Evidence of editing:
Saturday, 20 May 2017
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
LO4 - Preparing content for a portfolio
Having studied the creative and digital media course, and through personal hobbies, I have accumulated plenty of material that I will be able to use in a portfolio.
Below is what I consider to be some of my best work to include.
Unit 14 - Magazine Production
For this unit I produced my own magazine publication from scratch, including the text that would be used, the images that were included and the layout of the publication. I spent a long time planning its appearance, and went on trips on location to get the photographs I planned to use. These places included the Farne Islands, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve Potteric Carr, and the home of a contact who fostered a hedgehog.
I feel that this unit went very well, and I was pleased with the outcome. The good photographs made all the difference, and I was able to lay the magazine out in a way that I felt came across as organised, creative and professional. I will use this in my portfolio to showcase my creativity and the photographs I took for the publication.
Unit 17 - Producing an Audio-Visual Product
Below is what I consider to be some of my best work to include.
Unit 14 - Magazine Production
For this unit I produced my own magazine publication from scratch, including the text that would be used, the images that were included and the layout of the publication. I spent a long time planning its appearance, and went on trips on location to get the photographs I planned to use. These places included the Farne Islands, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve Potteric Carr, and the home of a contact who fostered a hedgehog.
I feel that this unit went very well, and I was pleased with the outcome. The good photographs made all the difference, and I was able to lay the magazine out in a way that I felt came across as organised, creative and professional. I will use this in my portfolio to showcase my creativity and the photographs I took for the publication.
Unit 17 - Producing an Audio-Visual Product
In this unit, I planned and produced an audio-visual media product from scratch. I went through different variations of the product, writing and later scrapping a potential script that I found didn't work in the production. I made use of a family holiday to document one of my favourite places: the Isle of Mull.
I feel that this unit went quite well, albeit not completely to plan. I changed my ideas to suit the situation, as my subject matter was fairly difficult to predict. After feedback from a university lecturer, I learned that an improvement I could have made was to include a variety of different shots, as the shots I use in this product are all visually very similar - there is very little variety between close-up, wide, medium shots etc. This is something I can mention in my portfolio as it displays the ability to reflect on my work and understand that there is always room for improvement.
Unit 32 - Graphic Design
For this unit, I had to design a range of graphics to advertise a real or fictional event. I picked a fictional Halloween event, dubbed "Fearfest". I designed an original logo, two billboards, a flyer and a ticket. I planned the designs from scratch, drawing out sketches and putting together mock-ups in Photoshop to plan out their appearance.
I feel that this unit went well, and I managed to work around setbacks that I experienced during my time working on this unit - I lost my progress when the Mac I had been working on died. However, I managed to adapt and the unit went as planned. I was pleased with the way the designs turned out. I will include these in my portfolio, although they aren't very closely related to my future aspirations. They will demonstrate my skills in Adobe software like Illustrator and Photoshop, and will display my creative skills.
Personal work and achievements
As well as studying the creative and digital media diploma, I enjoy experimenting with photography in my spare time. This has produced some photographs that I will be able to include in my portfolio. Below are just a few examples of these photographs:
Laying out the portfolio
Because of the variety of different media I want to include, I have decided I am going to use a website to display my portfolio. This will allow me to organise it into sections for easy navigation.
Personal work and achievements
As well as studying the creative and digital media diploma, I enjoy experimenting with photography in my spare time. This has produced some photographs that I will be able to include in my portfolio. Below are just a few examples of these photographs:
Laying out the portfolio
Because of the variety of different media I want to include, I have decided I am going to use a website to display my portfolio. This will allow me to organise it into sections for easy navigation.
