Sunday 15 February 2009

Assignment 2: Self Portrait final?

I have been working on the self portrait again; reassessing what is actually required for this assignment, I think that my ideas have been a little off track, judging by the very few examples featured in other peoples' portfolios who are doing or have done this course. I think that this second assignment is still very much a primary scanning assignment rather than a manipulative one. I have therefore treated it as such.

Significance of some of the elements within the final image:
The camera:
Although cameras are featured in many of the images seen in other peoples' work, and certainly by no means an original idea, it has been included here in preference to a photograph. I have been taking photos since I was 5 years old, a camera was the first thing I ever asked my parents to buy me. I have had many cameras in my life ranging from antique bellows cameras to SLRs, this is merely the most recent one that I own. I rarely get rid of a camera, I sometimes give them away but I never sell them; however, I have had at least two stolen. Taking pictures is an intrinsic part of my life.

Old drawing of human chromosomes represents my profession (Clinical Cytogeneticist): From C.C. Hurst, The Mechanism of Creative evolution, CUP (1933)

I still feel the other areas I have been exploring are interesting but more to do with the next module than this one. As I have received almost no guidance from the course tutor I will just have to judge for myself what I think is the right thing. Maybe there is no right or wrong thing.

Friday 6 February 2009

Log v Blog

I have now had a response from my tutor who has said that I need not include critiques of others' work as this is only for the purpose of group tutorials. I clearly do not have to submit this to him at this time; however, if I would eventually wish put CDA1 towards a degree would my course work be sufficient? I don't know.

I do keep a paper log as well as this blog and hope that if I do need this aspect of the work, my log will be helpful, as I will be looking at others work and commenting on it there. All I would worry about then is, if it has not been assessed throughout my course, I would not have had the feedback necessary during the course, if it is then found to be lacking.

I am fairly academic as I am a scientist by profession and am used to criticising and being criticised, so I am may be in a slightly better place than others would. However, this is not my area of expertise and I may fall flat on my face!

Not quite sure what to do about this situation.