#5imag006w

14.05.2020

As part of the module, we had to arrange a meeting with Elishba to fill part of our critical evaluation. I had mine online today. It was very insightful and help me plan the writing of my critical report.

Here are my notes:

Opportunity are through networking

(Especially in photography)

-> describe how you obtained the opportunity -> recommendation -> Cultural Capital: when you know the right people to get the right opportunity.

Mentioned that the work you did required a level of self-confidence. It also ended up in the newspaper. Also mentioned that it was a good experience. You delivered on time which also gave you professionalism.  

Apply to one art fair and were about to apply to another one, to try and gain further experience and meet people from the industry. Talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the creative industry and how it made me feel.

Reflect on the alternative assessment we were given ad mention how it is pushing you to do further research but without any contact in the industry. Talk about the good and bad side of the situation and having to work from home.

Can reach to other photographers through LinkedIn and Instagram to talk about their work and make connection. Showing what you are up to (photography wise) can also bring you attention and show that you are committed to what you are doing. Show any personal project you might be working on and you could also join photography related group chat.

Also the possibility to start a course through LinkedIn learning (as the University gives you full access to it)

You can talk about the freelance talks you went to and the Ideas’ café and that it taught you (or at least try) essential business skills and how it gave me a insight to the creative community.

Career Planning

-> Talk about future goals and plans you might have (working on a personal project or taking a course can be mentioned there). This time we are living in is all about self development. 

-> Can look up Virtual internship

The Professional Practice module is aimed for us to be able to find a placement of some kind (internship, paid job, assisting job...) in any artistic field (possibly connected to photography). 

How to prepare for this: 

- Create a professional CV which should include any previous valuable experience in terms of skills acquired (practical and transferrable); 

- Create a strong online (and if possible physical too) portfolio, which should include my most significative images, in order to make my interests, style and technical skills strongly evident;

- Create a strong cover letter template, which includes all my skills and interests, and which I can modify and send alongside my CV to be able to underline my motivations and reasons why I would like certain kind of jobs/experiences

- Navigate around job-seeking websites (such as Engage) in order to be able to research the kind of experience that suits my need and interests better and be able. 

Here is my CV and the link to my online portfolio: 

After looking at example online I tried to compose my own cover letter:

Dear ...., (or use to Whom it may concern if not aware of the person responsible)

I am writing to express my interest in the art fair assistant position (or what ever job I am applying to) at your upcoming event. 

Currently, I am on my second year of my photography degree and find myself attracted to the curating side of the industry which I would like to explore.

I am confident I could be of good help throughout your fair and would be grateful for the opportunity.

I thank you in advance for taking the time to read my CV included in this email and I hope we are able to meet soon.

Yours sincerely

So far I have been assisting the photographer Rut Blees Luxemburg for 17h.

After the first meeting on the 14/02, I met with Rut 2 more times to do more archival work ( picture below) and work on her archival website https://marcelforart.com/ ( A great site that Rut showed me to Create a website, but most importantly to keep your audience up to date and manage your portfolio in minutes.)

I had to match every negative with the contact prints and label them.

Rut gave me lots of freedom in doing this as she thinks I was doing a great job already. She had plenty of negatives to organise and I have been happy to help. Doing this work gave me a chance to look at different works made with large format cameras, talk about concept and ideas, ask many questions about photography in general and get great tips.

To thank me, Rut gave me 2 of her books/projects and signed them for me. What a great pleasure!

And this is the one she gave me the previous time, together with a bottle of wine from her own vineyard in Germany! ( pictures below)