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This is an online copy of my Personal Progression Record. The full copy can be found in my Google Drive folder.

The date you started your project
 
15/06/2015
First thoughts about topic and working title
 
15/06/2015
What is the title of the project?
 

17/06/2015


21/06/2015

What do you hope to achieve by the time you complete the project?
 
17/06/2015
What form will the assessment evidence for the project take?
 
18/06/2015
Have you produced an outline plan to show your project timeline?
 
21/06/2015
What will you need to achieve your project?
 
05/09/2015
During the first lesson I was instructed about deadlines, project requirements and afterwards began to plan my EPQ title. I was told that as a reference for the marker of my project and for myself in terms of planning and reflection, it would be useful to produce a reflective journey. This could take the form of a physical diary or an online form such as a blog. I have limited prior knowledge of web design as I have produced a personal website before and may be able to add  blog feed to this. This would allow my entries to be easy to enter and I can use hyperlinks to make them more interactive and accessible. As it’s not physical this also reduces the chance of losing my reflective journal as online it’s permanent. Along with this however, as my task is a physical one with an artifact outcome, I believe I’ll find it easier to produce a sketchbook to chart my process. This means that my project will be able to progress beyond initial thoughts as I begin to write a blog and work in a sketchbook.
I want to further my knowledge in the creative field by creating something physical - an artefact. When thinking of my creative hobbies I think of my interest in photography, antique cameras and darkroom photography in particular. Constructing my own darkroom at home could be my final outcome, with a book detailing the construction being my artefact.

Producing a Photographic Print in a Constructed Darkroom

 

Constructing a Working Darkroom


I have changed the title of my EPQ as upon reflection with my tutor, it could be more precise. Instead of focusing on the photographic print, I’ll focus on the outcome of the darkroom. I have used ‘working’ to represent that the darkroom will be able to be used for its purpose, which is to produce the photographic print.
I hope to have constructed a working darkroom that can produce photographic prints. The idea that it ‘works’ will be that it has achieved what darkrooms are made for, so as a ‘working darkroom’ I shall be able to produce photographic prints. In total I hope to have improved my research, planning, budgeting and construction skills.
I’ll be producing an artefact as my final outcome which will be the successful print I’ll have produced in my constructed darkroom. I’ll chart all of the progress of my EPQ in my sketchbook as this allows for an easy visual display of the development of my initial ideas into plans. My final outcome of the print I hope to display within this journey as I can then analyse the full circle from idea to product in an easy way.
In the second lesson I was briefed about the use of Gantt charts and have produced an outline of what needs to be done. The chart includes targets, deadlines and reflections with the hope to document all my progress so that if I am off track, I’ll be able to alter my way of working and correct myself. Having deadlines that I can easily refer to in this outlined way allows me to plan ahead to minimise the effect of problems that could arise in my project. As well as this, I plan roughly with aims that are open to change within each phase of my project progression. Reflection upon these will let me plan ahead more efficiently.             
Will you or have you used a range of sources for your information?
 
07/09/2015
Equipment that I will need to produce a black and white print include an enlarger, reel and tank and safelight. Before developing the dryside equipment is needed which includes a cleaning aid, paper safe and focus aid, then during and after developing the wetside equipment will be needed which includes trays, beakers, tongs and a squeegee.  
Is the information selected suitable and sufficient to fit the question/task/brief?
 
 

20/09/2015

Writing this from the viewpoint of having just finished the research phase of my project, I can accurately judge that I have consulted a broad range of sources for my research. Looking at secondary research of articles, videos, websites and books. As well as this I made my own recordings of interviews which are my primary research sources. Having a wide range aids me to find out as much as I can about the design, processes and equipment of the darkroom. Therefore, my choices can be more well informed. My overall aim of producing a successful print using a darkroom setup I’ve designed myself involves many steps involving calculations, critical thinking and handiwork. Doing this without any prior knowledge means that research plays a crucial part in the outcome of my project.
Have you identified any links with other areas of study or areas of interest which relate to your project?
 
21/10/2015
I’m now in the planning phase of my project and have been working from the sources that I had researched. I left this part of my project record till I had begun to process all of the different sets of data I had collected and put the information into use as otherwise I wouldn’t be able to judge whether it was suitable. After this, I can also judge which source was most useful. In terms of producing my own darkroom design, equipment and process the most useful source I’ve consulted is my book research. As the books were in an instruction manual format they were the most accessible and contained more instruction than description. After starting my plan I feel as if I have plentiful information to act as an amateur print developer and will be able to fulfill the initial task I set.
What skills need to be applied to use the information you have collected?
 
24/09/2015
Did you apply the tools, equipment, techniques and technologies to use the information that has been collected to complete your project?
 
26/10/2015
Darkroom printing only relates to a small process in a long line of processes behind the area of photography. In this area, I have identified many extensions beyond the basic process that I’m planning on completing. To finalise a print to give it a more professional look I’ve found out that through research it’s possible to dodge the image, use a range of chemicals, print in colour, overlay images and to frame. As this is my first darkroom experience and am only working at an amateur level, I will not be extending my project into these more complex areas. Beyond darkroom, there’s the area of film photography which is the area which comes before printing, and the area of the project that I had prior experience in. Outside of this, darkroom printing can be linked to its use. After researching books about the history of the darkroom it’s use was put down to only personal use on the beginning and then professional use in the media. This was the area that escalated it’s popularity so this is an important extension from darkrooms.
Skills that I will be applying from my research and planning phase for the next phase will all be related to construction and development. First, for construction I will use my blueprints to set the equipment into a dry side and a wet side and place all of my smaller pieces such as tongs and trays into their separate storage containers. Then, for development I will follow my process instructions that I drew up using my book manuals, and will hopefully use these to produce my final outcome which is my aim of the project.
What outcomes/objectives have you achieved so far (mid-term review)?
 
