This week, I can say that the production of my project finally got underway- not the double-page spreads and opening cover, however. I obviously had to make a start with my research process and the portfolio in which I would be presenting it.
(Covers unit 8 2.1/2.2)- Without research, there is no way I would be able to commence any part of my project since I wouldn’t know how to perform the InDesign tools, how to emulate the layout despite previous experience and the end result would not match my project proposal or plan in the slightest but most seriously, not meeting any of the criteria properly. Everybody’s research methods will all be different because all project topics will be different and mine is no exception. As stated in my plan, I had my physical portfolio book at the ready because it brought back the success I had with it for my first final project and how it allowed me to thoroughly examine the content more and pay more attention to all elements I was investigating. Plus it generally looked like I had put more effort into making it look cared about rather than just using a computer- which anyone can do!
(Covers Unit 8 2.1/1.1)- For this research process as a whole, I did have to remember back to when I did my last two projects along with my research unit; I had to consider all of the available but appropriate methods and sources for my project topic and also medium. I immediately knew that there was no escaping either primary or secondary research but I had both methods planned out beforehand due to the experience with my first final project. For instance, I had conducted some interview questions over the Easter holidays which I would form into an email to get in touch with some professional photographers about how they gained an interest in photography and their opinions on modern photo technology- all of which formed part of my primary research. Another part of my primary research introduced my own personal personal blog which I own and record my own photos and experiences with them. All of these will perform perfect variation in my double-page spreads and portray clearly that there is no one reason why millions of people love photography.
(Covers Unit 8 1.1)- From considering whether primary or secondary research will be involved; which methods and sources or research will be used all the way to which people to talk to, all of these skills are vital for success within the industry. Journalists are an immediate example for when they are investigating for an article/report- this also applies to TV news broadcasters, radio reporters and broadcast journalists too.
Not only was I required to consider jobs and the media industry this week, but I will be required to continuously analyse it in relation to my examples of my work I produce itself and also my methods of production. As for this week, I already made reference to how many job opportunities fit into my research methods used. I may have used industry skills for a 9 week college project but in terms of STANDARD, I know that it leaned towards the more positive side of things, considering this was my first proper week of production. or instance, I know my email interviews went well because I got detailed replies to to the use of my open questions- detailed enough for me to find use for my double-page spreads.
(Covers Unit 8 2.1/1)- For these questions though, I had to use my knowledge from the research unit to ensure that they were open as possible in order to gather as much detail and information as I could as well as briefly outlining the purpose of the email interviews. Here are the questions I conducted before the main project research commenced:
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Grace Pulford and I am a Print and Journalism student at Canterbury College to one day, hopefully, become a photojournalist. I am currently researching for my next project which will be investigating why photography has become a part of many people’s lives- whether its career, hobby or passion, along with how the latest digital technology has enabled many beginners to eventually become near enough professionals. Because of this, it would be much appreciated if you wouldn’t mind answering some questions for me (which will play a major part of my project):
- What caused you to gain an interest in photography in the first place and why?
- Why do you feel that photography has been a part of your life?
- How do you feel that technology and computing software today has allowed many beginners to produce professional-quality photos?
- What are your opinions on the use of technology and computing software to assist photo quality?
- If you have ever used technology and computing software in any of your work, what have you used?
- Would you recommend the use of technology for beginners in order to achieve professional-quality photos and why?
- Is there any general advice you would personally give to anyone wishing or beginning to take on photography?
If you have any answers to these questions, please email me back to: gracelizpulford@gmail.com. It would be much appreciated and help me massively with my project.
Thank you so much for your time.
(Covers Unit 8 3.1)- Even though I knew it would be a week or so after returning to college before we got started on the research, I knew that it would be better to be safe than sorry by starting them at an early stage to: give time for the interviewees to reply and for me to come up with a back-up plan if I didn’t receive what I was looking for. However, I didn’t need a back-up plan after all since I did get replies from the interviewees I emailed one of which has had their work published in the ‘Outdoor Photography’ magazine!
(Swales, S. 2016)
(Sedgwick-Jones, K. 2016)
(Covers Unit 8 2.1/2.2)- When it came to my research portfolio, I made it a must that both my email interviews were apart of it- to assure those who read it and even myself that I have professional and confident use of these when it comes to the content of my double-page spreads. And speaking of my research portfolio, that was another major piece of work I managed to complete this week- which was also one of my three targets set last week:
From looking at the screenshots below of my final finished portfolio contains all the relevant information and resources, sometimes from my chosen magazine, that I can continuously and constantly refer to it throughout the production of my double-page spreads and opening cover. Also to provide acceptable evidence that I have covered criteria (Unit 8 2.2) by proving that I have used my research findings to create my final pieces. However, this is shown within my actual portfolio itself because I have used elements from my findings to make my portfolio look like the format of the ‘Outdoor Photography’ magazine such as the paragraph formats and the separation lines through them.
Just some of the elements I included in my research portfolio were: analysis of the page layout, language fonts and style, how article titles and subtitles were layered out, what the content featured actually was (articles, experiences, photos used) and even my own research relating to the photographic technology of today. Every piece of research found in my portfolio has been Harvard referenced using the appropriate method for each piece- as shown above-since some of them have come from the ‘Outdoor Photography magazine’, email interviews and even video clips from online websites.
(Covers unit 8 1.1)- Another major element of my project I achieved- very professionally as well- was carrying out my project pitch to my course tutors. This accomplishment was, just like the research completion, was a target set for me last week; a target that I personally believe was a very professionally and well- carried out for a number of reasons. A perfect example includes when I put together my pitch presentation using shortened sections from my project plan with the intentions of keeping in the 10-minute time limit whilst still proving that I know what work to do to achieve each criteria. Also not forgetting that I had included my bibliography with my Harvard references I used throughout my presentation. But it’s not just the presentation itself that was a success; I ensured that I used appropriate body language all throughout, spoke clearly and loudly with very few stutters and maintained eye contact with my tutors where and when appropriate. (Contains Unit 8 2.1/2.2)- This was also where I had the opportunity to allow my tutors to look through my research portfolio- or what I had completed of it because in this project, quality is always over quality (and covering the criteria of course!) to prove to them that I knew how to carry out my research, how to make effective use with my findings and that I considered carefully what findings to include within my double-page spreads and opening cover.
(Covers Unit 8 1.1)- I also made very clear reference to previous projects during this pitch with the reminders of my research unit and my first final project in which I created my first double-page spread and front magazine cover. I decided to show off the double-page spread from the first final project to mainly portray that with a little bit of brushing up with the Adobe InDesign software I can achieve a perfect emulation in relation to my chosen magazine publication once again.
Bibliography:
Pulford, G (2016) Email to Kaye Sedgwick-Jones, 26th April.
Pulford, G (2016) Email to Simon Swales, 10th April.
gracepulfordjournalism 
You have a fantastic production log on the go here, Grace – clearly showing what work is meeting which criteria. Great demonstration of your understanding of the requirement of the project. Keep on going!
LikeLike