NMP Exhibition

I thought that it was relevant to include my exhibition statement on this blog because it a reflexive/ explanatory piece of text which states my intentions with my final show. The text talks about each element of my design and my reasons for choosing such reasons.  

Below is a short piece of text that justifies my choices made when designing my virtual exhibition with the intention to design my final show in the same way.

Statement

The layout of an exhibition is of great importance to me, I believe the viewer should be taken into account when deciding each individual element of the design.

I start by talking about the order of the photographs, something that took a great deal of time editing down and deciding which image to place in which order. Through a number of different editing sessions both with other photographers/ peers and also by myself, I was able to use test prints to experiment with the order of the photographs. This was a very worthwhile exercise as it enabled me to become better educated in how to order a body of work more successfully. It is important that whilst editing down to the final set of images that a photographer gets other peoples opinions, these opinions can bring new ideas or ideas that the photographer might not have seen initially. Physically printing out the test prints enabled me to visualize the photographs as a sequence and it was easier to decide the order from doing so. The photographs needed to have some sort of continuity about them, many exhibitions that I have visited have considered the way that a viewer reads a body of work. I therefore decided to use one landscape-orientated image followed by a portrait image and so on, this gives the viewer a reoccurring pattern.

Using the virtual online exhibition software, Exhibbit, enabled me to visualize my work as if it was being hung on a gallery wall. This was a great experience as it enabled me to practice how I would like my photographs to be presented during the final show. The software had several downsides however; it was very basic and only enabled the user to make basic changes to the layout. From the very beginning of my assignment I decided that I would exhibit my photographs on one single white wall with no separation by other walls, this was mainly due to the way in which the viewer would experience and read the images without being distracted. Although we have not been allocated a space for the final show as of yet, I have requested a long plain white wall so that I would be able to exhibit my images in one long sequence. I produced a mock up design using the software, the images of which can be seen within the folder named “DESIGN 1”. It is obvious to see that the images within this design are very close together, this is not how I will choose to exhibit my final prints, I intend to have a larger are of white space separating each image. The final 9x A1 size images would not have been able to fit on the wall within the Exhibbit software and the user is unable to change the size of the space. This design does however show how I intend to display my final images once I am given a longer wall at the final show.

As a precaution, and incase I am not allocated a single long white wall to exhibit, I have designed another layout using the software. The second layout can be seen within the folder named “DESIGN 2”.

This layout incorporates two different walls into the design and through designing this I have been able to practice the layout incase I am allocated 2 different walls or more. I consciously decided to separate the images onto two walls so that they looked equal, the two landscape orientated images either side of the portrait orientated image works successfully.

In terms of the framing that I will use for the exhibition, I have chosen to incorporate the forge into the production of the brackets that will hold my work onto the wall. I will encase each print within two clear A1 size pieces of Perspex/ acrylic sheet. This frame will then be attached to the wall by the brackets made by the engineers at Risley Forge, the company at which I have been photographing. This is a great way of incorporating the highly talented engineers work into this project, which is all about the praise of these men.

The scale of the prints has been of great importance to myself throughout this project, as the project is a praise of these engineers and their way of life, I intend to have large-scale prints. Due to the high quality photographs that I have produced, it enables me to have the images at size A1, which will give the viewer a chance to see the enormous amount of detail in each photograph. As mentioned on my blog, I have chosen to have  white boarder around each image to frame each image and enable them to stand out. The white boarder will be only a couple of inches wide due to personal preference.

I believe that the body of work along side the display choices that I have made for the exhibition will create a flowing and well designed exhibition that will give the viewer a professional quality experience.

The detail of each element of the design is shown in more detail on my blog,

http://neg-major-photo-project-ben-stokes.blogspot.co.uk/.

Contextualising My Work

Throughout my final major project at university, I have been able to address many of my PDP points and contextualising my work has been one of the most important objectives. I have really been able to gain influence and use this within my work for my FMP/ NMP, my work has now progressed and is now very defiantly my own style. The most amount of contextualising of my photographic work was done during my final major project and the first stage of this FMP, I am now confident in being sure what my practice is surrounding and I am able to speak about it freely. This objective is one of the subjects that will continue to be part of my ongoing PDP, I will work on this element for many years to come and it will constantly be changing and evolving. 

