I know my rates and capabilities. I hope to expand my skillet, and experience. Whilst I’m looking to delve on the commercial side after Uni, I would still like to purse my personal projects in the side as I want to improve my practice in that field. As long as I stay proactive, resilient and persistent in my approach, I am confident that I'll be working in the creative industry after I leave University with my plans in mind. 

[profportfoliojg]

Covid- 19- Adjustments

 Prior to Covid 19, as mentioned previously in my early posts. One of my goals was to experiment with printing as I get ready to leave Uni. In the first few weeks of Uni in Semester B. I experimented and used the darkroom heavily with regular visits. As I mostly shoot on film, over the years, I accumulated film. For my portfolio, I wanted to improve my darkroom printing as I like this idea of hand prints, I wanted to work on this as there won’t be much opportunity to do so after Uni. In addition, I was looking at various local companies to look to print my digital images.

Physical prints was always the goal which I explored more in the previous semester. Also with influence from the art talks and industry research (see previous posts). Having something physical is special, it’s where pictures truly shine.  

Portfolio Box

For my portfolio, I was looking at portfolio boxes to store my prints. Having a portfolio bod enables for more flexibility, they are ideal for presenting your work individually or to a group of people, where you can lay out across the table to it be seen as a whole. 

Since my portfolio is quite cohesive in terms with where I explore ideas of isolation, identity and sense of belonging in my work, having a portfolio box can help convey that. The benefit of this portfolio box enables my work to be shared amongst multiple people at the same time.

I was looking at about A4 sizes for my portfolio box as I wanted to print 8x10 prints. I’ve always been fond of the 8x10 size as it’s classic and very versatile. Plus, another reason was that I didn’t want my prints to be big, I wanted something more portable. I don't want my work to be overpowering but it should pack a punch therefore I think a size such as 8x10 will compliment that. I see myself improving and adding new work to my portfolio throughout the future years and therefore will travel to various places for people to review and to showcase my work. As a result, a smaller size print would make it more convenient for me. 

Ilford 8x10 B&W Pearl Paper

For my darkroom prints, I purchased two types of paper for my portfolio. I purchased a black and white paper, which had a pearl finish which had this subtle glow to prints which I am fond of, whilst not being too glossy. I also purchased colour paper which was lustre which sits in the middle between glossy and matte, like the pearl, it’s minimal yet punchy,

Fujiflm 8x10 Colour Darkroom Paper Lustre

Having 8x10″ paper was quite useful as over the last couple of years,  I've shot lots of 6x7cm which can be favourable to 8x10" since you can print almost exact cropping without losing any of the film image.

Archival 8x10 Print Sleeves

To protect my prints, I purchased some archival sheets which not only protect but preserve photographic prints.

Darkoom Print + Archival Sleeve

I like having this flexibility in the darkroom where I can print big or small, with border or no border. Although this has been challenging, it’s been, I experimenting with the crop factor where I have the print small, the off white borders of the print helped to frame the image.

I also experimented with full bleeds. It was a fun time, experimenting with colour paper.

Darkroom Printing Aims

For my portfolio, I had lots of negatives to print and experiment with. I made a list where I had planned to print. Here are the images of negatives that I wanted to print for portfolio.

Visit to Menor Lab & Sim Lab

Just before the pandemic, alongside class mates visited local printing companies, Menor Lab & Sim Lap. We wanted to see what they offer, whilst also wanted to get inspired by what they offer. Whilst the goal was to see, physically the print types and portfolio options. The main objective was to meet with the companies and potentially organise a sponsorship, which can help reduce printing costs as most of us were willing to print locally.

Menor’s printing lab

Menor was happy to collaborate with us as our sponsors, they even offered to come in for a talk as well to help us individually or as a group to sit down and really focus on post production abilities.

Printing & Framing section

Framing Options

Window Mounts

Photobook

I particularly was fond of their print types. For my portfolio box, I was aiming to source from a company which I already had in mind but for the print options, Menor was a great choice as I have seen their print quality which I was fond of. We was given some paper samples for printing options so that we can experiment with.

