Last Day Reflections

What did you learn about photography that you didn't know before? 

I thought that I knew much more about photography before this semester than I actually realized that I did. My basic understanding about aperture and shutter speed and ISO was completely amplified to a point that I'm actually embarrassed that I thought I knew anything at all before. It's not only knowing how to execute the tricks - it's actually understanding why they work the way they do. It's remarkable how much knowing those things can help you improve. Going off of that, I'm so happy that we got to work with photoshop this semester. I have been wanting to play with photoshop for so long now, so I'm delighted that we got a chance to do that. Playing with curves is my favourite thing to do, I've decided. Yes. But, the biggest thing I've thought about throughout the duration of this class is the concept of beauty. Things don't really have to be 'conventionally' beautiful to be beautiful, you know? And that just makes the world seem a little bit more bright. 

What did you learn about yourself in this semester?

I learned that I am easily inspired. 

Perhaps that can be attributed more to the vast number of inspiring things that one can come across, but since the beginning of the year, I've certainly learned to open my eyes more to the little things that are perfectly brilliant. 

What do you wish we had done that we did not? 

I sort of wish that we had spent more time doing photographs on film. As annoying as it is to have to share the dark room with thirty other people, (and as convenient it is to just plug everything into a computer to work with) I was really excited to be able to work with film. It might have been fun to have a two semester class, the first semester focusing on digital and learning all the little tricks on a device that we can easily redo mistakes, and then second semester moving to film and taking all those techniques and applying them to the more tangible device where every shot counts. Yes. Doing things on film is just so gratifying, I think. Developing a photo well just gives you a tremendous sense of self satisfaction. 

What was your struggle? 

At the beginning of the year, I definitely tried to hard to 'be a photographer'. I thought too much. Overthinking isn't necessarily something that needs to be done with photography, I'd say. But I was letting that get in the way. 

What did you conquer?

Like I said, the overthinking thing was really a bother. But, I got over my need to overanalyze. After looking at all the different photographers we looked at, and at all the different photos we looked at, and all the little inspirations we were shown, it's really apparent that you don't need to think. You just need to do.

I hope I am able to maintain that mindset. 

I think I can.