Image Credit: Ian Meechan
Final Reflection
Introduction
For this unit, I was asked to produce a body of work reflecting on the landscape, place, and environment.
I currently work at an Indigenous remote community school in Western Australia with my partner who is a teacher there. I chose to do this unit as I believed that my location would offer me the perfect setting for assignments and exercises.
I was caught off guard not researching the cultural side of the community as many of the places I wished to visit were sacred and I was not permitted to venture into those areas. I have had experience with different cultures having worked in China at a school for over 5 years. So, this was an obstacle, but I believed not impossible to overcome.
Having said that I did find it frustrating sometimes as I could see potential images but with respect, I never chose to cross the line for the opportunity of a photograph.
I felt comfortable with the imaging aspect of this unit, but the writing required did cause me some distress. I’m 57 years old and the last time I had to write anything academic was in the 1980s. Like many others worldwide I contracted Covid but overall the experience has been very rewarding.
Things I have learned during this unit have been I need to be much more organised digitally. I took far too many photos for the last assignment and could have managed it much better if I’d followed the same route as other students. I had to photograph a fixed place over time to see the transitions of the place. Most students chose a single spot but I thought it would have been better to show several parts to the area. This was my undoing as Indigenous tribes in Australia have six seasons. This increased my workload by a third. Next time I should consider if doing less is more.
I also need to be better at my references although it is an improvement than the last unit that I completed. I feel that I have discovered that I’m more inclined to look at documentary work as a result of this unit.
I have one more unit to go before I am on my final year so there is a lot to do and improve on, but I have to thank all the students, staff ay OCA and my tutor Les for getting me through this.