The visit was a great experience, it helped us to build a relationship with the local lab. We was hoping to extend and work with the lab in the future.

Sim Lab

We also visited Sim Lab which was very close to us as it’s based in Hatfield. It was a popular option as most of us have used the company to print their work as it was very close and convenient. 

They had lots options from portfolio to print to frames to business cards. It was clear as opposed to Menor, Sim Lab was more directed towards the commercial market. 

Although Sim Lab offers great quality prints and products, we ultimately chose to go for Menor for our sponsor and a printing lab for our portfolio and degree major project work as it offered more options for our printing needs.

It would have been great to work with Menor, looking back as they were pleased to be our sponsor. It would’ve helped to extend the partnership for future students. Anyway, enough of what could’ve been. Now, I will focus on the next objective.

Further Experiments

Due to covid 19, as expected, our course changed to the digital world. This meant that I had to move to digital portfolio. Although it’s been restrictive, I still experimented with printing as I had a small portable printer. (see img below)

Canon Selphy 1300

I have been using the printer to print small work to overlook my portfolio and help pick out strong images for my portfolio.

The images above was part of the look book for the shoot below. The small 6x4 prints has helped not only for work purposes but also helped in shoots where I reference other work.

Prints on polyboard

In addition, I have been working on my scarpbook where I have printed large amount of 6x4 images of side work that I have done over the last years. It’s really a visual diary, compliation of my work that I have made over the last years to now.

It’s been helpful in showing work.

Working scrapbook

I have been printing lots of work which I’m going to sequence in my scrapbook and hopefully have hints of writing in it. This is something that I will continue to do even after Uni.

Key Changes Due to COVID-19

-Final PDF Portfolio (can have more than one)= Approximately 20-25 images. 70% new work must be made in Semester A & B. Half of this can be made up of your degree project, the other half is new work shot specifically for portfolio. 30% can be previous work

-A single PDF= Showcase links to your websites, Instagram, video link and any other online material to access for assessment

-Online / Video presentation in a MP4 format

Deadline= Friday 1st of May at 12pm (midnight)

[profportfoliojg]

Industry Research Part 2- Inspirations

With my previous research where I looked at photographers that were up and coming and were successful in sense of getting work and an audience in their work. For today’s research, I will be looking at key established photographers who have lots of experience in the field, they are whom I admire. I’ll be exploring their work and what what sets them apart from others.

Jamie Hawksworth

His first photography project, Preston Bus Station which consisted photographs of the people and the place of the bus station was a huge success. It was a long 3-year project which he then self-promoted himself. It caught attention of stylists like Joe McKenna and Marie Chaix—and W Senior Fashion Editor Marie-Amélie Sauvé with this intimate and candid style, in which he was able to get work in fashion. His work is grounded in the subtle, elegiac and playful heritage of British documentary photography, this also echoes in his commercial work which I admire. He has his own unique look that's elegant and glowing that's striking.

  Tyrone Lebon

Photographer and filmmaker, he has built up a great reputation in the fashion industry for his candid, sun- soaked photography. What I admire about Lebon is his vigorous approach to photography and film. In his work, you feel the subject's character and raw emotions. It's not the visuals for him, it's much more than that. He uses photography to bring out the raw and personal character in his subjects. His provocative portraits often focuses on perceived imperfections, ruminating on the question of what beauty is. It's this practice that intrigues me as well as the fashion industry.

Ryan McGinley

American photographer, his work is more diaristic approach where it features young nude subjects showcasing a carefree attitude that the artist calls an "evidence of fun". His irreverent approach and hedonistic portrayal of youth. Having started by using his friend group as models, he built upon his portfolio, his work is a direct response to some of the experiences that I have had in life. It's work is about adventure. I like to explore things, so I think the by-product of that is these moments of authentic joy and elation, all these beautiful emotions coming out of it. I’m just there to witness and capture these moments, and I think that’s part of the artistry.

