BLOG NO. 2 A reflection 

Despite this semester going so quickly, I can definitely say this was probably one of my favourite studios. I feel like lighting is something that we’ve needed in every studio but it’s something people rarely know a lot about. I feel like this semester I have actually learnt so much, and I know that what I have learnt will become incredibly useful for the future. From learning about what different lights do, to the the logistics of how many lights can be used at once, to cutting and blocking light, adding light in and just in general how to set up lights to create a particular effect.

I started of this semester not really knowing how to even set up a single light, whereas now I can confidently set lights up. Know how to control the light and where to put them, I feel like there is so much more to learn but through experimenting I think I can figure out how to create certain looks. Personally as much as I love film and media I really am looking towards more of a design route. This lighting studio will be super useful for myself in the future as I look to create my own portfolio, whether it be in styling, interior design or whatever I feel like the lighting is extremely important in capturing those images. Throughout this semester I also purchased myself a camera which I am aiming to use to help create these images.

Despite having a great semester there was one thing I really wanted to do which I didn’t and that was directing and organising a shoot of my own. I think I said the same thing in my last studio also but I think often in studios we are in groups to create a project. This is fantastic don’t get me wrong, its create to bounce ideas of each other, and learn from the people around me as well as work with others to create something. However I have found over the last 2 – 3 semester I am often in groups with people who have a really strong concept and idea they want to produce. In addition to that I have found that the people I am in a group have more experience than I do, in both shooting, lighting etc. and often they shoot a lot outside of class which becomes their part time job. For me the times I’m not at uni or studying I am working in hospitality so I find little time to go out and shoot these pieces that I really want to shoot. I think often because I don’t have that level of experience I have never really been given the opportunity to give directing and shooting a go. Understandably things would go wrong but I really wanted to try doing something myself and seeing what I envision come to life. I really want to see if with the help of others doing sound of assisting with lighting and acting I could create something that I think would look really fantastic. In my previous semesters as well as this one I have allowed for it to be controlled by someone else because I often think working in groups its far smoother to have one director and not two. but this has meant that I haven’t really felt pushed to create my own piece of work.

I know coming into my last semester there wont be as much opportunity to do this in class, however I am really going to push and see if I can do something myself.

Overall I am super happy with how this semester has gone, I have learnt so much more than I reflected on and I am really glad that this studio has been what I hoped. I think lighting is an invaluable tool to learn no matter what part of media you fall into.