Current Artist Statement

Below is my current Artist Statement, this is not the final edit of this document because I have yet to have a tutor look over it for good. We have been asked to attend several sessions at which we are going to develop our critical writing and writing for the final show, this is where I intend to finalise my Artist Statement. Please take notice that this is an artist statement that is intended only for my final major project. 

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Ben Stokes is a Manchester born social documentary photographer whose current work has been revolving around the praise of the declining metal working industry in the UK. This body of work, “Tools of The Trade” is a digression from his previous set of real-life portraits. His current practice is presented by still lives taken in and around the metal working forge at which he has worked at for over 5 years, working within the industry unveiled a strong appreciation for this line of work. This unique mixture of still life and food photography sets out to depict the basic elements that enable these talented engineers to function, be that the food they eat or the tools that they utilize.

The staple diets of the men who work within the forge are of great interest to Stokes, he brings special attention to the fact that the basic foods that the men consume have been passed down through generation’s. The food that fuels these men to produce such unique outcomes has remained the same as when miners used to take pasties and loaves of bread down the mines for energy as well as ease.

Inextricably linked to the food still lives are the tools within the forge that have been passed down through generations. Each of the tools within these photographs has their own story to tell, their own history within the industry and their own personal connections. The inscriptions on each of the implements help to show this personal connection and how some of the tools have been hand crafted for specific engineers.

The backgrounds chosen for each of the photographs gives us detail of just how hard and physically demanding this way of life is, each dent and scratch can be seen in high definition which helps to show the years of wear that the surfaces have been through. This body of work is a document, a way of our ancestors seeing how our country became one of the leading figureheads in the industrial revolution and how this industry has been taken on a journey from then until now.

Final PDP

This post will focus on where I am up to with each objective and will act as a reference for myself for after I finish university and am able to develop the objectives that I have yet been able to achieve fully. Below are screenshots from my final PDP & objectives.

I will start with my first objective, "to continue contextualising my work". This objective idea came from my initial PDP where I noticed that it was a definite point that I needed to develop, I then develop it and then chose to further address it during the second half of this module therefore it is in my final PDP. As for where I am up to with this objective, I have defiantly been able to begin contextualising my work and in fact I now fully understand my reasons for my decisions within photography. I have been able to contextualise my practice through research and application of theory. I am happy that I have done enough work around this objective and I will continue to develop this throughout my career hence the date of achieving my goal saying "on-going".

The next objective that I will talk about is the research into post graduate education, more specifically for me the PGCE courses that are available. It has always been a goal for me to complete a PGCE to enable me to teach in my subject area of photography. I am happy that this PDP module has given me the chance to research further into the possible routes. Through research during this module I not sure of my next route of education, I now intend to gain relevant experience in local schools & colleges and then I will reapply for the following year after I have gained enough experience. This will give me a better chance of getting on the course and will also give me some time to work on some personal projects after I finish university.

The third objective for me to overview is the development of my personal writing, in particular the writing of an artist statement. Through workshops and lectures surround the development of an individual artist statement, I have been able to build upon my initial notes to produce a professional standard artist statement that will aid me with exhibiting my work in the future, this has been a very worthwhile experience and I am grateful for the help from the tutors and visiting photographers. 

The fourth objective was to update the content of my self promotional website that I designed and had made during my second year of study. I intended to update the content of my website, with specific attention to my information page. I have succeeded with my objective and have adapted my information page and other content to the limits that I have access too, I intent to further develop my website and work with my website developer to modify it to suit. 

The next objective is the updating of my portfolio, I have needed to update my physical portfolio for a number of years. I needed to update the content, suitability and presentation of my portfolio to a professional standard that will aid me in securing jobs after I leave university. Through the help and advice from tutors & visiting lecturers I have been able to produce a portfolio that is of beautiful quality that encompasses my photographic style well. I now feel confident in applying for photography jobs, commissions and internships. 

The 6th objective was to advance my post production skills & techniques and from undertaking a number of outside briefs, I have been able to achieve this goal and from taking some time out of my personal life I have been able to further develop this. I am now more confident with port production and I have begun to develop my editing skills which I will continue to do though out my photographic career. 