Francesca Jane Allen

Recent graduate, whose final year project was enchanted large publications, galleries and brands alike with her playful portraits of her friends whilst embodying youth and female friendship. Even in her commercial work, her images capture the intimacy and the delicacy of females. She has her own identity and her own unique practice in her work where the photographs reveal the strength and fragility of adolescence, the bonds of friendship and love, and the discovery of sexuality and identity.

Overall, they all have their underlying personal practice is ever so present even in their commercial work. Unlike the usual standard images that you see in commercial, the artists mentioned bring their own artistic traits or have themes that they explore in their personal work that is further embodied in their commercial work. This is what's fascinating to me, to be able to bring your own practice onto the commercial side is great for your project as well as your finance. By doing this, it not only sets you apart but the work becomes part of your practice. In the long run, the running thread pieces your work together where your work becomes more coherent. The commercial work doesn’t become commercial anymore, it merely becomes part of your practice. This is what I’m inspired me to experiment with more with my fashion shoots.

[profportfoliojg]

Artistic Statement

One of my targets was to improve on writing. I have experimented over the last few days to improve on this matter and to refine my writing ability which accentuates the work. Photography is subjective, it’s ambiguous, it’s the nature of it. One of the ways writing can help is to convey a complimentary piece to your work that the audience might need to understand your work. Otherwise, your work might be misinterpreted. Good writing informs and adds to the work, it shouldn’t detract or lead you to other things, it should be a supplement to your work. Writing has helped me to clarify what my work is about whilst also being a complimentary aid / insight on the project. Another key factor is also to write in an interpretative manner, there shouldn’t be a fixed approach, it should leave your audience open to view the project as they want to interpret it.

Coco Capitán

Through my previous work, I have some examples that’s a good starting point but I’m looking to refine.

Website Bio

John Gurung is a photographic artist based in South-East, UK. He's currently studying Photography at University of Hertfordshire. 

John searches for the ordinary in the extraordinary, exploring his fascination of photographing his curiosity in the world and it's people.

Review- I made this bio last year. It’s quite clear and informative to my occupation and approach to photography. The second half of the statement informs you of my practice, whilst it leaves you for interpretation. I don’t think it’s sufficient enough, it lacks a punch, it’s quite vague. 

New Bio

I'm a fine art, documentary photographer based in South East, UK. In my work, I explore the notions of isolation, identity & sense of belonging. I’m fuelled by my own curiosity to people and the world.

Review- Simple & straight to the point. Audience can understand what I do and what I explore in my practice easily. There are some key words in the bio which can help the audience remember the themes that I explore which can help to understand and recognise what I do. For a more personal experience since my work is influenced by, I opted write as a first person. The bio instantly becomes more personalised and special to the audience as it comes straight from me. The bio also allows the viewers to ponder the work in a more informed way where they understand where I’m coming from, it creates intrigue and makes the viewer to look more into my work and process.

CV Bio

Optimistic, hardworking and self-motivated photographer. Competent in capturing high quality photographs & organising materials for photo shoots whilst displacing confidence and professionalism at all times. Conversant with different genres of photography, ranging from fashion, documentary, editorial, amongst many more. Enjoys being challenged and engages with projects that requires to work outside comfort and knowledge, as continuing to learn new skills and developing techniques is essential to him and the success of your organisation.

Review- It’s quite straightforward and informative, it lends well to my experience and what I’m ‘equipped’ with. However, it feels quite ‘jumpy’ as it jumps from one topic to other, it’s not as cohesive.

New Bio

John is an optimistic, hardworking and a motivated creative. With various experiences ranging from working in professional studio productions shoots to outdoor action shoots. He’s conversant with assisting and help capturing high quality photographs & organising materials for photo shoots whilst displacing confidence and professionalism at all times. Aside from working as an assistant for range of photographers and studio organisations, he engages in his own personal projects that challenges him and helps to learn new skills and developing techniques.

