Becoming a photographer has shown no boundaries, looking through a camera, there are no limits to what I can see. Wanting to pick up a camera is the very beginning of something important. Whether it is an image of something small and fragile or something large and powerful that image is there forever.

Before my photography studies began, I was an Art and Design student of 5 years this started in secondary school I dedicated myself to GCSE art and successfully achieved a grade C which later helped me accomplish my application into collage as a Level 2 Art and Design student. Nearing the end of my first year, however, hopes of an art career subsided in my mind as did my confidence within my art, subsequently I found myself withdrawn and I left my art studies for mixed media, this being the re-energization I required thus my discovery of photography led me to my current position as a UAL Level 3 Creative Media (Photography) student, strongly studying photography for the past 3 years at TEC, Grimsby Institute. A fabulous journey in which I have learnt something new from someone new every day.

Upon starting my photography course in college, I had little experience with a camera other than the one on my smart phone and a film camera which mixed media focused on mostly film and advertisement. Anyone can take a picture on their phone, but holding an actual camera feels exhilarating. I wish to continue to thrive in photography as it is something I have enjoyed and excelled in for the past 3 years, with confidence I can say that in my time studying improvements can be noticed dramatically. I feel this path is more suited for me as I am always excited to learn, push myself and experiment with the different forms and techniques of photography such as film and darkroom and the fabulous visual representation this can achieve. Anyone can exhibit an interest in wanting to succeed, to become better is what truly makes a photographer, personally I believe that once you have that mindset there is nothing a person cannot exceed.

Just recently I have taken a keen interest in Henri Cartier Bresson's series dedicated to the photographic documentation of artists within their workspaces. Especially his work with the famous artist, Matisse. I must admit I like black and white photography and in Bresson's time photography was primarily shot in black and white. In the photographs I have seen Matisse is busy sketching and painting white doves that flap about his room. There is always something so elegant about his photography that I do not understand but it continues to draw me in, this is something I hope to achieve through my own work. However I am drawn to colour and love the work of Gregory Crewdson and his "Twilight series" through my research his work was said to be "disconnected from reality" as strange things happen in the twilight, this I found an exciting series and although the colours seemed muted in some photos, it worked incredibly well with what he wanted to convey, I found this inspiring and eye opening especially for my research. I hope to use all the amazing finds throughout my research in my own work, I find them truly admirable.

Initially, I did decide against university however, there are a lot of promising things about university that could stable my ideal career in the future through a bachelor's degree with Hoznour's which will enhance my chances in photography, I was firstly against university at the dread of owing money for the rest of my life. Another reason is again financially related I have not come from a background of financial stability, being able to look after myself was my main priority and I felt like that must start once I left college although from much consideration with support from family and friends, I have found the confidence and courage to apply. I look forward to the future and my university journey and the exciting opportunities that your higher education course will offer me.