LO3 - My own potential career and/or study routes
Career Interests
My main current career interest is entering into the wildlife media industry. However, I have other interests that I would like to explore before deciding what I would like to pursue. For example, after studying A Level Creative Writing, I found I enjoyed it a lot, and would consider studying it further. Another area I have not had chance to explore is psychology, which I have always had an interest in. I would like to try studying psychology before making a decision for my future career.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Wildlife media is a fundamentally practical career, so most job opportunities will be considered based on practical skill rather than qualifications and grades. However, a background of studying with media will definitely be a benefit, and a degree may also give an extra element of skill. The main reason I would want to study at university would be to build on my skills rather than for the concept of having a degree. Should I already have the skills I would learn on the course, it would make more sense to just go straight into the industry.
Work Experience Opportunities
On a national (and international) scale, there are many opportunities for work eqperience in this field. Working with organisations such as the RSPB or the Wildlife Trusts would allow me to gain more experience in working with wildlife, and volunteering abroad on conservation trips would be more ambitious, but would give me a boost into the industry. More local volunteering opportunities with media would also be beneficial to moving forward in the industry.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
As researched in LO1, there are only a few opportunities on a national scale in terms of apprenticeships. The most relevant opportunity I found was this course as an intern for an internationally-operating conservation travel organisation. On this course I would be working as an online media/video intern.
The other apprenticeships I found were specifically media-based, and preferably I would do an apprenticeship that covered both the wildlife and the media aspects of this field.
Higher Education Opportunities
Having recieved an offer to study at the University of Cumbria, it would be the most obvious path to take to move into the industry. However, there are other courses, such as the ones I researched in this post. I will most likely defer Cumbria's offer until I am certain that this is the area I want to study.
Funding for Higher Education
As researched in LO2, I would have to apply for student finance in order to fund studying at university. The maximum maintenance loan for living away from home is £8,430, and the maximum tuition fee loan is £9,250. For a vocational apprenticeship, if I was paid the national minimum for apprentices, I would earn £3.50 per hour. It would depend on my hours to determine whether this would be enough to live away from home. And if I went straight into the industry, I would be paid at least the national minimum wage for my age, which is currently £5.60.
Personal Plan
I plan to go to university in the future, however, it is not likely to be this year. I want to be certain of the course I want to study before going, as it is a time-consuming and expensive venture. In the meantime, I am hoping to find a part-time job and concentrate on more practical goals such as getting my driving licence and applying for a passport. I am also hoping to find a course in psychology or another subject I have interest in that I can study at either AS level, or even to A2 if I want to continue studies. I may go to university next year, or if I am still deciding, I may wait until I turn 21, and apply as a mature student.
My main current career interest is entering into the wildlife media industry. However, I have other interests that I would like to explore before deciding what I would like to pursue. For example, after studying A Level Creative Writing, I found I enjoyed it a lot, and would consider studying it further. Another area I have not had chance to explore is psychology, which I have always had an interest in. I would like to try studying psychology before making a decision for my future career.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Wildlife media is a fundamentally practical career, so most job opportunities will be considered based on practical skill rather than qualifications and grades. However, a background of studying with media will definitely be a benefit, and a degree may also give an extra element of skill. The main reason I would want to study at university would be to build on my skills rather than for the concept of having a degree. Should I already have the skills I would learn on the course, it would make more sense to just go straight into the industry.
Work Experience Opportunities
On a national (and international) scale, there are many opportunities for work eqperience in this field. Working with organisations such as the RSPB or the Wildlife Trusts would allow me to gain more experience in working with wildlife, and volunteering abroad on conservation trips would be more ambitious, but would give me a boost into the industry. More local volunteering opportunities with media would also be beneficial to moving forward in the industry.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
As researched in LO1, there are only a few opportunities on a national scale in terms of apprenticeships. The most relevant opportunity I found was this course as an intern for an internationally-operating conservation travel organisation. On this course I would be working as an online media/video intern.
The other apprenticeships I found were specifically media-based, and preferably I would do an apprenticeship that covered both the wildlife and the media aspects of this field.
Higher Education Opportunities
Having recieved an offer to study at the University of Cumbria, it would be the most obvious path to take to move into the industry. However, there are other courses, such as the ones I researched in this post. I will most likely defer Cumbria's offer until I am certain that this is the area I want to study.