Review- For the bio to feel ‘stronger’, I opted to write as a third person which could feel as if another person, perhaps a referenced person has wrote it, it feels more authentic. I used the similar sentences from the previous bio in which I made the sentences flow well with each other. The first sentence comes straight to the point, then it informs you of my experience and my capabilities, then to my own photography where it makes it seem as I’m always keeping myself busy and proactive in the field. 

Recent FMP Project- Mero Pahichaan (Project Statement)

My work focuses on this idea of being lost, with me being Nepalese who has long lived in the UK. It explores intimacy, distance, and often tensions between my torn identity. I aim to use experimental photographic medium such as polaroid and film to interrogate the personal and culture issues around migration, displacement and colonialism found within the South Asian Diaspora. Focusing on my family and how our relationship, memories and bodies are intertwined. The photographs reflect a mood of confinement and my relationship with the Nepalese/British identity.

Review- This was the first project statement that I had submitted. Although it’s quite informative and straight forward. It feels quite repetitive, especially in the last half of the statement. It lingers on what I’m exploring rather than giving hints on the project’s overall story, thus detracting you from the work.

New Project Statement

This project focuses on my fading Nepalese identity. I'm a British Citizen who has lived in the UK for nearly 14 years now. Despite having lived in the UK more than I have in Nepal, I still feel a strong sense of belonging in Nepal. This underlying theme urges me to rekindle my relationship with Nepal and it’s rich culture. Using my camera as a tool that functions as part anthropological enquiry and part personal story from my depleting Nepalese identity to explore intimacy, distance and often tensions between my torn identity. The project attempts to manifest a sense of attachment to my Nepalese identity but also comprehends my separation from it.

Review- For the amendment, I made the statement more straightforward and cohesive. In the first half of the statement, it informs you straightaway the background of the project, the inspiration of the project. Then in the second half, it informs you of my motivation and supposed ‘aim’ of the project whilst being interpretative to the project. It flows much better, it’s informative but doesn’t dwell on ideas too much.

Practice Statement

For my practice statement, I haven’t made this one before therefore I aiming to write this creatively and informatively. 

I'm a fine art, documentary photographer. In my work, I explore the notions of isolation, identity & sense of belonging. As I grew up in both Nepal and UK, I’m fuelled by my own experience of seeing which is in this peculiar mix of both eastern and western culture. My images are manifestations of my own view of the world. 

Review- This statement is complimentary to my approach as it creates interest to the audience that may want to look at my work. The statement puts forward that run through my work whilst also being quite reflective, as I look back at my work and review my body of work. The statement adds to the diaristic practice that I explore. I have opted for a first person as it adds more personality in the statement, it also compliments my approach as my images are personal, they are about my life.

Coco Capitán

I’m still aiming to improve on my writing, I’m experimenting to write about my projects and about my life. I’m currently testing out writing about myself and my portfolio which I publish soon in future posts. For me the language that I use in my writing is key, as I think it’s quite academic yet relatable in the sense that it’s basic in terms of words and the flow of the writing. Perhaps you can get this from my writing and can add to my practice. This can help to connect with audiences where they can get a sense of what I explore and focus on.

Coco Capitán

Personal Intake

Writing can also be a gateway to your work, it can help inform and add a layer of story to your work. Although it may be hard to put ‘art’ into words, a relationship that you’ve always felt intuitively. I think with experimenting and time, you can use writing to add to your audience’s understanding of the significance of your work and help them feel all the feels more deeply.

Writing these statement can help in my future submissions to open calls, competitions, grants, residencies, exhibition opportunities. Although they can be painstakingly challenging, it has helped me to understand my own practice and has inspired me to hopefully edit more every few months in the future and translate this nonverbal solitary thing I spend countless hours on into words for a specific audience.