01/09/2015
Evaluation of own learning and performance so far (mid-term review).
 
01/09/2015
As my outcomes are all physical pieces produced through my own handiwork, my projects construction involves many tools, equipment, techniques and technologies. As my initial recordings of these items were taken from my book manuals, my process in the darkroom was detailed and exact as I have produced a successful print. Due to putting a lot of work into my research phase I have produced a working process. This is due to my correct use of these issues. Tools and equipment are all of the wet side pieces such as the trays and chemicals and dry side pieces such as the enlarger and easel. The techniques used included film, contact and print development with specifics including agitation, mixing and drying. Technology was limited as the darkroom process hasn’t developed since digital photography took off. The technology I did use included two red lights and my enlarger.
So far I have completed three of my phases - initial ideas, research and planning. These are three out of five phases proving that I’m on track to a successful deadline hand in. For each phase I set myself a minimum of two aims that must be completed of which I have completed all, except one. For this presentation weakness in my first phase I have identified the issue and know how I will go about righting this for my second presentation. I believe I am feeling fulfilled as I meet each target and aim to go about setting myself strict deadlines to keep my project on track.
What have you changed after reviewing your work?
 
11/08/2015
Final phase - Do you feel that you have achieved all of the outcomes/objectives of your project?
 
10/12/2015
I believe that so far I’ve stuck with my aims and due to essential planning have met all phase deadlines. To ensure that my performance stays at a constant high I evaluated the progress I’d made at the end of each phase. This meant I started each phrase knowing of my progress that I’d made and knowing how to carry my workload forward. I believe I have digested a range of information and have learnt a whole new hobby. Along with this, I’ve learnt new techniques that extend beyond darkroom processes. These include budgeting, long term planning, researching and interviewing. I’ve enjoyed learning these practical skills as it proves that the EPQ has been an essential tool in terms of my ability to self-teach.
I reviewed my work five times in total at the end of each phase with an overall review in my fifth phase. I remained at a constant output throughout each phase as I was meeting deadlines that I had set myself and producing a good quality and quantity of work that I was satisfied with. The most prolific issue that I encountered was the loss of my sketchbook after three phases worth of work. To avoid this issue I then had to change the way I transported my sketchbook by protecting it in a folder.

Presentation of Portfolio

 

1/12/2015

 

Describe how you have presented your project to an audience
 
4/12/2015
I believe I have achieved most of the overall aims of project which included submitting a project that firstly fulfils the assessment objectives to the best of my ability but also fulfils my own personal project aims, is handed in on time due to strong overall planning and enjoying my project. I feel that due to putting a copy of the assessment objectives into my sketchbook meant I could constantly refer to them so that I could fulfill this aim. I also highly enjoyed the project due to learning a new skill that is personal to me as I’m a creative person. This has allowed me to further my artistic ability which is what is most essential to me as this is what I’m pursuing in my future. However, due to the issue with my sketchbook being damaged and needing to be redone put my schedule back by many weeks. Before this I had kept tightly to my schedule and was working towards the goal of the 11/12/2015 with three weeks to spare. To right this, I asked for a further extension of a week which then allowed me to meet my own deadline, not the one I had first aimed for. Through intensive planning I was able to right this set back which is why I feel that my planning skills weren’t lacking but were put to the test. I came out with a successful project that I’m proud of in which I have proved my planning skills.
Have you evaluated your project, taking into account any feedback from your audience?
 
1/12/2015
Date of project submission to teacher
 
18/12/2015
I chose to present the processes of my project in a sketchbook along with an line blog. My written section is in a report format as I’m producing a physical, artefact outcome not a dissertation. This can be found on my blog page and as a google document.
From the three options of either a presentation talk in front of my EPQ class, an audience on the night of the presentation evening or a static display on the evening. Being a project with an artefact outcome, I was instructed by my tutor that a static display would be best to present a physical item which I agreed with. I wanted to ensure that my project was displayed as interestingly as possible which was one of my three aims so I tried to incorporate as many areas of my project being the range of equipment, aims, explanations, blueprints, books and photos. Through use of bright colours and display on my table and three boards I believe that this fulfilled the brief I gave myself. After examining my feedback, my aesthetics were identified as a success as well as my enthusiasm however, similarly as in my practise presentation, my information content was most weak. I’ve identified that I’ve approached this in a way that disagrees slightly with the audience and must change its content in future presentation.
I’ve evaluated my work by reflecting on my own thoughts and the thoughts of others to get a well rounded view on the success of my overall project. I evaluated my progress at the end of each of my phases as well as in my final report. I also designed feedback forms for my practise presentation from which I decided on improvements for my presentation for the future. This helped me to make informed decisions about changing how I present information. This then benefitted me in my final presentation which I also evaluated by collecting feedback forms of the views of my audience.
This is the final date of my submission bearing in mind I had asked for an extension of a week from the 11th.
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