Affordance

In class today we looked at affordance. Affordance is about what the activity lends itself to. In this session we looked closely at communication, action properties, and moral properties. 

"When we create a photograph it can sometimes be seen as a “mirror”, reflecting who we are, as shaped by our personal experiences and unique character."  

- Mark Galer

Communication:
Photography lends itself to communication in many ways and I’m unsure if I’ll really cover them all so I will discuss it in relation to my last date with my camera.
The other morning (a beautiful sunny spring day) I was comfortably sitting reading a book when I looked up and saw this cute wee sparrow jumping around in the garden, it looked as though it was peering into the lounge. I found this very amusing and at that moment I just had to grab my camera! As I was taking these pictures I was communicating with nature/ the environment and its surroundings and it was communicating with me in a way giving, me cues, inspiring me with the beautiful warm sun and the amazing flowers. Later I posted some of these photos that I took for others to see and here I am able to communicate to others the beauty of the day, share my feelings about the day and how I really loved that morning etc. In my photos I really communicate with others a lot about myself, my individuality and the way in which I see things. While taking photos that morning I also communicated with animals (the sheep and dog). I wanted the dog to look at me so I spoke to him. I was interested to know what some of the flowers I photographed were called so I needed to communicate with my host mum to find the answer. Another way in which this activity lends itself to communicating is when I take my camera to school. This automatically arouses conversation. 

Connection/Action Properties:
(Carrying on with the same story)
Once I was outside I noticed all the pretty spring flowers everywhere this inspired and motivated me to take pictures. As I took each picture my skill and technique changed and increased. I began to look at the objects in many different aspects Every time I take photos I learn more about how to use my camera etc. The pictures that I took lead me onto editing and then onto sharing these on my blog.
Photography forces you to observe, it requires you to have a perspective, your own point of view. The more photos you take the more in-tuned you become, the more skills you acquire. It builds you’re spatial awareness in a sense. You really consider you’re world and the things around you like balance, placement, and flow. You become more observant of light and colour; typographic composition. Photography is a great way to keep a visual diary of the things that inspire you in the real world. It is an outlet for creative expression and exploration. Photography is another way we can explore our ideas and develop different ways of thinking. 

Moral properties; or good and bad aspects: 
To me photography has many good aspects but some negatives of photography would be: Forgetting to take you lens cap off! I have'nt done this but have heard numerous stories of people coming to look at their photos and realized they had forgotten. (I'm a little unsure how people actually achieve this but anyway.) I think a bad property for me is being limited how far I can zoom. I only have one lense and am constantly wishing a had a larger zoom so I dont always have to get up so close to things and can capture animals, for axample, naturally. I am learning that it is good to know what is the focal point of the photo. What is the subject? (the window, the sky, the peeling paint on the frame?). You should always consider what it is you want you're viewers to see in a photo and why. I think need to be able identify what my main eye catcher or focal point is and I don't always set goals or go out with an idea of what I want to shoot. Not having enought space on my SD card can also be a bad property. Also, the whole incident of being able to take take pictures of others without his/her knowledge and then these can be spread around the world on the internet. I also think comparing myself to others is a bad aspect but i can learn from other photographer which brings me into...

Positives of photography: I can get inspitation from other photographers and also learn form them. Photography is fun! and I enjoy it. Can you imagine the world without it? no movies or films, no video, no TV. We would have to draw things to show others what something looks like. Photography can show original colour, original view of subject and it can keep memorable moments. When everything comes together and you get that 'perfect' picture is definately a good aspect but also being able to be pleased with little prosperities. It takes time to become a good photographer. An understanding of light and the different ways it falls on your scene is an important aspect. For me this is a good aspect of photography as I have somewhat of an understanding of this. It is also a good aspect to know my camera because searching the menu in the night is time you don't want to waste.

It's important to know that I can't take photographs of everything. Sometimes it's nice to just enjoy the moment rather than always trying to capture it. Being able to enjoy beautiful moments even when I don't have my camera with me. Knowing that mistakes are allowed. The more mistakes, the more you learn!

