Ruby Francis

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Peer Review

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Blog Post 3

I have chosen to peer review the third blog of Frankie Bogg. Reading her review on her personal outcomes and development through Portrait Photography, it became apparent to me that she reflected her learning and adapted her own practise, keeping the current unforeseen circumstances in mind. As well as enhancing her technical skills;  Bogg, F. 2020 “… such as lighting and making the most out of your camera”, it seems the majority of her personal development throughout this unit, was how she approaches her own creativity when at home.

I really enjoyed seeing how she approached the themes in her own way, as it was different to how I had perhaps. For example, she referred to her social responsibility currently, to be keeping in contact with loved ones and being responsible for keeping the heroes of the NHS ‘safe and protected’. I found this interesting as she had taken what she had learned through the practise of Photography and Better Lives, and showed understanding what it represents and means to her as a wider issue. 

I have also expressed the difficulty in being creative and finding inspiration through this tough time being at home; so it was interesting to read how Frankie had found ways of experimenting and being creative with the camera. The playfulness of the third image, for me, really contrasts with the mood and candid angles of the first two. The lighting is a lot moodier and subdued in the “Self” and “Present” Portraits, yet the bright light and in the “Absent Portrait”, combined with the glasses and the fact it was taken through a FaceTime call with a friend, contrasts this. For me, I took this as a representation of perhaps the moods we have all perhaps experienced though this awful time. I thought this was really commendable how Frankie has managed to show ‘distance’, emotion and ‘inner conflict’ between friends, family, and also strangers who we are all keeping in our thoughts and prayers.

I think overall, I really enjoyed reflecting and reading Frankie’s positive development because of her own interpretation of the theme Social Responsibility, and therefore how I related to that. Bravo!

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Project Outcomes and Personal Development

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During my time studying and practising in Contemporary Photography, I took on and learned durable and effective skills and roles that will guide and influence my own photography and work in my current discipline at LCF; Styling and Production. I chose the Photography pathway as my first choice for the Better Lives unit as I often shoot my own content and work for my own assignments and therefore assumed this may benefit me and open my eyes to new ways of creativity for the future. My aim was to develop and learn ways in which a photographer considers certain aspects, in particular the three themes of this unit; Sustainability, Diversity and Social Responsibility. Throughout my Styling and Production course so far, of course, I have only considered these elements through the eyes of a stylist. I hoped that therefore by practising an alternative discipline, my eyes may be opened to consider more and different perspectives when creating content and working on shoots.

The main focus was Portrait Photography. I was intrigued to find out and experiment with in this as I was not entirely confident at the beginning, on the definition and meaning of what this was and could entail. As this unit was short, I attended all workshops and lectures to gain as much understanding, knowledge and practise as I could. Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, it was cut even shorter and therefore had no choice but to continue this learning and experimentation in the comfort of our own homes. In my case, it was back to the countryside. 

Being back home and among different scenery made me want to take a different approach to my project outcomes as I had previously hoped. Originally, I wanted to continue with fashion-focussed imagery and explore portrait photography and the mind of the camera with-in my discipline. However, living in the country side and being in my small village again, it made me appreciate my surroundings and want to explore how I could make the most of that while I have the freedom, (to an extent), to do so. I used this time as a creative and experimental outlet, alongside completing my other course units.

Exploring multiple artists and photographers in lectures and in my spare time, I discovered many new meanings and depths that a photograph can have, no matter how simplistic and obvious it may seem. This inspired me in my own work, to always have a narrative in mind behind what I create, and the messages I want the audience to digest. This lies closely with what I took away from exploring the themes throughout too; being a photographer holds the responsibility, like the stylist, of being in control of how something or a subject is portrayed and therefore perceived. It has helped me understand the importance of being responsible of the impact of my own creativity. Whether I’m creating for a recognisable publication, or for my own enjoyment; I too, have to consider the value, attention and therefore influence that my work has on others. Right now more than ever, the emphasis on Sustainability, Diversity and Social Responsibility needs to be highlighted and heavily thought about through everything we do as an upcoming generation of creators in our industry.

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Reflection and Response to Themes; DIVERSITY

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Throughout the Better Lives unit, I have been exploring the themes of Diversity, Social Responsibility and Sustainability through the eyes of Photography; Portrait Photography specifically, and the significance of practicing them. 

