Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
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1.0 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1 The goal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.2 Area of Interaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.3 Guiding Question/ Inquiry Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.4 Methods of Achieving My Goal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
6.0 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6.1 Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
7.0 Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
7.1 Blurb books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7.2 International Baccalaureate MYP Design Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 7.3 Product survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 7.4 Product photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The goal
The goal of my personal project was to abide to a personal study of photography that shows how much I have accomplished within half a year of devoting myself to this hobby. Essentially, I aimed to create a well presented photo book of my photography adventures and see how I have progressed and learned. The product allows me to observe how I have applied the learning to my photography. I also want peoples thoughts and emotions to be moved, and influence their views towards photography. To achieve my goal, I have to personally commit to taking photographs over a period of approximately six months. I have personally always found photographs amusing to look at, and observe, but never pursued photography earnestly. Ever since a couple years ago, Ive always wanted a nicer camera to shoot photos with more control and added impressions. Over the summer, I got my hands on a DSLR camera which helped advance my photography and gave me a huge opportunity to explore photography and work from my imagination. I was further motivated to capture the beauty I saw in the fleeting moments of life while following my own natural direction. I feel photography as a whole has opened up another creative side to my personality that I wouldnt be able to achieve within my everyday life. The photo book documents the things I see in my perspective and shares the beauty of these moments; it has allowed me to express many of my thoughts and feelings.
1.4 Specifications
The content and photos in my photo book must demonstrate my understanding of photography and communicate a strong message. I will apply my own knowledge and engage my mindset of photography to shoot the photographs in an attempt to give a unique quality to my work, and perhaps stand out among other photographers. I will apply a wide range of photography styles and techniques using different approaches in order for people to visualize my personal style. I will familiarize myself with the three basic elements of photography (see 2.1 Principal components) to get the best end result, and apply any other learning from the investigation phase. These specifications will allow me to evaluate the quality of the outcome or product and measure my success.
I have also discovered 8 simple points that help build the foundation of a good photograph (identifying the point of interest, lighting (quality and direction), aperture, shutter speed, composition, choosing the appropriate lens and focal length, determining the optimal exposure (metering), and timing. These points have almost become second nature to me every time I am out shooting, and the result is that I have been able to shoot more dynamic photographs. With practice, I should be able to produce photos that make others envious while keeping these 8 points in mind. The second half of investigating was dedicated to researching photo books and the companies that offer such services. I was essentially looking for a company devoted to quality and sustainability with reasonable prices and good customer service. Some of the design specifications I set for my photo book were a custom Hardcover, 30 50 page count, standard landscape trim size, professional-grade paper, and intuitive photo book software with an abundance of creative and customizable layouts.
I generally gained a deeper understanding of photography and demonstrated attributes for many of the IB Learner Profiles, above all, a Risk-Taker; I approached several unfamiliar situations with determination and got myself out there to take photos using new ideas and strategies. In the end, I am absolutely satisfied with the final outcome of my product which shows a great level of Human Ingenuity. I am aware of the positive influence my product has had on many people, and I acknowledge the inspiration I have given to them as a result of undertaking the Personal Project. The product unquestionably shows my unique photographs that I have produced within six months, moreover my creativity and talent. Nonetheless, I think what matters to me most about this project is that it has given me the opportunity to create something that truly reflects my interests and passion and. The entire project was truly an enjoyable experience and of my own initiative. I have no regrets choosing this topic, product aim or area of interaction from day one.
The process journal has essentially allowed me to explore ideas and evaluate my work for reflecting on learning.
5.6 Improvements
Following the completion of my product, many areas for improvement have arisen as a result of wrongful decisions and inattentiveness. First and foremost, I lacked proper time management throughout the project which has limited my potential. I can say that I was originally well on track in the summer, but as the school year began, I had less time to work on the project as I had to focus on my academic studies. Many photo opportunities have slipped away because I wasnt prepared to take advantage of them and at times I have chosen not to take responsibility for myself. If I could revisit these situations, I would immediately take the photos regardless of how they turn out as opposed to missing the opportunities entirely. 2730 words
6.0 References
6.1 Websites
1. Hobby, D. (n.d.). Strobist: Lighting 101. Strobist. Learn how to light. Retrieved November 23, 2013, from http://strobist.blogspot.ca/2006/03/lighting-101.html 2. Photography Help & Tips. (n.d.). DigitalRev. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://www.digitalrev.com/article_category/help-tips/Mw_A_A 3. Rockwell, K. (n.d.). How to Take Better Pictures. KenRockwell. Retrieved November 17, 2013, from http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm
7.0 Appendices
7.1 Blurb Books http://www.blurb.com/
I have chosen Blurb as a platform for publishing my final product, and they have provided me with a great overall experience. Given this was my first time publishing a photo book; I set my expectations appropriately, and wasnt expecting a flawless product. Upon receiving the photo book, I was quite satisfied with the quality of printing asides from a few issues. However, I would say the quality is not on par with book store quality books. The first characteristic that caught my attention was the glossy Hardcover with Dust Jacket, it felt resilient and durable, and gave my book a sophisticated look. The Premium Lustre finish paper was a good surprise, the paper is slightly heavier and pleasant to touch. The custom ProLine Charcoal endsheets have a light texture for a great feel and complemented my book well; the unique shade gave my book its finished look. The soft colour gradients, even in problematic colour zones, transitioned smoothly from darker to lighter no banding nor posterization. Colour fidelity was my only complaint, as some renditions of colours appeared much duller than the image of my monitor, and I have noticed slight hue differences. The customer support resolved my shipping issue professionally and left me satisfied. In the end, I was pleased with Blurb photo books and their professionalism, given this was my first time publishing a photo book.