LRobertshaw Photography

Since the semester has started I have done photo shoots along the theme of Witches and in Today's Lecture introducing THD1383 for Research and Development, we were prepped on what to do and expect from our first Interim Exhibition in the Market Gallery in Queensgate Market. We are to print ONE A2 image on any paper of our choosing and meet on the 3rd of October to all hang our own work in the gallery. This was a particularly fun experience. Curating my own work to display on the wall and hang it myself in a clean and orderly manner. It's something we haven't really done in previous years, Yes there was hanging our work in the base room but that was a little messier and just finding a space and hanging however you could. The exhibition will be the first time I am hanging my work professionally for the public eye. In a public space no less. This is also a great place to get feedback from the general public. Not in the ways of asking per say but gaging peoples reaction...

Today's first class was an induction into THD1384 - Theory for photography. More specifically our dissertation. This was a really helpful first step into figuring out what to write about and what the reality of a Dissertation actually entails.  As said in the actual session the dissertation is not about what you know but what you think. The whole essay is about your opinion on your chosen topic. My topic is still undecided but with this first intro session I have a slightly more clear idea and path to what I feel confident talking about. We also found out our dissertation tutors, mine will be Dr Stella Baraklianou. She was one of my main tutors in second year and really helped progress not only my writing but my photographic skills when it came to presenting a final body of work for her class.  After this session my mind was buzzing with many ideas I needed to write down to later form into a coherent proposal For Stella in our first dissertation session. Overall we...

Getting back to uni has been an interesting transition after a year in industry then a summer of relaxing and occasion photo shoot. After the briefing of final year back in July we had to start thinking about topics for both our Final Major Project as well as our Dissertation. Choosing a topic for my dissertation has been a difficult one though. As I don't know which area of photography I want to talk about or photograph for that matter. Being true to myself however I would like to talk about the possible topic of women in media, with a feministic undertone. It's a topic I'm passionate about and something I believe I could really study and talk about. Something I'm also confident in talking about is the essence of fantasy. Whether that be an envisioned fantasy, to tie into my feministic theory, or fantasy in the sense of whimsical and make believe. My possible topics so far have been "How women are portrayed in media", "The male fantasy" and ...

Over the Summer I didn't get much chance to actually go out and shoot. Between my placement and not having the immediate availability of a camera, I did mostly location shoots for my final major project. Where I would be shooting and how I could use the space within the images to present my models and my idea. An Idea that I have wanted to explore for a while is that of Witchcraft. I have always had a fascination with it and making the fantasy I see in my head a reality is something I have wanted to do since first year but didn't really have the confidence to pursue. Not however with my confidence improved tenfold and my technical skills a little more sure, I hope to see the idea through. As said before though, shooting was few and far between, including only locations but it was something nonetheless. I stuck mainly to forest and wilderness type areas with just a little hint of man made stones and bridges. Sticking also with vibrant colours and tones.       ...

Placement year, to say the least was a whirlwind. I did just shy of a year working in a professional working industry as a Photographic studio assistant at Photography Works in Mirfield. This experience although a challenging one, was an amazing one. I worked alongside clients, built up my technical skills, advanced my studio knowledge and got to participate in photo shoots. I believe from this placement year, working alongside minds such as Glen Pearson head of the company and David Dry the studio Manager and head digital retoucher, taught me lessons about the industry. I learned from some seasoned professionals in the business and got to see first hand what it takes to own and run a studio. My main jobs included: Helping with photo shoots, assisting with retouching, emailing and interacting with clients, helping in the office with any marketing that needed doing, keeping the prop room organised and general upkeep of the studio. This began to get a little tedious after a coup...