Reflection

Starting this class, I had very little idea how to operate a camera, capture strong photos, get crisp audio, or put together a good video. Even though I don’t think the work I submitted is perfect, I definitely pushed myself outside my comfort zone. I experimented with different angles, learned how to use editing platforms like Lightroom and Premiere Pro, and gradually figured out how to bring my ideas to life. I think I improved the most in my photography skills. I was really happy with how my photo ideas were executed, and through the lectures on editing, I learned how to shape my images into what I wanted, even if the original shot wasn’t perfect. My photos now are much better than anything I took before this class.

My favourite part of the process was brainstorming and shooting. For my photo series, it was fun dressing my cousin up in different outfits and running around taking shots. For my video assignment, I really enjoyed having my friends come in, have fun, and just make up a story in front of the camera. My least favourite part was definitely editing. The video never felt quite “good enough,” and Premiere Pro was not the easiest program to navigate. The biggest lesson I learned is the importance of having a clear outline before shooting. The photo series and audio assignment were quick and smooth because I had a script for the audio project and sketches of what I wanted for each photo. In contrast, for the video assignment, I only had a loose idea instead of a scene-by-scene plan, which made the filming process longer and less thought-out. Now I see that having a solid outline is key to success.

I also learned something about myself. I really enjoy the styling and creative direction side of things. Picking outfits for my photo assignment, drawing out the clothes and hairstyles I wanted my model to wear, and being in charge of that visual planning was sometimes more fun than the actual shoot. One of the biggest challenges was not preparing for changes in lighting while we were shooting outside; this meant I had to do a lot of editing on the photos and videos to make them look cohesive as the light on their faces kept changing. I am most proud of my photo series because it allowed me to be creative and bring my vision to life. I’m especially proud of the transition photo from day to night of my model on the floor, it took a lot of commitment and turned out even better than I imagined. Learning about different angles and shots, such as the rule of thirds and wide shots, really helped me achieve the results I wanted, and I plan to keep using these concepts in future assignments and everyday photography. I also found the audio assignment fun, and I’d love to explore that further, maybe by combining video and audio in a voiceover-style video to practice my crisp audio skills. Overall, this class has been a great experience that taught me the fundamentals of camera work and audio production.