Brighton Interview Preparation Sheet

1. About the College:

(50 words on why I have chosen this college)

Brighton University is situated in the heart of a very contemporary area. Lots of action is surrounded as well as many cultures and it is one of the places that let you create any work you would like without worrying about people’s reactions. A joyful environment including various exhibitions and gallery spaces to volunteer and help, as well as being part of the community after you have finished the degree. Only an hour away from London.

2. About the Course:

(150 words on the reason for choosing the course to include evidence of an awareness of the curriculum content, previous student work, staff profile, progression opportunities, state if you went to an Open Day)

This course would be brilliant for me because a huge number of students would mean that I would have the opportunity to mix with other people and their photographic styles. A well recognized university would mean that there would be higher visiting lectures to talk than perhaps some other universities around England. I like the fact that in the second year at Brighton you are encouraged to work outside of your preferred medium to a relationship such as moving image and sound. This would be a great experience to opening up my field as I have only touched on these parts before. Entry requirements are quite high compared to the rest of the universities I have approached with a foundation course desired as well as an A Level’s BBC. A degree at Brighton University enjoys a significant and international reputation. Career opportunities include freelance photographic practice as well as curating, publishing and exhibiting. In recent years graduates have won many prestigious awards, two Jerwood Photography Awards and a NESTA Innovation Award. The reputation is why I want to study here.

3. About Your Current Interests: what have you done recently/are you planning that show your ‘cultural awareness’ your ‘passion for your subject’ e.g. trips to galleries/museums, talks, concerts, workshops, books you have read, films. Be inventive and be bold but don’t blag.

(250 words)

My current interests at this previous time involve the use of long shutter speeds applied to simple compositions. Recently I have been playing around and experimenting, however I hope to take this further and explore in my first year of university level. I have been trying to achieve the fact that something appears missing to the viewer. For instance an episode of Eastenders would appear very unusual without the use of extras in the background. I have been to many exhibitions over the past few months to display the fact that I am passion for this subject. As well as looking at photography I have been looking outside my medium at art and the movement of brushstrokes by Lucian Freud and also seeing an exhibition in Brighton that involved the use of computer art. I attended a very interesting talk about Bardsey Island a few weeks back and it was all about a lonely island and the volunteers counted migrant birds. I loved the feel and pictures that showed desolation, similar to what I was trying to produce by using a long shutter speed. I find it interesting the fact that in A Level and the start of this year I was very drawn toward isolated trees. I now work in contrast to this and try to transform the sense of loneliness upon busy places. I did not realize of feel that this was meant to happen but I can relate them together as I have moved on.

4. About Your Current Practice: In a sentence say what your current practice involves

(25 words) 

My current practice includes the use of long shutter speeds involving the use of trying to display time and movement to the environment.

5. AND: Prepare 3 Key Questions to ask interviewer

What are the advantages of doing this course over another which is similar?

Who is your biggest inspiration in life, who do you look up to?

What is your definition of the word photography?

Plymouth Interview Preparation Sheet

 1. About the College:

(50 words on why I have chosen this college)

The university is upbeat and modern with its own separate part for school of art and design. This includes photography and everything has been put in one place. From previously looking at specialist colleges I realize it is better to go to a mixed university with lots of people doing various subjects, more people to meet and interact with. Situated in fantastic scenery.

2. About the Course:

(150 words on the reason for choosing the course to include evidence of an awareness of the curriculum content, previous student work, staff profile, progression opportunities, state if you went to an Open Day)

The staff profile for Plymouth University is amazing. I have been told that David Chandler is really good. He has worked in the photography field for thirty years and was assistant curator for the National Portrait Gallery in London. Stef once said that if she was to go to a university for the best staff it would be Plymouth. I went to an open day twice and I had a thorough look around the place. It was good everything was on the same level and had some great facilities like a wet and dry darkroom as well as lots of computer rooms and a special sunlight studio. I was also indulged to this university course after hearing that a film had been selected for an international competition. Typical career profiles are a free lance plhotographer, as well as advertising and editorial and curators.

3. About Your Current Interests: what have you done recently/are you planning that show your ‘cultural awareness’ your ‘passion for your subject’ eg trips to galleries/museums, talks, concerts, workshops, books you have read, films. Be inventive and be bold but don’t blag.

(250 words)

My current interests at this previous time involve the use of long shutter speeds applied to simple compositions. Recently I have been playing around and experimenting, however I hope to take this further and explore in my first year of university level. I have been trying to achive the fact that something appears missing to the viewer. For instance an episode of Eastenders would appear very unusal without the use of extras in the background. I have been to many exhibitions over the past few months to display the fact that I am passion for this subject. As well as looking at photography I have been looking outside my medium at art and the movement of brushstrokes by Lucian Freud and also seeing an exhibition in Brighton that involved the use of computer art. I attended a very interesting talk about Bardsey Island a few weeks back and it was all about a lonely island and the volunteers counted migrant birds. I loved the feel and pictures that showed desolation, similar to what I was trying to produce by using a long shutter speed. I find it interesting the fact that in A level and the start of this year I was very drawn toward isolated trees. I now worki in contrast to this and try to transform the sense of loneliness upon busy places. I did not realize of feel that this was meant to happen but I can relate them together as I have moved on.

4. About Your Current Practice: In a sentence say what your current practice involves

(25 words)

My current practice includes the use of long shutter speeds involving the use of trying to display time and movement to the enrorenment.

5. AND: Prepare 3 Key Questions to ask interviewer

What are the advantages of doing this course over another which is similar?

Who is your biggest inspiration in life, who do you look up to?

What is your definition of the word photography?

Time Is Changing...

