17) Crossover Tutorials with Jim and Shawn - 23/10/17

Today we had crossover tutorials with the tutor of our choice, so I decided to get tutorials with both Jim and Shawn to get some other opinions on my project. My notes from both tutorials are below.

In Jim's tutorial I explained the basis of my idea and the photoshoot I'm currently creating, and he seemed to like the idea which is a good start. He suggested that instead of just shooting 5/10 steps to the manifesto that I shoot the whole thing, so I'm going to do this in the coming week. We also discussed how I thought the remaining steps wouldn't fit as well being photographed in a studio set up, so I'm going to use a small point and shoot out and about everyday to find things around which represent these steps for me. I really like the idea of doing some shots in the studio and some out and about because I want to experiment with both. We then went on to discuss how my next steps were to go on and create my own manifesto, so Jim gave me lots of different philosophers on happiness to give insight on how I want to write my manifesto. As well as this he gave me a range of different artists to look at to help stylise my point and shoot work which will be helpful to look at.

In Shawn's tutorial again I I explained the basis of my idea and the photoshoot I'm currently creating, and he also seemed to like the idea. We discussed my current studio shots in more detail, with Shawn highlighting that some of them have the same backdrop and look too similar. He said he feels each image should have it's own identity separate to the others, and using different coloured backdrops could combat this. Shawn also talked about how he thought making my own manifesto may not be the best idea, especially if I was photographing the BBC lifestyle manifesto in a more satirical and deconstructing way, which wouldn't be the way to capture my own manifesto. Instead he talked about making the project more honest, and spontaneous, just taking photos of what makes me happy (like I'm already starting to do with my point and shoot). Following on from this, we also talked about different ways I could take this shots - for instance on disposable cameras, still having my own playful and colourful style but in a more disposable way. I agree this may be a better way to shoot things that make me happy, and as Shawn said sometimes shooting only in the studio can take the soul and feeling out of your images. He then went on to give me some points of inspiration such as some philosophers, artists and writers.

Overall I feel the crossover tutorials went really well and it was great to get a second and third opinion on my work, especially due to the fact I wasn't too sure on how to create my own manifesto to happiness and whether or not it was a good idea for the project. I now have lots more reading and artists to inspire me, as well as more shoots to be amending and creating.

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