The seventh objective was to begin utilising professional online networking websites for my personal development. Through signing up to LinkedIn I have been able to address this objective and have been successful in linking already with some people within the industry. I will however, being to utilise other networking websites to further develop this after university, I look forward to the possibilities that these websites hold for my career.

The 7th objective was to further develop my presentational skills, this is an important trait/ skill that will stand me in good stead for after university. During my final year, I have had to present many many times to lecturers, staff and other peers, this has made me really develop my ability to speak in front of other and also to speak to others about my own work. I now feel more confident and able to present and this is a great life skill to have. This has been a very important objective and I am glad that I have had the chance to develop this. 

My last objective was to develop my networking skills and techniques. This is a similar objective to the seventh objective which was to begin utilising networking website, the thing that differentiates this from that objective is the way of networking. The most well know method of networking of past years has been to attend networking events at which people from the industry go to and socialise and talk about work. It is a great way to meet other like minded people and to network with others. Through signing up to several networking group meeting such as Red Eye and Creative Industries Networking group I am kept up to date with local meetings which I will attend more after university. I have been able to attend at least some Red Eye events which has been a bonus this year.

The above comments are relevant for the PDP module that I am currently completing, I will however continue to develop almost all of my objectives after I finish university, this assignment is therefore a development plan. I am very happy with my chosen objectives and have learnt a lot from this module.

Self Promotion Website

For several months my self promotional website has been in need of a revamp/ latest information being inputted. Due to being very busy with university, the website update has taken a back seat but this module lets me address these much needed changes!

I started off with the information page for the website, this has needed a brief overview of my work/ current projects for some time now. I haven't had any information on the info page other than the cities that I have travelled and my email address. This was first on my list. Below is a short statement that I wrote for the info section, it had to be small enough to fit in the website box on the editing software but it also had to say enough about me in only a couple of lines. 

Ben Stokes is a versatile photographer based in Manchester, UK.

His style is a unique blend between fashion, travel and documentary photography and he has practiced in each style for over 5 years. His current practice is surrounding the praise of past industrial techniques that have been passed down through generations within the metal working industry. His real life portraits and still life photographs are a testament to this great industry that will one day be non existent.

Currently studying BA (Hons) Photography at Salford University, Manchester.

The above statement gives the viewer a very brief overview of my work and about myself, I do however intend to speak to the website developer who will address the changes that I want doing to the design of my website. Below is a slightly shorter paragraph, this had to be chopped down due to the size of the box and the amount of text that could fit within it. 

Ben Stokes is a versatile photographer based in Manchester, UK.

His style is a unique blend between fashion, travel and documentary photography and he has practiced in each style for over 5 years. His current practice is surrounding the praise of past industrial techniques that have been passed down through generations within the metal working industry.

Currently studying BA (Hons) Photography at Salford University, Manchester.

I will continue to develop and change my info page throughout my career and intend to regularly update the text! I also changed the content on each of my websites pages, I tried to upload up my most recent/ successful and impacting work under each category. I do however intend to change the actual categories that I have on my website, at present I have the following categories: portraiture, fashion, travel, journal & info. I intend to review these with a  tutor/ peers in order to establish the most suitable categories for myself and my future career. I will then work along side the website developed to put these decisions into place. Below are the images of my current webpages including the latest info page and updates content on each of the categories.

7307 Teacher Training

During the further education session where I was asked to present, we were told about a specific course that is supposedly very good. Our tutor told us about this course, it is called 7303 Teacher Training. Below is some of the information that I found about the course. I will continue to research around this course and the other PGCE courses that I have looked at when I finish university. I am not going to rush into this because I believe that I need to be sure about this career choice before I undertake such a big task.

The Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) framework is a unitised framework for 

England to help people progress from the initial Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong 

Learning Sector, to the Certificate or level 5 Diplomas/ Additional Diplomas for teaching in 

the lifelong learning sector, depending on career aspirations and role requirements. 

