For the first project of my second year at university I am taking a step back from creating unrealistic scenes using Photoshop and concentrating more on what is actually there still aiming to keep an eerie atmosphere. The first set of images I have taken were in the basement of my house which is completely new to me and as I enjoy exploring new places, I felt this was a good opportunity for me to use what is at my disposal.

Going down into the basement raised many questions; 'what was there before?' 'who has been there?' 'what has happened in there?'. These came about from finding objects down there such as an old mattress, a portrait, an old fridge and a cabinet.

I took a skull candle down there due to shooting late at night, I had minimal lighting to use. I felt that this would give more of an atmosphere against the pitch black and also made a focal point.



 These are two edits from the photographs which I have taken. Next time I am going to experiment with different lighting both natural and artificial, different perspectives and will also focus of small details such as cracks, peeling paint and holes.

A very late university update but after having a bad last term, I've managed to pass first year with a 2:2 getting a high third and a mid 2:2 in my last two assignments which I am very pleased about!

Next year is a change; and I won't be leaving my work to the last minute. I am not settling for anything less than average this time.

Two more new images to go into my new series of self portraits.

Next image in my new series; going to shoot some more this week in outdoors environments to make my series a coherent piece!

My two new self portrait images for my latest university assignment which I have based around me and my emotions.
Any feedback would be helpful!

This term hasn't been a good one for me in terms of university work; I've lost all motivation to do work and have found myself in my own little motivation and emotionless bubble but these last two weeks I will pull it all back together. 
Due in two weeks:

• visual practice assignment
• 2500 word essay 

Once those are handed in that's my first year done and dusted with. 

For now, here's one of my images for my visual practice assignment which I've chosen to do as self portraits. 

Taken from my phone, this image is suppose to represent me coming through from a 'dark' time and breaking into the light and finding myself again. I need to produce more images which represent different emotions still and create them in a similar style. 

Today I had a small talk on the European Exchange part of my course which happens in my second year of study which I am extremely interested in doing! If I did make it onto the programme I could live in the country of my choice anywhere from 3 months this a year.

Three institutions I am interested in going to are

• Academy of Fine Arts Poznan, Poland
• Fachochschule Dortmund, Germany
• University of the Arts Bremen, Germany

My next step is to research further into each of these institutions, the cities and create a personal statement and portfolio which I can give to my university that'll show my interest in applying for the programme! I need a first and second choice university.
Ideally I'd like one of the institutions in Germany but I will have to cross my fingers and see what happens.


I have also received my questions for my critical practise module this term and I have to produce a 2,500 word essay on.

Questions I feel I would be able to answer the best are:

1. Produce an interpretive encounter with a photograph making use of the concepts presented in lectures and seminars.

2. Is the purpose of documentary photography to persuade or to record? Consider this in relation to two documentary images of your choice.

3. Outline Szarkowski's Formalist program for photography and refer to specific photographs and photographers. Discuss the problems of Formalism and again refer to specific examples.

My next plan after this will be to write down miniature structures to each of the questions, see what texts and notes I already have on the texts that link to the questions and see then which would be the easiest afterwards.