MMS 173 Assignment 6: End Blog - One Shot Summary 

Out of all the photos I’ve taken over the term, the photo that best summarizes my experience is, interestingly, one of the very first I took with my mirrorless camera.  After wandering in Al Seef, I managed to capture this photo. At the time, I remember obsessing over how to make it look intentional. Pondering about composition and framing, I tried to apply the design elements and principles we were learning, even if I barely knew what I was doing. I just wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of creating something meaningful. It’s an image with a net in the foreground, with a tower peeking through one of its holes, creating a sort of frame-within-a-frame effect against a beautiful sky. To me, this isn’t just a composition; it’s a symbolic summary of my journey. The net represents the struggles I encountered while trying to learn photography. While the tower stands for my personal goals, and the sky behind it feels like a hint of optimism. Looking back at the photo now, I realize how much it reflects my mindset. I was trying to see photography as an art form, as something meaningful, but I hadn’t yet figured out how to express myself through it. My focus was on solely capturing the image, disregarding the deeper technical aspects.

As a beginner, photography felt overwhelming. There were so many moments when I felt stuck behind that “net.” I didn’t fully understand my camera, and I relied heavily on the modules and YouTube just to figure things out. My goals weren’t grand, I just wanted to improve by the end of the term. However, even that felt distant when I was adjusting dials over and over, hoping something would click (literally and figuratively). There were moments when I had a clear vision in my mind, but when I shot the image, the result didn’t match what I imagined. That disconnection between vision and execution was very frustrating. Like a mantra, I had to remind myself constantly: “Dani, it’s okay if your photos aren’t perfect. The mere act of trying is already something.” Eventually, I made peace with my learning curve and gave myself space to explore.

I began going out on photo walks with my sister, capturing whatever caught my attention. I guess that was my small rebellion against the feeling of being trapped. It felt like a first step toward pushing through the net. I also turned to Pinterest and TikTok, not to copy, but to observe how others saw the world and how they framed moments. Scrolling through endless feeds and comments, I found a lot of experiences from others that I could relate to. Slowly, it helped me reflect on my own style, or at least the direction I wanted to go. What comforted me, though, was Assignment 2. As I scrolled through my classmates’ submissions, I realized again that I wasn’t alone in struggling despite being on different levels of mastery. We are all in the process of learning, fumbling, and experimenting. It reminded me that not everyone becomes Prof. Al overnight. I’m just one of the many ducklings in class — messy, awkward, and figuring things out.

Eventually, I became more confident with my camera. I learned how to shoot in manual and started getting the hang of using the settings instead of relying on auto (Yay, me!). That was a small but meaningful win. I also started to feel more comfortable applying what we learned in class, things like leading lines, balance, depth, and etc. Unknowingly, that out of focused tower in my photo started to feel a bit more clearer. I thought, “Hey, this isn’t as bad as I made it out to be.” That shift brought a tinge of enjoyment I didn’t expect. Another moment that stood out to me was Assignment 5A, when we had to shoot an object. That was the first time I really felt something while shooting, not just that I was completing a task, but that I was expressing something personal. It reminded me that photography isn’t just technical. It’s emotional, too. It made me realize that I don’t have to wait to be “skilled” to take photos of things that matter to me.

Being an offshore student, I wish I made more of an effort to communicate with my classmates and Prof Al. I often felt like I was learning in isolation, which is expected in online learning, but at times, it felt like I was missing out on being part of a community. The forums were available and I read through a few posts, but I struggled to contribute. Maybe it was shyness, or maybe it was the feeling that I didn’t have anything “insightful” enough to say. Looking back now, I realize how beneficial it could’ve been to just engage, even with simple thoughts or questions. Additionally, I missed out on face-to-face classes. While the Zoom sessions were really helpful, I feel that the experience of meeting in-person would have deepened my learning and made the process even more enjoyable.

I must say, MMS 173 really helped shape my interest in photography. I remember stating in my self-introduction that I wanted to use photography as a form of self-expression, and through the course, I’ve come to understand what that truly means. It’s not just about aesthetics or following what looks good online, it’s about learning how to see technically and communicating something personal through an image using personal narratives. Sure, there were moments when I doubted myself and compared my photos with others but over time, I started to enjoy the process: the trials and errors, the blurry shots, and the small wins. There’s also certain thrill in trying to capture what I feel through a photo and having to express it freely with whatever narrative I have in mind. In this sense, I find myself leaning more into photography, not necessarily as a career but definitely as something meaningful to me, whether it becomes a serious career venture or just a personal outlet.

As an aspiring photographer and online student, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always feel like progress. Most of the time, it’s just trial and error, staying stuck behind the “net” and still choosing to overcome the uneasiness. There were a lot of moments when I felt unsure and disconnected, like I wasn’t improving, but I kept going because I wanted to understand photography on my own terms. I'm pretty sure I still don’t have everything figured out, and I know I have a long way to go (literally), but I don’t feel as overwhelmed by it anymore. What mattered most was taking photos even when I wasn’t confident, and just letting myself be in the process. I may not know exactly where photography will take me, but I'm definite that I want to continue pursuing it, and for now, that feels like enough.