Summery of what I have learned. (update)

I started engaging with the college in 2021 when I started my diploma in Photography. in that time, I have learned a vast array of different skills with regards to photography. The most important elements I learned is the fundamentals of lighting and understanding the cameras reaction to light. Working in the studio taught me how to create decent still life and portraits while creating contrast, shadow, tone, texture, shape, space, color and line. This information helped me to create images that said something. 

I have applied what I have learned in the studio into other genres of photography so that I am adaptable to any demands or opportunities which may arise.

For my current live brief, I am producing images which reflect stages of empire.

I have also learned stop motion photography, which I enjoyed very much. Also, light painting and wire wool photography has become something I do in the winter months when there in little daylight as a way of still getting out with my camera.

The thing I am most impressed with is how I have been able to learn appropriation and creating digital images manipulated out of numerous images. I have learned this through learning how to navigate Adobe Express, Lightroom and Photoshop. I especially enjoy using famous paintings and recontextualizing their meaning.

This ability to adapt and have many different styles of photography to utilize will benefit me in the long-term and make me much more flexible in the market place. 

My style of photography. (how I define myself)

Like anybody, I go through phases of being inspired by something, wanting to learn it, achieving learning and moving on to the next project. This might sound "flakey" but this desire to learn new skills will benefit me in the long-term and lead my work to be more varied in its scope and subject matter. In terms of contextual influences, my work is influenced by politics and history. At the moment, I am reflecting this through still life photography and appropriation. I am guessing in the future I will find other way of expressing myself as I progress.

I define myself as a photographer and something of a digital artist who is currently inspired by installation and street art. I enjoy using miniature people and creating indoor and outdoor images which reflect an historical event or my ideological standpoint. 

Branding. 

The most recent life brief I am engaging in involves me creating a logo and branding myself with a zine.

My logo is quite simple of an aperture ring and my corporation name.

A work in progress but I am currently looking for an aesthetically acceptable logo which I am happy with. What I am excited about is I now have the ability to create a logo digitally and put it on all the material I produce. This is progress I am excited about when i consider how far I have come. 

Competitions. 

I have engaged with multiple competitions which have included numerous live briefs. I have a stock also of images that I have taken that I have used. I cannot just go off and go for a shoot, as I work long nights that leave me exhausted the next day. I therefore sometimes use images shot weeks ago that fit all aspects of the brief demanded. An example is a brief requested images of spring, I posted these entries.

Engaging with employers

This I haven't done and I don't wish to just yet. My current job working in social care allows me to spend hours doing my university work while, doing my job and earning money that gets me through this period of transcendence. I will feel more comfortable considering this next year or going on to do a masters. I have a long way to go so I don't want to run before I can crawl.

Social media 

This I have done. I have many local and national followers who are on Instagram, Linked In and Facebook. 

CV.

My CV is updated to reflect my new skills and pervious skills, education and employment history. 

Barriers to my ability to get a career in photography. 

Simple, not having confidence in myself and comparing myself to others who have been doing photography for years. This can be debilitating and undermine your confidence. The best way around this is dwell instead on where you are now, what you know compared to what you knew a year ago. My age is a bit of a barrier but also an asset. My age means I am dedicated to my work and I am consistent. I also look at my success in other areas of work which I have achieved and how I managed that. Hard work is rewarded-fact.

What motivates me

The thing that motivates me the most is constantly learning and developing. I am not happy unless I am learning new skills or processing facts. The thing which motivates me in photography is being able to be inspired by an image then replicating it in my own style. I also love looking at the finished product of any photograph and feel satisfied. 

What approaches and qualities do I bring to me work

I research the topic I am asked to reflect upon to create a image which represents the brief. I see my work as continuously evolves and adapts in scope. I am a hard worker who is diligent in my work and sees things through. My creativity is defined by research and being completely absorbed in any topic. 

What am I trying to achieve in my work?

At the moment, my work is trying to achieve a look at different aspects of a period in history through photography. This is done through engaging in research in a particular historical time and trying to reflect this in my images. I also like to add a satirical element to my work which is aimed at politics or the modern world. I am hoping the viewer reflects on the images of mine they have seen and question what it is about. 

An example of my work. Appropriation created showing Putin as a warmonger. 

What matters to me?

Whatever work I am involved in, my reputation is important and doing a good job is important to my reputation. In terms of photography, creating something that the client is happy with and hopefully they then spread my name thus helping my reputation. Therefore, how others see me and my work is important. I have a good reputation in social care with professionals in the council, criminal justice, probation and third sector organizations, I'm certain I can expand this into other fields too.

How I work is interesting. I have worked 6 years as a loan worker and 5 years as a manager with a team of kitchen staff and support workers. This demonstrates I am flexible and can work independently or part of a team. The type of clients I hope to attract are varied. I would give anything a go at the moment as its all practice. I can decide what I don't like and not do it again. However, at the moment, I am open minded. 

What characteristics are unique to my practice? 

My inspirations are contemporary and historical. This is reflected in my work. Rather then recreating a scene with live models, I prefer to use miniature people to represent history. This reflects how inconsequence we are as a species in the grand scheme of life. Mankind's narcissist tendencies means men elevates himself about even nature. This is preposterous and I try to reflect that in using small people-a similar concept as Slinkachu. 

Who is your audience?  

Those who share my views of the world and wish to buy my work hopefully. This could be anybody who is political or conscious of social issues. 

There is a market for my work as Peter Kennard does very well creating contemporary appropriation for mass consumption. In terms of historical narrative works, I want to create reenactments of lesser known events-not just battles (which is done by others) instead, pivotal events like The Peasants Revolt or The Charteris's taking demands to Parliament. This work has a message and a social conscious.

Is there a client who buys your work? 

In researching people who build diorama scenes and people who create model villages, there is a market. This genre is big and companies like Hornby make models for this market. In terms of appropriation, yes. Banksy is an example also of graphic works which is big money in contemporary society.

Why should people buy or hire me?

Because my work is original. Despite appropriation being popular, I.ve not seen any images that I have appropriated with the same contextual narrative I have created. Therefore, my work stands out. All I need to do now is get it noticed. 

Mark Baigrie. 2023