Reference:

Galer, M. (2007). Photography foundations for art & design: The creative photography handbook. (4^th ed.). Oxford: Elsevier Ltd.

 

PK: A Lab/Collie Cross & Clyde the Cat

Update

Okay, so I decided I better give you an update just to keep ya interested :)

Here are some photos that I took when I was up north! 

We can draw aesthetic experience from all aspects of life. By giving “line and composition” to even a relatively ordinary scene. 

- Herbert Zettl

Reference

Zettl, H. (1999). Sight, sound, motion: Applied media aesthetics. (3^rd ed.). USA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

 

 

Photo Update

"It helps me remember, I need to remember" he says with tears in his eyes... "There is so much beauty in the world..." 

- Ricky Fits

Leucadendron

Rosemary

Unknown

Daphne

Reference

Cohen, B., Jinks, D., (Producers) & Mendes, S. (Director). (1999). American Beauty. United States: Dreamwork Pictures   

Ergonomics

In class yesterday we looked at ergonomics. Ergonomics is about adapting the task to fit the abilities and capabilities of an individual. Occupational therapists are "constantly making slight invisible changes to an activity to adapt the needs of those taking part and ensure that it continues to work for it's intended purpose" (Caulton & Dickson, 2007). We are often making decisions about whether the competence of an individual has shifted in regard to their preferred and habitual abilities. Therefore, we are required to have an understanding of the activity and the person.

I need to fully understand photography, analysing and breaking it down, in order to be able to be able to make changes so that it can fit each individuals needs and capabilities. We were required to break photography down in relation Person/Activity/Environment, a well known structure used throughout our course. This analysis is related to me personally.

Person:

Some things we identified to fit under person were: age, responsibilities, gender, time available, preference, financial resources, personal space, competence/skills, and sense of individuality.

Photography is a preference of mine. It's something I choose to do and gives a sense of individuality. I never took photography in school and was never introduced to it, no one in my family are photographers. For as long as I can remember I've always admired other photographers work and wished I had their talent. (I forgot were I was going with this..) This year I was kindly given a camera to borrow and discovered for myself the wonderful world of photography and am teaching myself (with the help of a friend).  I generally have time available to do photography, less when I have assignments due. But somehow I find time to fit it in. This week I have spent way, way more than 2 hours!

Competence/skills: there are many skills required in photography. From understanding your camera and how to use the settings, right down to editing. My competence in photography is continually improving. When I first began to take photos, at the beginning of the year, I was using full auto mode because I didn't understand the settings on my camera. I did understand about lighting and positioning of objects in the frame etc due to my art but i was getting bored with auto. I wanted to be fully in control of my shot. So I did some research and discovered how to control exposure - ISO, aperture, shutter speed. (you can read about these here and here).

Here is an example of the kind of effect you can get from different apertures...

Aperture: f/5.6

Aperture: f/20

Now I am also discovering how to use Photoshop to edit my photos. Here's what I've been distracted by today..

Original

Edit

Overall, I think I'm fairly competent in this activity and my skill is and will be continuously developing. There are many skills required to do this activity and so I haven't gone into all of them. Some of these will be mentioned in other headings.

Activity:

Some things we identified to fit under activity were: robustness, adaptation, rhythms, costs, manuals/ways to do the activity, processes, and degree of engagement necessary.

Cost: Photography for me is a costly activity, I'm a poor student! It's a pretty expensive hobby to have with camera bodies costing from about 500+, then there's the lenses which are bought separately, plus other little bits and pieces. With technology evolving rapidly and all the different lenses available it can be endless spending. Once you have the basics it's alright. Besides I'm still learning lots, best not to impulse buy until I understand the different lenses! Here is a link to the canon 550d (my toy!). This is a review but will give you an idea of the 'robustness of materials' and also knowledge needed when looking for a camera to buy (knowledge really goes under the person heading).

For me, when photographing, I guess I do get into this kind of rhythm. Once I'm out there in nature shooting I become more inspired and 'in the zone' as I go. This brings me to degree of engagement necessary, when I'm taking photos that's usually all I've set aside to do. However, the other day I was taking photos whilst chatting at lunch, so it's pretty easy to switch between that activity.