Funding for Higher Education
As researched in LO2, I would have to apply for student finance in order to fund studying at university. The maximum maintenance loan for living away from home is £8,430, and the maximum tuition fee loan is £9,250. For a vocational apprenticeship, if I was paid the national minimum for apprentices, I would earn £3.50 per hour. It would depend on my hours to determine whether this would be enough to live away from home. And if I went straight into the industry, I would be paid at least the national minimum wage for my age, which is currently £5.60.
Personal Plan
I plan to go to university in the future, however, it is not likely to be this year. I want to be certain of the course I want to study before going, as it is a time-consuming and expensive venture. In the meantime, I am hoping to find a part-time job and concentrate on more practical goals such as getting my driving licence and applying for a passport. I am also hoping to find a course in psychology or another subject I have interest in that I can study at either AS level, or even to A2 if I want to continue studies. I may go to university next year, or if I am still deciding, I may wait until I turn 21, and apply as a mature student.
Friday, 5 May 2017
LO2 - Evaluating resources
Portfolio Resources
The first place I would go to get resources for my portfolio are my blogs for the Creative Digital Media course. I have completed multiple relevant units that I would be able to use for my portfolio, including a magazine unit, graphic design, web design and a short film to name a few.
I also have the photographs I have taken in my spare time that I would be able to use in a portfolio. I have come a long way with my photography skills, and hopefully to be able to show my use of it in my spare time would be a good quality to see in a portfolio.
If I were to include everything that could be applicable to future opportunities, I could even include my art work and creative writing work. These show in more subtle ways the skills that I would need to be able to find success in the media industry.
Finance
If I chose to go to university, I would need to apply for student finance to support myself financially before I go. From the opportunities researched in LO1, it is fairly obvious that in order to pursue this career course I would need to study away from home. For living away from home, the maintenance loan for the 2017-2018 academic year can be up to £8,430, and tuition fee loans up to £9,250.
If I pursued an apprenticeship, I would be earning apprenticeship wages as a minimum, which is £3.50 per hour. This would be difficult to earn enough for a living, but if I was living at home it would be enough to support myself financially.
If I decided to enter the industry straight away, it would be very likely that I would get a low-paying job to begin with. The minimum wage for under-21 year olds is £5.60. I would earn considerably more with a full-time job as opposed to a part-time job.
Contacts and Networking
Through the UTC, I have made many contacts in the media industry through employer events. I have presented pitches to people from the media industry, for example presenting to Nick Bax during the graphic design unit.
Events in Sheffield would help me to expand the number of contacts in the media industry. Examples of events I could be involved in include Docfest, music festivals and events hosted at the galleries. Volunteering with camera work at these events would allow me to gain some contacts, and this could come in useful in the future.
Equipment
With most degrees and apprenticeships, equipment would be provided by the employer/university. However, if I decided to go straight into the industry, I would need to find my own equipment. The best equipment is also the most expensive, so I would have to choose carefully from equipment I could afford.
The most obvious piece of equipment I would need for wildlife photography would be a telephoto zoom lens and a DSLR. Here is a list of telephoto lenses that would be suitable for a Canon DSLR.
For filming, I would need to save up quite a lot as good camcorders are significantly more expensive than other cameras. One example of a good camcorder is the Sony XDCam PXW-Z100. This camcorder is portable, has a diverse range of features and is capable of shooting in 4K quality.
For industry-standard DSLR cameras, most wildlife photographers use large, bulky telephoto lenses. These are heavy, and when using a tripod, throw of the balance so that the tripod isn't as stable as it should be. This is why many photographers use a gimbal head. This balances the weight of the lens on the tripod.
Another essential for professional wildlife photography is a camouflage lens and camera cover, such as the ones listed here. These make the camera less visible to the subject, so it is less likely to flee.
