Holly Houlton Enhancement Year Presentation 2019 for Coventry University module: 2016MAPA

Enhancement Year Presentation (CW2 2019 for 2016MAPA International Enhancement Year module) A Photography Zine

By Holly Houlton Student ID number: 6357681

Introduction:

This photography zine showcases the experiences and activities of my International Enhancement Year, critically evaluating and reflecting upon them. I have organised the zine into categories of the most influential aspects of my year and detailed how they have helped me to develop educationally, personally and professionally. I am a BA (Hons) Photography student at Coventry University, however, during the academic year of 2018-2019 I have been studying Communications at Universidad de Europea (UEM) in Madrid. I moved out to live in central Madrid at the beginning of September 2018 and will be until July 2019.

Studying at UEM, my host university: I have found many differences between Coventry University and UEM. My UEM course was much less academic but often required more technical skills. I think the classes could benefit from having more academic requirements for educational purposes. However, the focus on practical skills has made me more technically advanced.

The set tasks each needed a certain skill; some new and some only refreshed my knowledge. However, I developed professionally and feel more confident using the technical skills - an aim of mine to achieve this year.

My first semester proved most beneficial, I took two photography-specific classes.

Educationally, the research I did for presentations allowed me to learn about photographers and Spain’s art culture and history; making me more culturally aware.

This improved my presentation skills and knowledge, enhancing my qualities for employment.

Where possible, I made the tasks into mini projects to help build my portfolio for my profession. Without any tutorial help, this challenged me creatively and academically which has been valuable practice for post-graduation.

View the projects here on my website: https://hollyhoultonphotog.wixsite.com/mysite-2

After a UEM complication, second semester consisted of one class which was split into two.

The first Monday class task was a group stop motion one. I did not learn any new skills and it was not difficult. Although, the video we created provided me with a keepsake of our favourite memories from this year.

View the task here: https://vimeo.com/325493740

The other class was also dissatisfactory, both tasks not tailored to photography: making a poster using Photoshop and a group one creating a scanimation book by which new and complex but irrelevant skills were learnt.

Learning the Spanish language:

Conducting my own photography projects, shoots and exhibitions:

Before I moved to Madrid a goal I set was to achieve a certain level of fluency in the Spanish language; I wanted to feel part of the local community and communicate with them. It is a valuable skill for travel opportunities and my CV.

I have taken advantage of the lack of work from UEM to conduct my own photography shoots and projects; all independent of university.

I am impressed with my pursuit in learning, through a variety of techniques: the language application: ‘Duolingo’, Spanish tutoring lessons which have taught me how to write, read and speak Spanish and completing homework. After doing an online test, I discovered I am currently at A2 level which is post-beginners; this makes me happy as it is clear I have progressed significantly.

I set myself a goal this year to exhibit some photography work to push myself professionally in my exhibiting skills. I have made my own project from one of the UEM tasks: ‘12 Streets of Madrid’. The project provides a permanent platform for appreciating the street art in Madrid, giving it the voice it deserves. I have created countless zines which in the upcoming months I will be distributing to the community of Madrid in the streets I took the photographs. I hope distributing my work will help get me known and professional contacts. I have also developed knowledge about the street art and zine genre; enhancing me as a professional.

View full project here: https://hollyhoultonphotog.wixsite.com/mysite-2/12-streets-of-madrid

My self-confidence has also developed noticeably from: acquiring the skill of decoding new language and being forced into situations to communicate in the native language.

I am planning to maintain these valuable life skills by continuing to practice and learn the language until I move out of Madrid. After moving back to England, I intend to continuously practice the language in my spare time and will perhaps apply for the GLP post-beginner’s language course; keeping in practice for any future career or personal opportunities.

Myself and Kelly Bryan are in the process of finishing our collaborative photography project about Brexit and what we appreciate from this Erasmus year. The project has allowed us to engage with the local community which helped me to understand how to approach strangers about my work with confidence - beneficial for me professionally. The shoots have been on location, amongst the general public, which has allowed me to become more professional and confident when photographing.

We plan to exhibit the work in summer, a new local café seems the most promising to host our event because we will help promote them. We wanted to exhibit in Madrid to reach our target audience. If it happens, exhibiting in an industry-related environment instead of an academic one will be beneficial practice for post-graduation. At the event, I will likely be asked to speak about my work to visitors – public speaking is a skill I wanted to improve for my professional self-confidence.

UEM have proposed a physical exhibition to happen in the upcoming months. If it goes ahead, it will include the best work from the two photography classes. They have also created a Flickr account to archive these photographs, acting as an online exhibition, my teacher has informed me that my work has been selected. It would be beneficial for me as a professional to state I have exhibited in Madrid.

View the Flickr accounts here: Mine made for the exhibition: https://www.flickr.com/photos/164718811@N07/albums UEM’s: https://www.flickr.com/photos/164324279@N02/favorites

Myself and Jasmine Smith are planning to complete a collaborative water-based fashion project in summer. I have not had much experience photographing a model in water, so this will be a new technical challenge. If successful, I can utilize these skills in my professional future and will provide my portfolio with diverse content and show to employers my varied capabilities.

These projects completed independent of an education system in practice for post-graduation, has reassured me that I can do freelance and hugely enhanced my portfolio. They have created culturally aware content; which hopefully future employers will find appealing.