[profportfoliojg]

Industry Research (Upcoming Photographers)

As this is my final year, I am preparing for life after University. With previous placement year experience, I have learnt a lot from that and it has helped me to become more prepared for life after graduation. Recently, I have looked at various upcoming photographers that I admire and inspired me to improve. I have looked at how they have produced work and how they’ve gotten ‘noticed’, they are all young photographers who have recently gotten lots of exposure. 

Cian Oba Smith

Concrete Horsman

Studied for photography degree. Whilst at his final year, he was able to show work to Emma Bowkett who is the director of photography at 'Financial Times FT Weekend Magazine' which she then gave his name to Zed Nelson which he then was exposed to the business side of photography. Specifically, how to conduct yourself as a photographer and work with people on shoots, negotiate fees, things like that. He was able to then gain the similar work ethic and was able to grow his network from there and create personal projects as well get commissions from FT Weekend, The Telegraph, New Yorker, Vice,etc.

Adama Jalloh

Love Story

Studied BA in Commercial Photography in University of Bournemouth. Her work have been nominated for BJP, Magnum & Photo London awards. Through here Univesity years, she assisted frequently couple of photographers that she admired. From this exposure and networking, she has been been receiving various work especially editorials for magazines which has helped her to push her portfolio. She had sent lots of emails to various magazines & organisations, sending them portfolio links (PDFs). For example, she reached out magazines recently to showcase an editorial for them using her own personal projects approach, the magazines then took her in so she could photograph their cover shoots.  She's very proactive in promoting her work.

Alice Zoo

Swimmers

A recent MA photography graduate who has able to get lots of exposure through various open calls, competitions, submission to magazines, portfolio review, etc. She's very proactive in promoting her work. In the screenshot below, you can see that she has been very active in submitting work to various publications and have won some of them which has given her great exposure to the point where she has been commissioned by FT Weekend Magazine, The Guardian, Huck, i-D, It's Nice That, just to name a few.

Hayleigh Longman

The shed was our spaceship

Studied BA in Commercial Photography in University of Bournemouth. BA in Photography. She undertook an assisting role in a gallery where she volunteered and was able to grow a list of contacts from there. Upon this role, she was able to gain more experience in working in production. After, she was able to grow her network which she was then able to work as an assistant curator in London. From then she was able to be more financially secure. From this role, she was able to meet potential collaborators and clients. For example, she met up with D (our tutor) which she was able to get her own published in. In addition, she would then lead on to assist photographers that she met whilst undertaking the assistant curator role. Upon this role, she was able to expose herself to more and more creative people, in which she has been able to land job opportunities to support both her finance and her personal project as well.   

Personal Intake

What can you learn from these people & how could this support the way you market yourself?  

-Digital Portfolio (PDF)- Easier, more convenient method of getting across online to varieties of organisations/ magazines, open calls, etc.

-Physical Portfolio- This will be more helpful when there's a 1 one 1 meeting, it'll help to make my work feel more personal and more unique to me and my practice. ·       

- Enter Competitions  / Open Calls- It's a great of getting exposures within  the industry. Competitions help to share and promote photographer's work,  giving us the artist the exposure the need to progress the photography further.

-Portfolio Reviews- Emailing editors / Magazines / Some sort of Publications – Through prepared PDF’s and artist / project statement.

-Email Magazines- Getting  exposed as much as possible, promoting work. Emailing varieties of magazines  / organisations to hopefully get work reviewed and hopefully to land a job  with them.

-Digital Portfolio (Own Website) as well as blog on Tumblr- I have my own website which I can show to potential clients for work online. Digital version of my portfolio. I also have a Tumblr blog where I write about my  creative endeavours and upload other mini work whereas in my website, I have  more of a more refined look.

Networking was the key part of my research, you have to self-promote and get yourself out there. It’s important to stay proactive and vigorous in your approach. This is a very competitive industry to be in since it's not the norm, it's quite niche. I would have to be quite proactive in publishing and promoting my work as I am doing right now which is submitting to open calls or various other competitions. In the future, I aim to do the same to get more exposure in my work. I want to continue in communicating with my peers and tutors that I have right now to help me develop my projects and ideas. In which I would then push to meet industry professionals.