Another piece of equipment that, while isn't essential, will make wildlife photography considerably easier is a teleconverter. This piece of equipment allows the photographer to gain that little bit more reach with the zoom of the camera, without the added bulk of a larger, heavier lens. It makes the practice more accessible, as the photographer won't have to get so close to the subject and risk it being spooked and fleeing.
Another technique to prevent the subject from running away would be to use a remote shutter. These allow the photographer to set up the camera closer to a location that a shyer subject visits frequently, and take pictures from further away so as to not scare the subject away. However, some downsides to using this piece of equipment include not being able to move the camera, and not being able to adjust the camera's settings.
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis
I feel that I have an element of creativity and originality that will make me stand out in the industry. For a subject that interests me, I am very motivated to progress and learn more. These are qualities that will help me in both an academic and professional sense in the pursuit of this field. I think I am quite articulate with my writing, which will help when pursuing any academic, vocational and professional goals.
My main weakness is my time-keeping and organisation skills. I find it difficult to stick to a schedule, which might hold me back in the future. This is a weakness I can work on and hopefully improve on as I move forward. I am also a naturally quiet person, so when working in a team, find it difficult to voice my opinions and ideas in confidence. As I move forward, my confidence will hopefully grow, allowing me to improve on this weakness.
There are many opportunities in this field, and getting an offer to study at the University of Cumbria is one opportunity that would help me to move towards a career in this field. Nationally, there are apprenticeships and jobs that would give me a start into the industry. Studying a course in this field at university would also give me an opportunity to showcase my work as a student.
A threat that may hold me back from pursuing this field is how specific it is. The availability of jobs fluctuates a lot, and any openings are taken quickly - there are many people with the same aspirations, and not enough jobs for easy pickings. It is a competitive industry, and I will have to work on my confidence before I am comfortable entering into the industry in a professional sense.
The first place I would go to get resources for my portfolio are my blogs for the Creative Digital Media course. I have completed multiple relevant units that I would be able to use for my portfolio, including a magazine unit, graphic design, web design and a short film to name a few.
I also have the photographs I have taken in my spare time that I would be able to use in a portfolio. I have come a long way with my photography skills, and hopefully to be able to show my use of it in my spare time would be a good quality to see in a portfolio.
If I were to include everything that could be applicable to future opportunities, I could even include my art work and creative writing work. These show in more subtle ways the skills that I would need to be able to find success in the media industry.
Finance
If I chose to go to university, I would need to apply for student finance to support myself financially before I go. From the opportunities researched in LO1, it is fairly obvious that in order to pursue this career course I would need to study away from home. For living away from home, the maintenance loan for the 2017-2018 academic year can be up to £8,430, and tuition fee loans up to £9,250.
If I pursued an apprenticeship, I would be earning apprenticeship wages as a minimum, which is £3.50 per hour. This would be difficult to earn enough for a living, but if I was living at home it would be enough to support myself financially.
If I decided to enter the industry straight away, it would be very likely that I would get a low-paying job to begin with. The minimum wage for under-21 year olds is £5.60. I would earn considerably more with a full-time job as opposed to a part-time job.
Contacts and Networking
Through the UTC, I have made many contacts in the media industry through employer events. I have presented pitches to people from the media industry, for example presenting to Nick Bax during the graphic design unit.
Events in Sheffield would help me to expand the number of contacts in the media industry. Examples of events I could be involved in include Docfest, music festivals and events hosted at the galleries. Volunteering with camera work at these events would allow me to gain some contacts, and this could come in useful in the future.
Equipment
With most degrees and apprenticeships, equipment would be provided by the employer/university. However, if I decided to go straight into the industry, I would need to find my own equipment. The best equipment is also the most expensive, so I would have to choose carefully from equipment I could afford.
The most obvious piece of equipment I would need for wildlife photography would be a telephoto zoom lens and a DSLR. Here is a list of telephoto lenses that would be suitable for a Canon DSLR.
For filming, I would need to save up quite a lot as good camcorders are significantly more expensive than other cameras. One example of a good camcorder is the Sony XDCam PXW-Z100. This camcorder is portable, has a diverse range of features and is capable of shooting in 4K quality.
