- Final Major Project – Grades – Where To, Now? January 15, 2020
Well, it’s all over!
My overall grade for the Final major Project module was 72.9% – my best yet. Encouragingly, the results against the Learning Objectives ...
Read more... - Critical Review of Practice December 12, 2019
Here is a link to my FMP Critical Review of Practice.
FMP Critical Review of Practice Final Compressed
The concluding statement is perhaps worth noting here.
‘The MA ...
Read more... - A Constructed Image October 16, 2019
As I am closing in on the final choices and hanging plan – and nearing the time that I need to write a Critical Review ...
Read more... - A research-led practice September 26, 2019
The MA is now in its 21st month. In that time I have flown almost exactly 50,000 miles to and from Cambodia. Looking at my ...
Read more... - Webinar with Wendy – Sept 25th September 25, 2019
Had a good webinar with Wendy today. I started by saying that I was quite pleased with how things had developed, and could now see ...
Read more... - Khmer Quotes September 11, 2019
Thanks to input from both Gem and Richard Young (a fellow member of the PhotoBath collective), I think I had a bit of a breakthrough ...
Read more... - What Price Megapixels? September 9, 2019
One of the benefits of doing this MA has been to encourage me to question all aspects of my practice. As a lifelong photographer, and ...
Read more... - Week Twelve Reflections … ish September 2, 2019
The wedding went well. it was a lovely, relaxed affair at a very pretty church – the oldest in Bath by all accounts. Simon and ...
Read more... - Wedding Photography August 30, 2019
I am photographing a wedding today. I have done this before, although it is not my normal activity (nor, necessarily, my favourite thing to do). ...
Read more... - BRLSI – Venue August 26, 2019
I have booked the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) for two weeks, from Wednesday, December 4th. Installation day will be on the 4th ...
Read more... - Socially Engaged Photography August 24, 2019
In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Farm Security Administration (FSA) to aid American farmworkers during the Great Depression. Its photographers aimed to document what ...
Read more... - Book material samples August 20, 2019
I have just got the samples from Phnom Penh. Whilst I had seen paper samples and such when there, I had not seen a completed ...
Read more... - Printing, and Webinar with Wendy August 15, 2019
As I discussed with Wendy, I made an (expensive) error in printing, with a border that just did not quite work.
Not enough space at the ...
Read more... - Photographs with Text August 14, 2019
In my teens, I started painting and writing. Pop Art, Op Art, and the beginnings of Conceptual Art were everywhere. Psychedelia either added or confused ...
Read more... - Exhibition Print August 10, 2019
I ordered an A1 sized print from Loxley, using their premium metallic/perspex finish. It was completed and delivered within 4 working days. As noted before, ...
Read more... - Reportage August 6, 2019
It has been little while, but I was asked to shoot last evening’s Bath for Europe event, featuring Lord Andrew Adonis (ex labour Minister, Vice-Chair of ...
Read more... - Week Nine Reflections – Frome Festival August 5, 2019
Small wins – but I noted before how much I enjoyed shooting the Frome Festival events. It is a little late, but I wanted to ...
Read more... - Week Eight Reflections July 28, 2019
This was our first visit to Rencontres d’Arles, and it will not be the last. A terrific experience. The venues and presentation puts Paris Photo, ...
Read more... - FMP Proposal feedback from Wendy July 17, 2019
Had a good conversation with Wendy of my proposal for FMP. Feedback was good, and I think the proposal (and project) was well received. Wendy ...
Read more... - First Book Spreads July 16, 2019
The content of the book is coming along, and Vicky has been doing some design layouts, which look great.
This evening, she created a series of ...
Read more... - Lukas Birk Webinar July 16, 2019
Terrific webinar today with Lukas Birk, hosted by Gary. Lukas was really helpful to me last year as I was starting to think my way ...
Read more... - What I Love To Do … Part 2 July 10, 2019
Music gigs. As I noted in the weekend reflections, I am doing some work right now, reporting on the Frome Festival.
The Coral are still quite ...
Read more... - Week Five Reflections – What I Love to Do July 7, 2019
Events, getting mixed in with people, getting close, trying to capture the atmosphere. That is my reflection this week.
The local camera group have been asked ...
Read more... - Print Exploration June 22, 2019
For a few years, I have used Loxley Colour in Scotland as my exhibition printer, and they are the provider for any customer orders taken ...
