Ending 'Part Two' reflection

I expressed a lot of concerns and ideas in my last reflection (found here). Looking at the questions to consider, now that I have come to the end of Part Two, it is definitely becoming clearer how I want to move forward with this project.

• Is the work taking on a direction of it's own? Are you ready to go with it? 

As I've documented previously, I have taken a total new direction in this project. Coming into level 3, I assumed that the project was to be about showing the area that I most enjoy in photography. But in the previous assignments and the feedback I have had from all my tutors, I have come to realise that the body of work has to promote a feeling. It has to be something that conveys a message and provokes an interest, yet has to be something that affects me. Now that I have changed direction with my project, I feel that the work itself is moving along nicely, whereas in the previous subject area - I constantly felt that I was trying to find something to please my viewers. And now I see that there was no clear message in my work, there was nothing to read when you looked at my images. My tutors assured me that I could carry on within that area, but I would need to find a message - something to focus on, and I didn't find it. I'm hoping that, because Assignment Three is the first assignment containing my new subject area, I will get good feedback to enable me to carry on and progress this project further. 

• Is the strategy you are using currently developing the kind which is most suitable for the work?  

I am currently attempting to take photos by coincidence and chance I think. I don't know myself, or in advance, when and who will be using some sort of device for me to be able to shoot it and my images are purely taken by chance when this occurs. So I do think these are the right methods to be using within my work. When taking photos of people on the street, its not like I can choose who to photograph and ask them to use their device as then it's not coincidence. Even though I have influenced part of the process, the outcome would be staged and not casual. Although, I guess if I do progress my project to specifically shooting my family, I am controlling one area of the process. So there if definitely a mixture of the two strategies.

• Are you resisting a certain direction due to effort, a closed mind or another reason?

I guess by setting aside photographing the public, I am resisting that direction. Is it due to effort? Possibly. Its not the work that bothers me as such, it's the fact that the work produced is very similar but in a way I am worried that people will get annoyed with me if they knew I was taking their picture. In some of the photos for Assignment Three, you can see people looking at me as I take their photograph. Maybe I am not as inconspicuous as I thought. I guess this is what worries me the most. But also the time frame of me completing this work: the fact that I have swapped direction so late in the day, that I don't have long left to create this body of work and the accompanying dissertation. Asking permission from places to be able to safely take photos is time consuming and I am always aware that time is ticking by. That is not to say though that I am not happy with the direction I want to pursue with this project. I feel that I can put more into the project following how the subject is involved in my life personally and I am eager to see how it progresses. 

• Are there any lessons in the material from this section that could be useful for where you currently are in your work?

I have learned that accompanying text is a good addition and could possibly take my project to a different level and I only learned that while looking at Sophie Calle's work. I've also taken on board that if there are accidents or mistake in my photos, especially if I am trying to sneak a photo or take one quickly, they should not immediately be discarded. It is possible that the photo could work within the set to create a dramatic involvement. 

• How has chance intervened in your work to date and how might you allow for it a bit more?

As I have explained, my work is quite heavily built on chance and the activities of others. For me to control the project any more than I do could result in my project being false. The purpose of my project at this time is to focus on exactly how much time society uses and depends on modern technology and this is more of a subconscious issue than one that is directed. I couldn't correctly get my point across where I have set up the shots of people playing computers or using smartphones because then the argument would be void. The purpose is to capture people unawares to present exactly how much technology usage is affecting our society/daily lives.