Over the last few weeks I have been thinking about university and how I am having second thoughts. I still want to go ahead with university next year but I felt there was so much pressure over January that I didn't listen to my heart. My choices included Brighton, Falmouth, Bournemouth, Plymouth and Newport. Nevertheless I now feel a strong urge to simply just bother with Brighton and Plymouth. I also thought I should have put down Portsmouth as an option even though it was not recommended to me just incase for a back up. In fact I think that was the problem I had. Newport and Bournemouth were both recommended for being quite good universities, nevertheless thinking about it I feel it's not just the course but the place. I couldn't see myself in either. I applied to Falmouth because I though Natural History and Marine Photography sounded really good. However it is so far away and I have this feeling you do not get proper funding for that university to stay. 

This leaves Brighton and Plymouth. Plymouth was by far my favorite but it is sure a long way. Would I miss family and it would mean that it would be further away from London so no exhibitions in a day trip? The environment is lovely but a high rate of unemployment. Brighton is local and I could get there with ease, still being able to stay at home. The problem I had was the fact that equipment looked old and so many students (almost double Plymouth) means that there would be less space etc. For this reason I feel stuck between the two. I have an interview for Plymouth coming up and I have just sent a digital portfolio for Brighton. I also sent one for Falmouth but they have not replied yet. I feel now that if I was not to get into either Brighton or Plymouth I will skip a year and work, applying next year. I feel like not even bothering with the other three an I will probably not submit my portfolio.

Brighton Digital Portfolio

The images above show the digital portfolio that I was requested to do for Brighton University. They requested only a handful of photographs uploaded to Flickr (5-10). This was quite easy to do nevertheless I found it hard to select important work to show. I had lots of work prepared for my full portfolio. I was really hoping Brighton would get back to me soon and offer me an interview because I was having second thoughts on university choices. 

The 8 images I submitted clearly showed in my opinion the development of my work so far. The first images show that when I was in the first exploratory stage I worked very detailed and did not produce a lot of work, focusing upon accuracy and structure. I later moved towards working loose like I used to when I did my A Level in Art. This lead to photography and movement within this medium. I did not notice it at the time however now looking back I can see a huge chance in my work. My final images show how I applied this technique of movement in the darkroom. I used a long shutter speed in conjunction with a ten stop black filter meaning that I could do huge exposures in daylight. Taking an image before and after meant that I could show how the landscape and the subjects upon it had changed.

Falmouth Digital Portfolio (Part 3)

1. A Brief Statement About The Set Of Images Submitted

The ten photographs I have submitted are intended to give a dream like quality to the viewer. The bold trees in contrast with the subtle background express a sense of wonderment and a feeling as if you are on a different planet. Focusing on this set of black and white imagery at dawn and dusk, the lighting conditions, and being in black and white, have meant that the figures stand strong. This works very well with the theme of desolation that I am trying to convey.  There has been no one around when taking these images and this has meant that I can stay one to one with nature. The growing joy before pressing the shutter button has been just as important as the outcome itself.

Placing scanned darkroom photographs with digital ones in this set is not something I would usually do; nevertheless the darkroom is a big part of what I enjoy doing. It has also taught me how to interpret light better; the single most important factor that shapes the composition.

I feel the images correlate with one another and show a sense of communication, especially the photographs with two trees involved.  All were shot in the winter season and hence why they are bare. An important part of the cycle because many photos usually show trees or other plants and animals at their prime time. My strength in these images is to show a sense of loneliness. I have captured a variety of trees to show how they can all feel this and give the viewer this emotion. I feel my weakness is the fact that many of the trees were shot with varied movements to the sky even though they were shot on different days at the roughly the same time. I like the contrasting feel, although I think many of these images actually lack detail. Though the branches are quite crisp, an example would be the ground being too over exposed meaningless detail and a flattened look.

2. Three Photographers That Have Informed My Work

Michael Kenna is a true inspiration to me and this has fluctuated upon my work. A well known English photographer who captures unusual viewpoints of the natural environment. In contrast my other influence comes from Martin Stavars, A photographer who is barely known in England.  Both shoot in medium format black and white and every image gives a different feel of movement. This is because they capture the changes throughout the landscape whether it is trees or seascapes using long shutter speeds of up to ten hours. This type of imagery is something that would be nice to explore further.  Both capture bold scenes that look deserted and bare. This relates very much to the set of images that I have submitted. Another photographer who has inspired me is Trey Ratcliff, a photographer who uses the HDR technique. Previously I have tried this way of working and had good outcomes but lately I have stepped back because it is tampering too much with what is already there. He captures vast landscapes which involve many environments; although I only focus on his images of isolation, such as some taken in the Highlands in Scotland. All these photographers and many more have inspired me to create simple but strong pictures in the wild landscape.

3. Why I Applied For Marine & Natural History Photography

I want to carry on and improve my knowledge and skills in the subject area of which I love, as well as gaining experience from other practitioners and lecturers. I believe Falmouth would be a great place to study; there are some countryside surroundings near the university, meaning that I would be free to explore the natural environment in hiking and taking shots. I feel a strong need to pursue natural history photography as more than just a hobby. Another one of my passions is to go to the beach as I have lived next to the coast all of my life. It would also be exiting to add the marine option to my course. 

Falmouth Digital Portfolio (Part 2)

I couldn't fit all 10 images in my first post. Here are another 5 that I submitted. The main subjects I shot were animals such as birds and general wildlife mixture.

Falmouth Digital Portfolio (Part 1)

Here are a handful of images that I submitted to Falmouth University (more to come) a digital portfolio about 3 weeks ago.  I was asked here to show 10 images of my choice that corresponded to my course of natural history & marine photography