For industry-standard DSLR cameras, most wildlife photographers use large, bulky telephoto lenses. These are heavy, and when using a tripod, throw of the balance so that the tripod isn't as stable as it should be. This is why many photographers use a gimbal head. This balances the weight of the lens on the tripod.
Another essential for professional wildlife photography is a camouflage lens and camera cover, such as the ones listed here. These make the camera less visible to the subject, so it is less likely to flee.
Another piece of equipment that, while isn't essential, will make wildlife photography considerably easier is a teleconverter. This piece of equipment allows the photographer to gain that little bit more reach with the zoom of the camera, without the added bulk of a larger, heavier lens. It makes the practice more accessible, as the photographer won't have to get so close to the subject and risk it being spooked and fleeing.
Another technique to prevent the subject from running away would be to use a remote shutter. These allow the photographer to set up the camera closer to a location that a shyer subject visits frequently, and take pictures from further away so as to not scare the subject away. However, some downsides to using this piece of equipment include not being able to move the camera, and not being able to adjust the camera's settings.
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis
I feel that I have an element of creativity and originality that will make me stand out in the industry. For a subject that interests me, I am very motivated to progress and learn more. These are qualities that will help me in both an academic and professional sense in the pursuit of this field. I think I am quite articulate with my writing, which will help when pursuing any academic, vocational and professional goals.
My main weakness is my time-keeping and organisation skills. I find it difficult to stick to a schedule, which might hold me back in the future. This is a weakness I can work on and hopefully improve on as I move forward. I am also a naturally quiet person, so when working in a team, find it difficult to voice my opinions and ideas in confidence. As I move forward, my confidence will hopefully grow, allowing me to improve on this weakness.
There are many opportunities in this field, and getting an offer to study at the University of Cumbria is one opportunity that would help me to move towards a career in this field. Nationally, there are apprenticeships and jobs that would give me a start into the industry. Studying a course in this field at university would also give me an opportunity to showcase my work as a student.
A threat that may hold me back from pursuing this field is how specific it is. The availability of jobs fluctuates a lot, and any openings are taken quickly - there are many people with the same aspirations, and not enough jobs for easy pickings. It is a competitive industry, and I will have to work on my confidence before I am comfortable entering into the industry in a professional sense.
LO2 - Evaluating personal qualities
Personal Characteristics
The media industry is broad and covers many more specialised areas. However, there are qualities that will aid a person in moving further up in any part of the media industry.
Individuality and creativity are one of the driving forces behind the media industry, and this is a quality I think I have. The ability to think of and conceptualise original ideas is vital to a company's - and an individual's - success in the industry.
Another important quality to have is the ability to work well with others. Although I do enjoy working alone, I feel like I have a mature approach that would bring together a team of people that might not necessarily get along. I understand that in this industry, it's rare that everyone will agree on most things and a level of compromise and experimentation is required to get substantial results. I think, in a leadership role, I would be able to have an unbiased viewpoint that will take everyone's views and suggestions into consideration without causing too much conflict.
Skills
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of skills I have developed is my proficiency in using media editing programs, primarily Adobe software. I feel like I am strongest in Premiere Pro for editing film, and Photoshop for photography and digital art is a close second. Other programs I have learned the basics of include InDesign and Illustrator. I have been developing my skills in Adobe Premiere for around six years, and Photoshop for around three. I have developed skills in these programs that I would be able to apply in a job or course of further education. However, these programs are very complex, and I know that I have a lot more to learn when it comes to using them.
Another skill I feel I have is in writing. After completing an A Level in Creative Writing, I feel confident that I would be able to find a career in scriptwriting in the media industry, if I were to pursue it. I am also able to craft a strong, formal CV with this skill, and hope that it is a skill that many help me at some point in the future.
Relevant Achievements
Last year, I completed an A Level course in Creative Writing, finishing with B as a final grade. As described above, this skill will be useful to put towards success in the media industry.