By participating in lectures given by our unit leaders and weekly activities to complete at home, we focused and highlighted the digital image generation and the representation of and with in portraiture. We were set a task, “Home Portraits”, which required us to use our home and domestic space as a site for portraiture. I explored family. The definition of family changes over time and through centuries due to many contributing factors; changes in communication, migration, wealth distribution, family law and marriage- and so on. I explored the variety of interpretations of the word family through photography, and how the 3 themes may have been considered. Diversity was definitely the highlighted theme that was recognised throughout; however many variations of the sort. Demographic diversity; age, gender, race, sexual orientation. Experimental diversity; hobbies, abilities, affinities. Lastly, cognitive diversity; how we approach and respond to problems. In my own work, I came to recognise that among thinking about the many sectors of Diversity, I was also responding to the other themes that we have highlighted through this Better Lives unit. Through experimental diversity, we can play with Sustainability and interpret that through the use of activity and affinity; we can consciously make choices in how we respond to sustainability in our every day actions and tasks. Through cognitive diversity, we can also delve in to Social Responsibility, and what we take on our selves in order to respond to issues among us, whether big or small; and how we understand and prioritise our own responsibilities. 

Exploring these themes through the art of Portrait photography has aided me as a practising stylist. It has helped me to understand the importance of the subjects’ identity and how I may take on the responsibility of the global perspective of authenticity by the way I style a model in a shoot; however big or small the publication may be. Fashion has no age, gender, colour or specific demographic; fashion has the identity of whatever you make it. Although these themes were always something I had been aware of, delving deeper in to them from different perspectives, has changed the way I will create my own work moving forward.

As a stylist I will always work so closely with the photographer, therefore it is important, collectively, to take the weight of social issues that need attention and address that in our work where it is appropriate and necessary. Scrutinising and unpacking the theme of Diversity, has broadened my awareness to other themes with out realising, because really they call come under a wider umbrella. As creatives, we must also get under that umbrella and work collectively and consciously to not only BE, but to inform our audience of the importance of Social Responsibility, Sustainability and Diversity.

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Reflection on POWER and RESPONSIBILITY

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After attending and reflecting on numerous of the Better Lives lectures, my thoughts on Power and Responsibility have been extremely provoked, in particular. Not just the power that the fashion industry has over us, and me as a student of fashion; but the contrasting power that we, us, and I, have over the industry- as a consumer. 

It was eye-opening to hear and explore the many aspects in which the industry is lacking in the 3 themes; sustainability, diversity and social responsibility. I was not only responding from the eyes of an active consumer, but also as a student and future member of the industry one day. 

I couldn’t help but take away and feel a responsibility to make immediate change. It is so easy to fall in to the habit of thinking that one person can’t change the industry and it’s habits, which in some ways is true- one can not necessarily do it alone. I have adapted in my ways of thinking to understand that as a collective, it is our responsibility to do our own bit, in order to make a bigger, impactful change to the industry; and therefore the sustainable life span of the Earth. 

It is extremely saddening to see the impacts of neglect that we, ourselves, have on the Earth. It saddens me to see not only the neglect of the environment, but the neglect of diversity still to this day within the media, fashion practices, shows, the list goes on. Whilst acknowledging that there are many brands, publications and creatives among us that are diverse, sustainable, and responsible with everything they do and stand for; there is also a huge percentage of those that ignore the problems.

Diversity is not new. Diversity is something that has been and will continue to be among us for many years to come. Unfortunately, for many years, the responsibility of inclusion of others has been payed no attention. I don’t know about you, but as a creative and producer of art, I refuse to overlook the fact that I am part of the journey to a fair and diverse world. People are so quick to assume that diversity represents only people of a different race; as student among our work, we must not only represent those of other races, but those of age, disability, sexuality, gender, religion, identity and reassignment. It is us that they must listen to, consume and copy.

I want the world to get to a place where people don’t have to applaud every time a brand or creative do ‘something diverse’. My goal is for us to get the world to a place where a diverse representation in the media and other outlets, is the norm. It needs to become part of our everyday life and practise. 

Reflecting back and to summarise; the message I would like to get across, if anything; is that we as consumers and students of an industry that needs immediate change, MUST remember that we have the power over what we create and what we consume. Be wise, be conscious and be responsible, and others will follow. 

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