The creative freedom has allowed me to progress in genres of photography I have always been interested in but never had time to pursue at Coventry, such as fashion and improve relevant skills. This and all the shoots which involved working with models I had not previously met, helped develop professional methods specific to the genres, enhancing my professional capabilities.

I have appreciated becoming more technically experienced and confident in using my film and DSLR cameras – important for future work.

In reflection, by exhibiting my work as I have stated, this will show to future employers that I have intercultural awareness and am internationally recognised and can apply myself professionally within foreign environments.

https://hollyhoultonphotog.wixsite.com/ mysite-2

Revamped social media:

Professional contacts:

I have had the opportunity this year to completely revamp my photography Facebook and Instagram pages and to create a new website entirely which acts as my online portfolio. This has been particularly beneficial for me as social media is such a vital aspect of networking and being successful in the photography industry. By having the time to research the best methods to present myself as a freelance photographer and writer online, I now feel more educated and professional in using social media sites for my work. I also have a lot more pride in distributing my URLs or handles to professionals for them to view my work, hopefully, to help me gain clients or jobs.

I plan to maintain these skills and further them on a professional level by having recently chosen my Coventry University Add+vantage module for final year: ‘Networking Skills in the Creative Industries’.

Throughout this year I have worked with professionals, which is important for my career.

Native magazine shared my project ‘Exoticism and Fashion’ on their social media, view the article about it here: https://destinationnative.com/holly-houlton-explores-the-hyper-reality-world-of-clothes-combining-the-exoticism-of-botanicals-and-fashion/

If you are interested, you can check out my revamped sites below: Website: https://hollyhoultonphotog.wixsite.com/mysite-2 Facebook: @HollyHoultonPhotography Instagram: @holly_houlton_photography

https://hollyhoultonphotog.wixsite. com/mysite-2/exoticism-and-fashion

They have recently published this in their first printed issue of ‘Coventry Native’ magazine, distributed in Coventry and surrounding areas. Stating this on my website and CV; shows to future employers that I have publish-worthy work.

I am now listed as a member of their online directory which you can view here: https:// destinationnative.com/directory/. This is a valuable development for my professional name; labelling myself as this shows to professionals I am recognised by another company.

‘Hashtag Photography’ magazine asked me to write an article reviewing a photographer’s work. Here is the link to my professional photography blog which details about the job and a link to the article: https://hollyhoultonphotog.wixsite.com/mysite/blog/hashtag-photography-magazine-interview-article-2018. This was helpful for enhancing my CV and developed my photojournalism skills; providing me relevant experience to an industry path I am interested in.

I have submitted work to photography magazines and competitions which has informed me to expect rejection but to persevere with confidence.

Other contacts made this year will be valuable international links to potentially network with.

Preparing for final year:

Travelling:

There are many ways in which this year has given me the chance to prepare for my final year of study at Coventry. One way is that I have had time to consider and research potential ideas for my assignments in a relaxed time frame. I Skyped my course director in Coventry about how to generate appropriate ideas to aid getting a job. I hope to progress greatly with this process further soon before final year.

I have deeply appreciated being able to travel as much as I have, this has been a character-building privilege and made me more culturally aware.

I often struggle to find time at Coventry to keep my CVs updated; this year has enabled me to which is beneficial to me professionally, meaning they are ready for any photography submission and for going into final year with.

The ‘Abono travel card’ allowed me to have unlimited travel every month in central Madrid, all modes of transport, to many surrounding regions. I have now visited seven different places, experiencing them and their history. This enabled me to develop personally, I have more confidence using public transport in a foreign country, which I will carry forward with me in my career. Independently living abroad and travelling has broadened my professional future opportunities, as working abroad does no longer seem too daunting.

The longer trips to other countries like Berlin and Ouarzazate have educated me about their cultures. This has benefitted my professional development, knowing about different lifestyles such as Ouarzazate not being very economically developed, informing or inspiring future projects.

In May, myself and friends are going on a trip to Valencia. I am hoping this will educate me on the coastal community and culture of Spain.

Through these trips, I have been able to improve my travel/landscape photography skills which I have not had much opportunity for before; widening my profession. https://hollyhoultonphotog.wixsite.com/mysite-2/landscape

Living abroad for the year: This year challenged me. I developed a lot of self-confidence in: navigating around foreign environments successfully, approaching strangers, learning to speak the language and utilising it with the local community. This has been evident to family/friends who have visited me in Madrid, they have mentioned how capable I have become which will hopefully prove useful in my future.

I have embraced the Spanish student culture, from the mundane day-to-day routine of going to the gym and doing work in a cafÊ, to the exciting tourist stuff such as salsa dancing and eating out. This has informed my educational development, being knowledgeable about Madrid’s culture which has also influenced me personally. I hope this will heighten my CV, expanding my future job opportunities and potentially inform projects.

Over the course of living in Madrid, due to getting familiar with the area and my Spanish improving, it is clear to me I made a transition of becoming a local from a tourist. I feel this has developed me personally, knowing I can become comfortable and confident in a once foreign community.

Enhancement Year Presentation (CW2 2019 for 2016MAPA International Enhancement Year module) A Photography Zine

By Holly Houlton Student ID number: 6357681