Open College of the Arts

Tutor report
Student name COLIN DEARING Student number
512413
Course/Module TAOP Assignment number 1
Overall Comments
You have made a really encouraging start, its clear that you are thinking of
alternative ways to approach your learning and how you wish to progress your
photography. ts noted that some of the images su!mitted for the assignment
are from your archive and have !een chosen to represent the assignment
!rief. "sing older images for this first assignment is accepta!le and as you
are aware this assignment is more of a diagnostic and isnt formally assessed
at the end of your course. #owever, in future assignments it is e$pected that
you will produce new work specifically for the assignment. Your log%!log is
coherent and for the most part well laid&out and informative. 'he assignment
images could pro!a!ly !e initially displayed !etter, think you (ust need to get
used to working with the !log layout. )tart to include references to your
reading and research. You appear to !e motivated and focused, this
assignment is a very good start to your learning.
Assessment potential (after Assignment 1)
You may want to get credit for your hard work and achievements with the
*+, !y formally su!mitting your work for assessment at the end of the
module. -ore and more people are taking the idea of lifelong learning
seriously !y su!mitting their work for assessment !ut it is entirely up to you.
.e are (ust as keen to support you whether you study for pleasure or to gain
/ualifications. 0lease consider whether you want to put your work forward for
assessment and let me know your decision when you su!mit ,ssignment 2.
can then give you feed!ack on how well your work meets the assessment
re/uirements.1
Feedback on assignment Demonstration of technical and Visual Skills !ualit" of Outcome
Demonstration of Creativit"
You have successfully completed the assignment and su!mitted images that
fit in with the contrast assignment. 'he images are interesting in that at times
you have tried to represent the 2contrasts with an alternative approach. 'he
approach you have taken doesnt (ust rely upon the physical connection !ut
one that asks the reader to consider the image with more depth. 'his is an
interesting and encouraging approach and one that suggests that you are
considering ideas of metaphor and connotation. You allude to this within your
reflection of the assignment so think that your willingness to take these
notions on !oard and consider them at this stage is really positive. 'he
images all appear to !e technically proficient and well e$posed, although their
presentation may re/uire some alterations. t would !e good to see the
images !igger and !etter laid&out within the !log, know that we can open
them !igger !ut it will help the presentation and access of the log%!log.
)ome of the images such as straight and curved are pretty straightforward
and rely upon the visual connection along with black and white. 'he image of
the !urnt toast is good, like your approach, its not so o!vious and this
demonstrates an alternative way of seeing. High and Low are appropriate
images and give the viewer a sense of the effects, again these work on a very
physical level along with Many, Few and Diagonal/Rounded. 'he image for
Strong of 3elson -andela works on a different level in that this image comes
with our e$periences and knowledge of society and culture. 4ust the name of
-andela suggests a strong powerful individual, and your image of the
statue%fist reinforces this idea, its a good image that works on several levels.
'he weak image is also interesting in that it is su!tler, the reader has to
deconstruct the image and consider it in order to realise the significance of the
nail and what this does to the idea. Liquid also asks the viewer to consider the
image further, again its encouraging that you have attempted to get !eyond
the image surface. n this case though, its a little tenuous, it may !e asking
too much of the viewer to connect this with li/uid and would rely upon us
resorting to stereotypes of the rish and drinking. Solid is a sound image, its
interesting and does a good (o! of illustrating the effect. think Much and Little
are pro!a!ly the weakest images here in that without the titles wed !e hard
pressed to identify the re/uired effect. 'he images oppose themselves so
much and the image of the lady is loaded with other connotations and asks an
awful lot of the viewer. know that you have thought a!out the social
implementations of the images !ut its difficult to recogni5e the gap !etween
poverty and wealth. 3icely produced images though, and a good start to the
course.
#earning #ogs or $logs%Critical essa"s Conte&t
Your learning log is clear and well laid&out. 'he information is easily
accessi!le and well signposted. )tart though to produce and evidence your
e$ercises as you logically work through the assignment. You dont want to get
into a position where you have a !acklog of e$ercises to complete and
document !efore handing in for the final assessment. 'he e$ercises also
inform your assignments. n future include technical information along with
your assignment images, such as shutter speed, aperture and film speed etc,
this will help with your understanding of the process of image making.
+ontinue with your self&reflections !ut e$pand upon these, the reflections can
!e very personal and should reflect upon the positives and negatives of your
image making. You have made a section for research and reflection so do
start to populate this folder with evaluations of your reading, including the
*+, course reading and any independent research you undertake. )tart to
look at photographers that inspire you, the artists that are referenced within
your tutor reports and any e$hi!itions or !ooks that you read. n fact you can
reference anything that inspires your work and ideas. +onsider how you
present the assignment images. ,lthough the images open up the thum!nail
images are hard to navigate, you can have the images larger on the log.
Suggested reading%vie'ing Conte&t
6efer to the essential reading list paying particular attention to7
.ells, 8i5, 92::;<. 0hotography7 , critical introduction, 6outledge.
+otton, +harlotte, 92::;<. 'he 0hotograph as +ontemporary ,rt, 'hames and
#udson.
'hese pu!lications will offer you a good introduction into photographic
de!ates, artists and photographic genres within contemporary photography.
(ointers for the ne&t assignment
=eep the momentum and enthusiasm that you have clearly developed for this
assignment. )tart to consider the course reading material and evidence this
and any other research on your learning log%!log. 'his will help you further
with understanding of conte$t and contemporary photography and
surrounding de!ates. >ocument any other references and inspiration that
informs your photography. >o look at the way that your assignment images
are presented on your log. +ontinue with your reflections upon your work and
methodology, critical engagement with the course is an essential part of
studying at ?, level.
'utor name7 +hris +oekin
>ate 22%11%2:13
3e$t assignment
due
31%:1%2:14