We kicked off the day with a review of everyone's homework assignment which was to take pictures at school and at home of the 'unnoticed detail'. We all have similar cameras, we all had the same brief and for the most part we all had the same subject as well. But boy. Were the results different! I for one had no idea that we would all develop such recognisable styles so early on. Each person's photos made me feel completely different. Each set had a unique vibe than ran through the whole series connecting all the photos together. I am starting to see how pointing and shooting a camera at an object is an indescribably personal act. With the ability to zoom in on a small element, take a particular angle, or focus sharply on one thing or another while blurring out something else again, is essentially a set of instructions from artist to viewer. It says look HERE, and don't look like THATTT, instead look LIKE THISSS. By taking photos we are impressing the way we see the world upon others (should they care to look). Seeing the way my classmates view the world, seeing their homes and their thought processes was an unexpected lesson in psychology. So that was nugget one of the day.

Nugget two was more technical. We headed out to Kings Cross and looked for ways to capture the buzzy rush of the station in our pictures. I took the above 3 pictures of the same girl using a technique called 'zooming through the exposure'. This girl stood out to me because she looks lost, and overwhelmed by the enormity of the station. Having realised the great truth of nugget one, that no picture I take can be random, and whether I like it or not it exposes something of myself to the viewer, I can see the commentary these pictures make. In 4 days time I am going to live abroad by myself, in a city where I don't know anyone. I probably read my own fears into this scene, so in essence this projection says more about my lack of bearings than hers. She's probably just deciding what to have for lunch. 

These pictures were taken with the same technique and I think it's a really good way of showing separation and disorientation. I also just really like the oily, smudgy colours it has produced near the top of the picture. Makes me think of paintings I did when I was a kid.

In contrast, the above set gives me the sense that instead of repelling the surrounding people the subject is being descended upon. It draws the other figures in to the central person in a really dramatic way.

Tonight's homework is a self portrait. I really can't wait to see what everyone comes up with as they are a really talented and interesting group. Oh, and for those of you wondering, she was a market researcher.