Personal statement

It was my father who first fired my interest in photography when he took me to a festival when I was twelve years old. I remember the vibrant costumes and atmosphere, how the camera not only captured these but seemed to accentuate and distil them into something even more beautiful and mysterious. Since that day I have become fascinated with the magic of photography; how a photographer can capture a moment in time that you can keep and the amazing impact it can have. I feel that my experience at college has helped me make a clear decision that a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design is the right course for me. Kingston not only has fantastic facilities but its strong reputation in the arts makes Kingston my first choice. I have a strong knowledge of the skills needed to achieve a high quality image and have experience using software such as Photoshop to enhance my image. I understand the importance of good lighting and the good organisation skills needed to structure a strong composition. As well as following my passion for photography during the course, I am looking forward to experimenting and revisiting other aspects of art and design giving me a vaster knowledge of the arts.

I am a passionate and motivated student and I feel it is important to gain as much experience as possible of a working environment. Therefore I have participated in a number of work experience projects. I have assisted a photographer at a home and style shoot for the Sunday Daily Mail. It was interesting to try and relate the pictures to the article and watch how the photographer captures different angles of the set to pursue a perfect image. I have also gained experience assisting at a fashion shoot for ‘Kat Hill Fotographie’. At this shoot I observed the way Kat Hill directed her models and had a clear vision on how she wanted the models to portray themselves. I took this experience on board when using models for my own projects and look forward to gaining more experience and knowledge next year. In July I attended a one week photography summer school at Goldsmiths. This opportunity was inspiring for me because I learnt new skills such as working in a professional studio and working with Polaroid’s. It also gave me the opportunity to socialise with various people from different cultures who share the same passion as me.