Read more... - Pecha Kucha Feedback June 5, 2019
Had the first proper 1-1 with Wendy on the FMP, around the Pecha Kucha.
I think it’s fair to say Wendy really liked the presentation and ...
Read more... - Intuitive Master of Photography May 28, 2019
Bob Ryan is a specialist in analysis and the development of expert judgement. The Master Photographer builds upon his work in deep-learning and the activation of ...
Read more... - RPS Contemporary Group Proposal May 2, 2019
I am testing the interest level in my latest work, so I have created a simple proposal for the Royal Photographic Society, Contemporary Group.
And just ...
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- Informing Contexts – Grades – Where To, Now? May 31, 2019
I have just received the grades for Informing Contexts – 69% overall, pretty much in line with Sustainable Prospects, Surfaces & Strategies and Positions and ...
Read more... - Week Twelve Reflections – Gilbert Ryle April 29, 2019
My practice has changed, and my understanding of photography has deepened. So, a good end to Informing Contexts. As this is also the end of ...
Read more... - Old Dog, New Tricks April 28, 2019
I learnt photography shooting film, and quite often still use it today. I find it a restful, more mindful way of taking photographs.
Years ago I ...
Read more... - Informing Contexts – Assignments April 24, 2019
All submitted, this morning.
Mick Yates. 2018. Choeung Ek (The Killing Fields).
The opening statement from my Critical Review:
I am documenting the personal stories of people that ...
Read more... - Week Eleven Reflections – Pictures at an Exhibition April 14, 2019
The past couple of weeks have been full of gallery visits – Don McCullin, Vincent Van Gogh and Diane Arbus. Dave Heath was at the ...
Read more... - Informing Contexts – Oral Presentation – Feedback April 9, 2019
From Pierre:
Well done video Mick.
Good to see your journey from where it began to where it is now. The painterly influence never goes away, it ...
Read more... - Informing Contexts – Oral Presentation April 7, 2019
Partly because of some misguided feedback at the Falmouth F2F, and partly because I felt a need to ‘go back the beginning’ to explain my ...
Read more... - Week Nine Reflections – The Two Headed Monster March 31, 2019
There has always been at least two Micks.
There is the artist, the poet, the dreamer. And there is the logician, the business-person, the practical problem solver.
Where ...
Read more... - My Artistic Practice vs. My Photographic Practice March 30, 2019
Right from the beginning of the MA, in fact even a bit before it started, I wrote about Landscape. Given the way that my Cambodian ...
Read more... - The University of Leeds March 21, 2019
I have been a Visiting Professor at Leeds, my Alma Mater, for the last 8 years, working with the Leeds University Business School (LUBS) and ...
Read more... - Pictures and Words March 17, 2019
Robert Frank said, ‘Above all, life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference, and it is important to see what is invisible to others’. (cited ...
Read more... - Week Five Reflections March 3, 2019
I have two kinds of reflections this week. First, what happened on the last days of my Cambodian trip. And, second, where I stand with ...
Read more... - The Vernacular Landscape – and Intention March 2, 2019
I do not consider landscape central to my practice, though like many others who started in photography with a lot of travel images, the genre ...
Read more... - Colour, Black & White or Infrared March 1, 2019
On this last Cambodia trip, I was experimenting with infrared, being intrigued with its ‘ghost like’ properties. I shared a few quick images at the ...
Read more... - Photography, Photographies February 3, 2019
This week’s task: Post a brief commentary below that identifies the inherent characteristics and contexts of the ‘photographic’ nature of your own practice.
Specifically refer to ...
Read more... - Reflections on my Photographic Practice January 22, 2019
Robert Frank said, “Above all, life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference”.
I provided a reasonably thorough review of my photography in my ...
Read more... - Cultural Context January 13, 2019
Almost all of this MA program to date uses a European / American ‘gaze’, in its choice of reading and referenced photographers – even the ...
Read more... - Offering Critique January 13, 2019
Last autumn I decided to join the local Frome Wessex Camera Club, something I had not done before, as I am not a ‘competition’ person, ...
Read more... - What is Street Photography? January 2, 2019
I have an ongoing project to digitise my film archives, which has been a bit interrupted by the MA. So a 2019 resolution is to ...
Read more... - The Best of 2018 December 30, 2018
In the Sustainable Prospects module, we covered the power of social media, within which I assessed my current position and conducted some Instagram promotional experiments.
As I ...