The City & Guilds new portfolio of teaching qualifications that comply with the QTLS 

framework comprises: 

• 7303 (PTLLS) Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector at level 3 & 4 

• 7304 (CTLLS) Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector at levels 3 & 4 

• 7305 (DTLLS) Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector at level 5 

• 7305 subject specialist diplomas and additional diplomas for literacy, ESOL and 

numeracy teaching at level 5. 

The link below is full of very useful information on the course, downloaded from the city and guilds website. 

http://cdn.cityandguilds.com/ProductDocuments/Learning/Teaching/7304/Centre_documents/7304_FAQs_v2.pdf 

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The university of Huddersfield have one of these course available, Huddersfield was one of my university choices due to its photography course sounding very interesting however it was relatively new. Below is some information on the course details.

The 'Cert Ed' is an initial teacher training course intended for serving part-time and full-time teachers in the Learning and Skills Sector and those who are trainers, instructors or teachers in industry, commerce or public service.

The 'Cert Ed' provides course members with practical teaching skills and a useful base of ideas and key concepts to consider when planning, delivery, assessing and evaluating teaching and learning situations.

It continues the theme of developing good teaching practice while extending the students knowledge of educational principles and factors which affect teaching and learning.

In addition to attendance at the tutor led group sessions there are additional requirements in relation to tutorials, mentor meetings and teaching practice.

Teaching Practice

The Certificate in Education course relates to practical teaching and trainees will be required to have their own teaching observed and assessed by course tutors and their mentors who will provide useful feedback on performance on a number of occasions throughout the course.

Assessment procedure:

Teaching is in groups using a variety of methods and resources.  The course is assessed through a mixture of assignments, presentations, teaching observation and the collection of other evidence.

Attendance is required at the University of Huddersfield for two days in July.

Entry requirements:

• You must be an adult with a good command of spoken and written English. It is recommended that you hold or are working towards a level 2 qualification (GCSE A-C) in Literacy and Numeracy.
• You must hold a qualification related to the subject you are teaching that is equivalent to at least NVQ level 3.  The following are examples of relevant qualifications:-City & Guilds Final or Advanced Craft Certificate, RGN, HNC, HND, NVQ level 3,4,5, University Diploma or Degree, or other professional qualification.
• You must be engaged in a teaching, coaching or training role with people in the post 16 age group on a regular basis (which will equate to a minimum of 75 hours/year.)
• Holders of the City & Guilds 7307, 7407, 7306, RSA Teachers Certificate or equivalent, who have completed 60 hours of teaching, may make a claim for accreditation for prior experience or learning in some of the modules.
• To enter the PGCE programme you need to hold a UK First Degree or recognised equivalent.

Qualifications achieved:

A Professional Graduate Certificate (PCET) or a Certificate in Education will be awarded by the University of Huddersfield to those who successfully complete the course.  Certificates in Education are nationally recognised initial teaching qualifications and are seen as recommended qualifications for people wishing to teach in the Learning and Skills Sector of education and training.

Following a process of Professional Formation, this qualification will lead to Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status.  It does not lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for those intending to teach in schools.

Progression opportunities:

Holders of a Certificate in Education can apply for progression, with advanced standing, onto a University of Huddersfield B.A. (Hons) in Education and Training degree.

Portfolio Update

As mentioned in a  previous post, my current portfolio is being marked for my dissertation module due to my choice of choosing the 50% original work/ 50% written work. I bought a new portfolio as pictured in the previous post and had one of my latest projects printed and put in sleeves. Beautiful sleeves might I add!

My work is still being marked and I hope to get my box portfolio back soon so that I can add my latest photographs from the NMP/ FMP brief, some food & still life photography that I have been experimenting and perfecting. I have received a grade back from my tutor for my dissertation, this mark hasn't been ratified by external verifiers as of yet though. I received 90% over all with a massive 92% being awarded to my practical work that was presented in my new portfolio. I believe that the presentation of my final set of portraits added some sense of importance to each of the prints that I submitted, I intended each print to be held one at a time and then for the photographs to be viewed side by side as a series. Through listening to feedback from tutors, I have produced a portfolio that has not only enabled me to obtain such a high grade but that will also last me and allow me into the photography industry with a high quality portfolio of work. I believe that updating my portfolio throughout the two professional frameworks module has enabled me to progress to the next step of my career.