Manual/way to do the activity: Every camera comes with a manual so you are able to understand all your camera settings. But there is no one way to do the activity (photography) it's completely up to me. Each photographer has their own style and way of seeing things. Over time you will be able to see my style, whatever that may be.

Processes: Some would have very strict processes to go through when photographing. I'm pretty easy though. Generally I grab my camera, check is has enough battery and free memory space, find a spot and start shooting, adjusting settings as I go.   

Environment:

Some things we identified to fit under environment were: physical - materials, structures, spatial organisation. Richness of the environment, culture - how you do things in your space/place etc, season, stimulates to do/not to do, accessibility, and social environment.

For me, the physical environment is where it all happens. It freely gives endless 'things' to photograph and is definitely accessible to me. Seasons bring wonderful and different colours, I love the colours that autumn and spring bring (check out previous post). The environment definitely stimulates me to get out and take photos. I was reading a book yesterday and a wee sparrow came into the garden by the lounge window and was bouncing around whilst peering inside. That was enough for me to grab my camera and get outside!

In regards to the social environment and taking photos. I'm not really comfortable taking photos with others around, I don't like people watching me even if they're actually not. It's also not really appropriate to take photos of people in buildings and although I'm not yet into portrait photography, I had my camera with me at tech the other day and I felt a little intrusive with my camera in people's face. They didn't actually mind but it's good to be aware of how comfortable people are with it. So there are socially appropriate times and places to take photos.

As I mentioned before, every photographer has their own style and way of seeing things. So in regards to the cultural environment (how I do things) I can't really give you an exact description but you can check out my photos as I post and see the way a capture images.

Lake Hayes

Wonderful Spring

While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.

- Dorothea Lange

Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 100

Shutter Speed: 1/640sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100

Shutter Speed: 1/500sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100

Shutter Speed: 1/250sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100

Shutter Speed: 1/640sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100

Lazy 'S' Seats

This Photo was taken at tech while bathing in the gorgeous sun yesterday. I love the grooves in the seat, the way it curves, and the texture of the wood. Topped off with hint of fungi!

Photography, Me & OT

What is photography like for me?
Photography lets me see through my creative eye, if you like and it expresses part of who I am. It's where I can go to 'escape' from the stresses of life and just life in general. It helps me to stay away from those downward spirals that affect my mood and my ability to function 'normally'. We live in such a fast past world these days it's nice to be able to stop for awhile and just admire and capture the beauty that has been so kindly created for us to enjoy, photography allows me to do this. It's this new skill that I'm learning and it is so fascinating, I love it. 

What does it mean to me as an OT?
Occupational therapists are concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. Behavioural scientists’ interested in how individual differences, personality, and lifestyle factors influence well-being have shown that in engagement in personally meaningful occupations influence happiness and life satisfaction. Photography is an occupation and so can be used to engage clients in this meaningful occupation, if of course it is meaningful and purposeful to the individual. Photography allows for exploration of the creative side and self expression, it stir up interests and motivation and a person can gain a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in creating something. Photography can also reduce the focus on ones’ illness and can reduce stress and anxiety by being engaged in something unrelated to the cause of these. Occupation gives opportunities and options that humans pursue to realize meaning, purpose and self-actualization throughout the lifespan. Humans need to do something and what they do is directly tied to the meaning of their day. “It is through engagement in occupation that an individual comes to know the potential and limitations of self and the environment and achieves a sense of competence and intrinsic worth.” Photography can contribute to these things.

Practical considerations: Am I able to engage in photography 2 hours a week? You bet! 

Ambeince:

Under the human condition my photography fits with the heading of work, also known as craft. This is because I am creating something and it can have an end point. The most important aspect of work according to Hannah Arendt (1958) is, “it’s world making capacity” (p.9). It is about making an activity what we want it to be, rather than what it has to be for survival. Ansel Adams said, as cited in Scott, A. (2011. p.6) “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” An artist’s effort is often referred to as ‘a work.’ So it is clear that photography is creating something. 

Arendt, H. (1958). The human Condition. Chicago & London: The University of Chicago Press.