A Photo Teacher |

© Paul Turounet, U.S. Highway 71, Brownsville to San Antonio, Texas, United States, 1997 from Un Extraño Aquí – A Stranger Here

Once the artist has identified their subject matter in combination with their own sense of vision, aesthetic approach and technical execution, it becomes necessary to develop and produce work that not only challenges this subject matter visually, intellectually and emotionally, but can be sustained over the long haul. The road ahead can be challenging and difficult, and it is vital to artist’s survival to work through not only the engaging efforts, but more importantly, the obstacles and temporary setbacks, whether they be conceptual, visual and/or technical.

How does the artist persevere so that the working process can be sustained in such a manner so the work doesn’t become static and repetitive? When does the artist know or realize that he/she has exhausted all conceptual possibilities in relationship to their sense of photographic vision?

It seems necessary for the artist to develop a strong and enduring sense of perseverance and commitment to their idea through continuous and engaged practice over a long period. This requires a determined continuation with conceptual development and visual pursuits in a steady and continued manner, especially in spite difficulties or setbacks.

Assignment

Using the feedback and discussion from first critique, continue to shoot images that reflect more-focused attention on a body of photographs that reflects a conceptually cohesive portfolio of photographs in preparation for the final project and presentation project. At this stage of your conceptual development, it is essential and necessary that your idea(s) reflect a sense of considered thought, active visual exploration and is articulated with a cohesive vision and voice.

Despite difficulties and setbacks you may be experiencing in expanding the conceptual possibilities with the work, with your use of the camera and/or technical concerns, it is vitally important to push through these complications in order to fully realize the possibility of your idea.

In considering your conceptual concerns, I would propose you utilize images from the previous critique to guide you in your conceptual and visual pursuits. It is necessary that you shoot images that reflect focused attention on an idea. It is essential that your idea reflect a sense of considered thought, active visual and intellectual exploration and is articulated with a cohesive vision and voice. As suggested with the previous project assignment, I would encourage you to follow-up with me regarding your ideas, conceptual development and photographic pursuits by emailing me digital contact images of your efforts and/or meeting with me with contact sheets, edited contact sheets and prints in an effort to propose a greater sense of visual clarity and interest. As this critique will be the last opportunity for discussion and feedback on your work prior to the presentation of the final print portfolio, it is recommended that you present a print(s) that reflect a sense of technical execution and scale of how the work will function and be viewed in a portfolio context.

.

Requirements

For the critique and evaluation, please complete the following:

Combination of any of the following that reflect a working process of focused attention on a conceptual concern/interest/curiosity through your photographic vision and sense of technical execution and craftsmanship:

Edited Contact Sheets (no more than 4 images per sheet)

Digital Kiosk Machine Prints (4×6, 5×7 or 6×8 inches in scale)

Analog | Digital Work Prints

Examples of Finished Portfolio Prints

.

Click on the Adobe Acrobat PDF file to download: The Road Ahead.pdf