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God of the Forge
God of the Forge
Out of all the pictures I've taken so far this trimester for MMS 173, I selected this screenshot from Immortals Fenyx Rising as my one-shot summary because, to me, it represents something powerful, not just as a visual, but symbolically. It is simply a statue in a game, but the angle, the composition, and the overall aesthetic it gives me reflect everything I experienced in this course. The low-camera angle of the forge god towering over the character of the player is symbolic of strength, hardiness, and development, each of which I relate to the things that I've learned and gone through the last few months.
The forge god's colossal size in the photo, matched with his body being carved of stone and that enormous hammer at his back, makes him impenetrable, an utter symbol of strength. That's why I selected this image. It isn't just a shot that looks cool; it speaks to me on a personal level. As long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be that type of person you know is physically strong but also can keep it together, support weight, and muscle through. In some strange yet significant way, this photograph seems to express that wish. And it also reflects the type of development I experienced in this class. I began this class uncertain of my abilities, frequently irritated when my camera settings failed to result in the look I envisioned. But gradually, I learned to get things in balance; how to control ISO, shutter speed, and aperture more surely. Slowly but surely, I was carving away at the frustrations and uncertainties and reshaping them into confidence and clarity.
When I began this course, I set for myself one overall objective: to finally grasp the way that ISO, shutter speed, and aperture go together. I was fed up with always getting them confused and remembering which setting controlled what, and how they intertwined with each other. That objective may seem trivial, but for me it was enormous; a kind of technical "wall" I kept banging into in my previous attempts at photography. I'm happy to say that I've made genuine strides on that front. I'm not flawless, and I still need to remind myself occasionally, but I now have a better grasp of how those three factors play off each other. The assignments worked towards reinforcing that they were the stepping stones that gradually improved my technical skills.
The assignment that pushed me the hardest was undoubtedly the one where we had to take 11 different shots. That assignment tested my creativity and made me really think hard about what I was composing. It also seriously challenged me to utilize everything I'd learned up to that point; not only camera settings, but also framing, visual narrative, and timing. It was that sort of project where I was both drained and proud at the conclusion of it. I recall spending quite a bit of time just taking a walk around, attempting to find shots that meant something or were compelling. Efforts like that made me realize how much work goes into photography; even the "casual" shots may take hours of experimenting and thinking.
That being said, I did not get everything right. I did miss one assignment for the trimester, and that was my own fault. Poor time management, plain and simple. I had other school assignments, work tasks, and it just fell by the wayside. I regret that, as I think that I could've done better as a whole if I had planned better. That experience taught me the value of being organized, particularly as an online and working student. When you don't have physical cues like in a classroom, it's so easy to forget deadlines or overestimate how long a project will take. That's something I'll keep with me from now on; not only for photography, but for all of my subjects.
One of the most unexpectedly useful aspects of the course was the way that learning photography became so much fun. Sometimes, technical learning like the value of aperture and light exposure feels dry and robotic. But this course simplified it. Perhaps because the exercises were more pictorial, or perhaps because I was able to use what I learned immediately through images. Either way, it wasn't lesson-reading alone; it was experimentation and practice. And that really helped me.
As for communication, I pretty much communicated with peers via messages. We'd query one another regarding the requirements, resolve misunderstandings, or exchange little tidbits. I wouldn't consider myself very active in forums or anything, but I was active enough to feel connected. I wasn't able to attend any of the Zoom or F2F sessions due to my schedule, which was a shame. I wish I had gotten to experience real-time feedback or just get with everyone in the same room. The manner in which the course was organized, with thorough instructions, due dates, and support materials, made it feasible even on my own schedule.
If I had to identify the biggest takeaway for me from this class, it would be that photography is not only technical, it's also emotional, creative, and very personal. I used to think of photography as something strict: put the right values, snap a clean shot, and finish. But in this class, I've learned to appreciate how expressive it can be. A photo can be flawed but still compelling. It may be sloppy but remain true. I believe that change of mindset was one of the most significant shifts in me as a learner and a creative individual.
A particular experience which helped me a lot was taking advice from my director. He shared with me how to take better shots, when to use a tripod, and how to better utilize my settings based on the circumstance. He's been around for some time now in the camera world, so learning from him was as simple as doing it and just understanding what he says. That type of mentorship gave my learning an added depth, and made me feel like I wasn't merely completing classwork, I was growing as a photographer.
And perhaps that is the best way to encapsulate all that I have experienced in MMS 173: growth. Just as the forge god in my preferred image, sturdy, muscular, standing tall; I feel I have been shaped and molded by each assignment, each error, each epiphany. I might not be perfect. I might not have all the answers. But I am stronger than I was on day one.
This single photograph, in its hypothetical, imaginary fashion, conveys that change better than any words could. It's a picture metaphor for the type of individual I wish to become: firm, competent, and prepared to move forward, regardless.
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