Aside from the factors above, I think the most important factor is to stay persistent and vigorous as I think photography, the creative industry is very competitive and tough, it’s hard to get into and stay in. Therefore, staying proactive in your approach and to your work is top quality to have, it makes sure you are regularly producing work, keen for it and keen to always improve. The worst thing is to stagnate, this is where you lose your interest and stay off your passion / work. Currently and in the future, I aim to stay proactive, if not more and always keep on improving and testing.

[profportfoliojg]

Introspection + Reflection on Portfolio

In this post, I want to introspect my portfolio and practice. I’d like this time to reflect on my work and overlook it’s progress and direction.

I recently submitted an essay / dissertation, in which I explored how photography is ultimately autobiographical. This is evident in my practice as I use my camera to reflect my personal experiences at a moment in time. Photography is really about life, it’s your life. In some ways, you are always in your photographs. 

Photographs can contain sentimental knowledge and a truth that can serve as a point of departure for our own interpretations. There is something captivating about cameras because they possess the power to invent many worlds.

My practice is autobiographical, my work is this visual diary where it’s much about myself and my feelings /  responses to the world. Photography makes sense only when it manages to find a narrow passageway; it becomes valid only when the photographer manages to create a “passage”. The passage opens up before the viewer and what lies ahead is left for [them] to decide. (Seino, 2009)

I’ve always thought photographs are naturally ambiguous, the ambiguity is enhanced by factual omission when a photograph that seems to be describing one fact, is representative of another. It pleasures our eye, the image is full of curiosity, it's a way to the world. When you look into a photograph, you fall into it's illusion, you immediately dive into the photographer's world and see from their perspective. The portal is unique and different to everyone, photographs is comparable to that of Narnia, once you have access to the photograph and when your eyes lay on it, you enter their world. My perspective is unique and what I convey in the images are also unique.

 Upon overlooking my portfolio, my work has this neutrality and reflective approach where I'm quite open in my work in terms of sharing my own personal feelings to my subject. In a sense, my work becomes this vehicle to communicate my feelings to the audience. Through this method, an ongoing dialogue opens between the photographs and the audience. I'm very much inspired by the everyday and my feelings of that is what usually drives me to pursue my projects.

Photographs are rich with semiotic language and coding, triggering interpretive meaning and discourse. It encapsulates a timeless quality where a passage of time can reveal provocative narratives around relationships, emotions, events, successes and failures; narratives that connect to and intertwine with one's life. I like to make work that is about my life, I think for me, there shouldn’t be a clear border between work and personal life. The two merge to one corresponding body. The subjects should be accessible and are part of the photographer's everyday life. For me, work doesn’t happen in a studio at scheduled times, it happened at rooms, in my personal lives and home.The work essentially is life.

Life is a universal subject for us to focus on. Our personal stories, our journey through life are invitations to our world. Photography helps us to share our experiences through life, through hardships, through failures, through success. Photography helps us to feel close to our life, we feel connected to it. All the work shown in the essay are visual diaries where you feel a closeness to it. We understand a historical document intellectually, but we understand a human document emotionally. These intermediate documents sharpen our knowledge of public facts but sharpen it with feeling. The photographs are memories, diary entries, extensions of feelings, manifested visually and displayed publicly; they are multiple in nature and in relation to different viewers, yet they always rest upon the autobiographical as art.

Portfolio Review

Although I’m improving my practice and my work, I don’t think it’s strong yet. I have great interest in continuing to pursue my personal projects in the future however, I’d like to hone this further as well as improve on the mentioned commercial aspect of the work. I want to make other aspects in my further stronger. I aim to make my portfolio 'industry ready' for my future application for potential employ-ability. I am planning to enter more competitions and email more various publications and magazines to get more exposure in my both portfolio as well as my final year degree project.

In the future, I want to stay proactive, resilient and persistent in my approach, I am confident that I'll be working in the creative industry after I leave University with my plans in mind.