This has been a hell of a year in the greatest way possible. I was given such great opportunities and I'm happy I took them because I've learn a lot. STAC was most definitely one of them. I didn't know what to expect going into it at first. Of course I was aware of what the program entailed, but I had no clear vision into my future. My major discipline was photography and my knowledge increased exponentially through every step I took. Whether it was flash photography or learning about Robert Frank to Yousuf Karsh, there was research that helped my journey and brought me to my final project. I was so worried to go to Italy and not being able to capture anything good. But 656 pictures later, narrowed down to 10, I was able to turn it into a showcase at STAC night and I'm extremely proud of myself. Through countless hours of cropping and thousands of adjustment layers, I was able to make a finished product. I received many compliments, an offer to buy one of my pieces, and one of my pictures being stolen (which I am both flattered and pissed about). It was a wonderful experience and I don't think I would change a thing about the process. It was a way to learn about getting something done on time, being neat, focusing on presentation and how it brings everything together. This brings me to the guidelines that I set for myself when doing my project in the being of 4th quarter:
- Completion- Did I finish the amount of prints I wanted to?
- Neatness- Are the prints mounted neatly, are they presentable and worth buying?
- Editing- Is the editing on par? Is it the best that could be done? Does it help or hurt the photo?
- Improvement- Does this show improvement throughout the year? Is this something that showcases significant artistic growth or was it just the best thing I could do in 10 minutes?
- Theme- Do the prints showcase a theme or important issue/subject? Do they have meaning and well thought out composition that is coupled with it?
I can truthfully say that I accomplished five of the five things listed above. I accomplished ten prints, the amount I wanted to. I wish I had done more, but I think it was best that I chose my favorite ten. I think they were mounted very well on the mats and quite presentable. Are they worth buying? Apparently so. I'm surprised that I am able to check off these things for what I accomplished. Was the editing on par? For many yes, but I think I need to realize that the pictures won't always come out the same on paper as it appears on the computer. Overall, I think my editing was great and improved from the beginning of the year. It shows artistic growth, especially considering that I knew nothing about adjustment layers and now that's mostly what I use. I also learned how to photoshop clouds into pictures which has proven to be extremely beneficial. I think these pictures all have a very European look to it and I think can serve as a theme.
What a bittersweet year. I'm thankful for it, but it's hard to digest that it'll all be over within a matter of hours.
Thank you Luke for being a great support in everything that I've done. If I ever wanted to do something, you pushed me in the right direction with your trust and faith. I don't think I could've done it without you. I'm hoping to see you before I go away so I can say this in person.
And a shout out to all of those lovely people in my artistic community. Your constructive criticisms and creative ideas helped me even when I was in some awful artistic slumps. Thank you so much and always continue to use art as your way of navigating life.
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