Read more... - Artist’s Statements – Part Two December 30, 2018
I have written an earlier post on Artist’s Statements. I then posted links to this on Facebook, and asked for input, the ‘wisdom of the ...
Read more... - Ain’t no Shame in my Game December 29, 2018
I used to do a lot of street photography, although most recently I have been a little bored by it – in the sense that ...
Read more... - Artist’s Statements December 29, 2018
Arty Bollocks has an ‘Instant Artists Statement Generator‘ … and here is an example:
‘My work explores the relationship between postmodern discourse and vegetarian ethics. With ...
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- Surfaces & Strategies Reflections – Grades – Where To, Now? September 20, 2018
Just got the Surfaces & Strategies results – and although the overall result (70.6%) is remarkably consistent with Positions & Practice (70.8%), the internals are ...
Read more... - Week Nine reflections – Cambodian Narrative August 4, 2018
It was a very busy but productive time in Cambodia.
My reflections this week (partly whilst sitting on the plane home) are about clarifying the narrative. ...
Read more... - Week Eight Reflections – Cambodia – My Practice July 29, 2018
Another intense week.
I left London on Saturday morning, having completed a 4 day, full-on shoot with Andrew Mlangeni. I arrived in Phnom Penh on Sunday ...
Read more... - Week Seven Reflections – My Practice July 21, 2018
This week my reflections are about my practice, after a multi day event/documentary gig in London.
Whilst I have shot events before, this week’s project was ...
Read more... - Conversation with Lukas Birk July 13, 2018
Following an introduction from Cemre, had a terrific conversation today with Lukas Birk.
I explained a little of my background, motivations and the Cambodia project itself.
These ...
Read more... - PhotoBath Exhibition & Book July 12, 2018
PhotoBath, the local photography collective, are running their third annual show, in September, at the 44AD ArtSpace Gallery in Bath. They are also creating the ...
Read more... - Installation July 11, 2018
Just trying to pull together some ideas on a possible installation – not for August, as part of Landings, but looking to the future.
I envisage ...
Read more... - Preciousness July 11, 2018
Two things happened in the last 24 hours, which I would like to connect.
First, I saw Sian Davey‘s guest lecture. Second, I had a conversation ...
Read more... - Week Four Reflections July 1, 2018
Let me start by answering some specific questions from the presentations of Week 4. I should note upfront that reading Vilém Flusser‘s book has really helped add ...
Read more... - Pop June 21, 2018
I have been experimenting with some of the ‘traces’ work, not least as a couple of the images have been chosen for the PhotoBath exhibition ...
Read more... - S&S Week One Reflections June 10, 2018
I consider my photography is about storytelling (when I get things right, that is). And I call this ‘Unfinished Stories‘, because the best that any ...
Read more... - It’s Not All About Genocide June 8, 2018
It has always been my intent to go back and re-imagine the journey that we took with Sarath, though I have, to now, seen that ...
Read more... - The Work for Surfaces & Strategies June 5, 2018
Very helpful webinar with Gary today.
As background, one of my ‘issues’ is the limited time I can be in Cambodia, and how I will develop ...
Read more... - Redesigned my website June 4, 2018
I spent some time this past weekend reflecting back on the feedback from my WIP, and doing some research on web design.
I have historically used ...
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- Sustainable Prospects – Grades – Where To, Now? January 14, 2019
I have just received the grades for Sustainable Prospects – 70% overall, Distinction level, I assume, which is pretty much in line with Surfaces & ...
Read more... - The Best of 2018 December 30, 2018
In the Sustainable Prospects module, we covered the power of social media, within which I assessed my current position and conducted some Instagram promotional experiments.
As I ...
Read more... - Reflections at Year End December 11, 2018
On Monday, 10th December, I did a presentation at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, noted here.
It was entitled Cambodia – Unfinished Stories, A ...
Read more... - Infrared December 11, 2018
One of my action steps for 2019 is to explore other ways of rendering my traces / negatives, and that includes infrared. I am particularly ...
Read more... - Week Twelve Reflections – Street Photography, my evolution December 9, 2018
About 5 years ago, I decided to take street photography a bit more seriously. I got involved with various groups (such as the Leica Meet), ...
Read more... - Week Eleven Reflections – Professional Location of Practice December 6, 2018
For this week’s reflections, I want to discuss my Practice, and where it is going.
Following on from the ‘Let’s Talk Business‘ and ‘Back to the Beginning ...