This year I will be completing an AS Level qualification in art. This shows my creativity in a different area, and shows that I can apply it in any area I wish to pursue.
I will also be completing the Creative Digital Media diploma at the end of this year, after completing the sub-diploma with a Distinction* at the end of last year. This will be my most relevant achievement should I choose to pursue a career in the media industry. I have also taken part in the production of multiple short films that went on to win awards and be shown nationally and internationally.
Experience and Interests
My job-based experience includes working as a member of the waiting staff at a coffee shop for a little under two years. This job taught me the skills I needed to work as part of a team in a fast-moving workplace. I have also worked in retail for a short time, allowing me to develop my skills in customer service and working with the public.
My personal interests include a love of photography. I spent a lot of my free time in the countryside, taking photographs of nature and wildlife, which is another of my main interests. I enjoy walking in the nearby Peak District, and also love to travel further to places like the Lake District, Scotland, Wales and the Hebrides off the West coast of Scotland.
Another interest I have is in art. I enjoy learning new skills, such as learning how to correctly draw anatomy, of people as well as animals. I like to sketch various things, and carry a A5 sketchbook that I fill with sketches of animals, birds and anatomy practice.
The media industry is broad and covers many more specialised areas. However, there are qualities that will aid a person in moving further up in any part of the media industry.
Individuality and creativity are one of the driving forces behind the media industry, and this is a quality I think I have. The ability to think of and conceptualise original ideas is vital to a company's - and an individual's - success in the industry.
Another important quality to have is the ability to work well with others. Although I do enjoy working alone, I feel like I have a mature approach that would bring together a team of people that might not necessarily get along. I understand that in this industry, it's rare that everyone will agree on most things and a level of compromise and experimentation is required to get substantial results. I think, in a leadership role, I would be able to have an unbiased viewpoint that will take everyone's views and suggestions into consideration without causing too much conflict.
Skills
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of skills I have developed is my proficiency in using media editing programs, primarily Adobe software. I feel like I am strongest in Premiere Pro for editing film, and Photoshop for photography and digital art is a close second. Other programs I have learned the basics of include InDesign and Illustrator. I have been developing my skills in Adobe Premiere for around six years, and Photoshop for around three. I have developed skills in these programs that I would be able to apply in a job or course of further education. However, these programs are very complex, and I know that I have a lot more to learn when it comes to using them.
Another skill I feel I have is in writing. After completing an A Level in Creative Writing, I feel confident that I would be able to find a career in scriptwriting in the media industry, if I were to pursue it. I am also able to craft a strong, formal CV with this skill, and hope that it is a skill that many help me at some point in the future.
Relevant Achievements
Last year, I completed an A Level course in Creative Writing, finishing with B as a final grade. As described above, this skill will be useful to put towards success in the media industry.
This year I will be completing an AS Level qualification in art. This shows my creativity in a different area, and shows that I can apply it in any area I wish to pursue.
I will also be completing the Creative Digital Media diploma at the end of this year, after completing the sub-diploma with a Distinction* at the end of last year. This will be my most relevant achievement should I choose to pursue a career in the media industry. I have also taken part in the production of multiple short films that went on to win awards and be shown nationally and internationally.
Experience and Interests
My job-based experience includes working as a member of the waiting staff at a coffee shop for a little under two years. This job taught me the skills I needed to work as part of a team in a fast-moving workplace. I have also worked in retail for a short time, allowing me to develop my skills in customer service and working with the public.
My personal interests include a love of photography. I spent a lot of my free time in the countryside, taking photographs of nature and wildlife, which is another of my main interests. I enjoy walking in the nearby Peak District, and also love to travel further to places like the Lake District, Scotland, Wales and the Hebrides off the West coast of Scotland.
Another interest I have is in art. I enjoy learning new skills, such as learning how to correctly draw anatomy, of people as well as animals. I like to sketch various things, and carry a A5 sketchbook that I fill with sketches of animals, birds and anatomy practice.
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