Part 5 Reflection

Receiving this feedback on Part 5 has been really encouraging and thought-provoking. It’s helped me pinpoint where I’m starting to grow as a photographer and where I can push myself further.

One key takeaway was the importance of shifting my position more deliberately when composing a shot. The example of the tap image and how the alignment of the window and tiles created a sense of control and anticipation made me realise how subtle changes can significantly affect how an image feels. I plan to revisit similar scenes and experiment by shifting my position just slightly to see how the relationships between elements shift. This small but powerful exercise will help me better understand composition as a dynamic tool.

I appreciated the comments on my homage to Vivian Maier, particularly the encouragement to look more critically at how she uses composition, not just theme. Her use of shadow and reflection isn’t accidental, it’s very much about positioning and geometry. I want to challenge myself to pre-compose scenes in a similar way and then experiment with how I place myself within them. Instead of “adding myself in,” I’ll aim to build the whole frame around where I might appear.

The feedback on the basketball shot reminded me how physicality affects photography. I stayed at a distance, but getting closer by physically moving would have pulled the viewer into the moment more powerfully. It’s a good reminder that decisive moments benefit from immersive framing, and that “zooming in” is often more impactful when done with the body rather than just the lens.

Moving forward, I’ll be including more contact sheets and alternative image sets in my blog posts. This will allow me to reflect more on subtle differences in framing, light, and composition and how these impact the mood and message of the final image. I’ve started treating each shoot not as a one-off, but as part of a process of idea development and refinement across multiple attempts.

This feedback has helped me shift from a reactive to a more reflective process. I’m learning to treat each shoot as a chance to build ideas slowly and intentionally, while still keeping space for spontaneity. I’m also realising that being “done” with an image or a shoot isn’t the goal, it’s the process of experimenting, analysing, and reshooting that helps ideas fully take shape.