Read more... - Sustainable Prospects Oral Presentation December 4, 2018
Robert Frank said, “Above all, life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference”.
Whilst I expressed the same thoughts in my first Oral Presentation, ...
Read more... - Week Ten Reflections December 2, 2018
With all the focus on the Oral Presentation and the Work in Progress, it would be easy to not step back and reflect. Also, there ...
Read more... - Working on Oral Presentation – Quotes November 24, 2018
I made a presentation last year to PhotoBath on Iconic Images, with Richard Young.
Some of the quotes seem even more appropriate now, as I consider where I want ...
Read more... - Website November 20, 2018
I have long treated my website more as a repository of my work than as a focused ‘shop window’.
Whilst I am happy with, and have ...
Read more... - Week Eight Reflections – Work in Progress Reviews November 17, 2018
This summarises feedback from Jesse, Wendy and Krishna on my WIP portfolio, and my project in general.
Paris (10th Nov)
As background, I introduced the project like ...
Read more... - Unfinished Stories from Cambodia – A Prayer from Hell November 16, 2018
I have been asked to do a talk at the Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute, on December 10th. I was approached to do this ...
Read more... - A Prayer from Hell November 5, 2018
In Phnom Penh last week, I met Youk Chhang for the first time. The visit including a lot of such networking activities, in order to ...
Read more... - Meet Someone New October 25, 2018
I am responding here to the ‘Meet Someone New” challenge.
This is alway a good idea, though I must admit I have preferred usually to do ...
Read more... - For this week’s task, you will network October 20, 2018
Week 5 is all about networking. Of course this is hardly a new idea, nor unique to photography. Aeons ago I wrote several masters papers ...
Read more... - Week Four Reflections – and Photographic DNA October 20, 2018
I have done my best to fulfil the requests of the course this week, despite my misgivings. I will not dwell much on this, other ...
Read more... - Marketing Plan October 19, 2018
‘For this week’s activity, we will create a marketing plan for your practice which covers the next 10 weeks. Think about what you want to ...
Read more... - Instagram Part 3 October 17, 2018
Following the earlier post on a first experiment, I conducted a second experiment.
In the spirit of the week, I decided to promote TWO images on ...
Read more... - Artist’s Statement October 15, 2018
Following on from the ‘Let’s Talk Business‘ and ‘Back to the Beginning‘ work, I am working through my Artist’s Statement. I see this as very much ...
Read more... - Week Three Reflections October 13, 2018
Still frustrated.
On the plus side, had a really good conversation with Krishna and Isabella in the webinar this week. It was fascinating (and inspiring) to ...
Read more... - Begin at the Beginning – My Photographic DNA October 13, 2018
Review your earliest work and reflect: What do you see in it?
I have to really start at the beginning here. I was a painter (and ...
Read more... - Instagram Part 2 October 11, 2018
Following the earlier post, I conducted an experiment.
Brief recap on my Instagram: I joined pretty much at the beginning, and just use it as a ...
Read more... - Instagram Part 1 October 6, 2018
This week’s task:
‘I want you to try and create and implement an Instagram strategy that you feel will help you reach future, potential clients (whether ...
Read more... - Week Two Reflections October 6, 2018
So, week two.
I found working through the mission statement useful. Writing strategies is hardly something new, as I have been doing that literally for decades. ...
Read more... - Data Protection October 6, 2018
I think it might be useful to briefly look at European GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) implications as we are considering viral campaigns. Whilst this is largely aimed ...
Read more... - Business Planning October 3, 2018
Having been in business for a while, I thought it might be helpful to share a couple of tools that I use, both when leading ...
Read more... - Let’s Talk Business October 3, 2018
We have been asked to write a business statement for our photography.
Mission
My work is ‘Unfinished Stories’. Life is always in motion, every moment creates a ...
Read more... - SP Week One Reflections September 29, 2018
Sarah Leen, Director of Photography, National Geographic (from ‘Why We Do it‘), said:
‘I have spent my entire professional life creating, editing, critiquing or teaching photography ...
Read more... - Dominic Grieve & Event Photography September 23, 2018
As mentioned elsewhere, I do quite a lot of event photography in the local area. It is essentially reportage work, for use in local news ...
Read more... - Gina Miller September 8, 2018
I was asked to shoot Gina Miller’s book signing this past week. Gina is the legal activist that took the UK Government to court, to ...
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