Overall Comments
You’ve done a fair amount of research and work on location to recreate Gilpin’s original series using digital photography. However you must make your intentions more explicit in your artist’s statement, referring clearly to the concept of the picturesque from Chapter 1.
Feedback on assignment
Demonstration of technical and Visual Skills, Quality of Outcome, Demonstration of Creativity
I’m not sure how you intend to present the series at assessment but I would structure your learning log more clearly with subtitles for artists statement at top and evaluation at bottom of the page.
Artist statement - you’re apparently aiming squarely at the picturesque and you need to include that here. I’m not sure that there’s much evidence of the sublime in these photographs – please revisit the sublime in part 1. Be careful about how you use the word ‘beauty’ in your notes. Make it clear that you understand that the beauty of unspoilt ruins under a blue sky isn’t so much a natural attribute of the scene rather than a construct associated with the picturesque, created by Gilpin among others.
These extra locations are places that I either am aware of or frequently visit myself and think that they should be included in such a collection of monuments. This would then create a connection to both me and Gilpin's travels.
Yes, but can you be a bit more rigorous about the reasons for your choice of monuments outside of Gilpin’s original series. This is important because it’s part of how you develop Gilpin’s work.
I don't consider myself a tourist at the others as I have visited so many times, I know what is there but it still does not stop me photographing the places at every visit.
You’re not a tourist while on assignment but the tourist postcard is an important example of the picturesque in photography and early tourism is a critical part of Gilpin’s context. Is this part of your intention?
I think Gilpin's idea of the picturesque lay the foundations for how we see landscapes today. This assignment allowed me to view these scenes and ruins first hand but also allowed me to add my own perspective on my picturesque views.
Good, but as above, please state exactly how you have added your own perspective.
It is important to maintain those differences of the modern digital world and keeping the photographs in colour really creates that contrast, while the locations and ruins themselves maintain the comparison.
I think the difference is key to your assignment and it would be great to see reproductions of the original Gilpin scenes in your LL, which will enable a closer comparison to be made.
In your Evaluation write how well you think you’ve managed to capture Gilpin’s picturesque. You mention that weather is an important factor and I agree but unfortunately many of the shots are taken under rather gloomy skies. Chepstow Castle with its small grouping of figures showing scale exactly like the figures in 18th c. landscape painting would have been very good, but unfortunately the sun is in the wrong place with the front of the castle and figures in shadow. But in one or two images, in particular Raglan Castle and Castel Coch, you seem to have hit it perfectly. Here the notion of the picturesque is displaced by an almost hallucinogenic ‘hyperreality’ which is really quite exciting. Very subtle oversharpening would add to the effect. The awkwardness of the cow and figures in Ogmore Castle add a note of humour reminsiscent of Parr or Chris Steele Perkins. Aspects of the collection such as these are important because they will be part of how you personally have responded to and developed Gilpin’s work and will reward under the Creativity criteria at assessment.
Your test prints are rather unsharp. You need to add sharpening in Photoshop or an editing tool of your choice. For submission perhaps consider perhaps presenting them as postcards on card, or giclees on a watercolour type paper referencing Gilpin’s period.
Learning Logs or Blogs/Critical essays
Context
Please add your actual evaluation to your blog rather than just the link to Dropbox.
You need to include all your sources in your bibliography as a single Wikipedia reference is not acceptable at this level. You have plenty more sources in the prep section of your blog.
Suggested reading/viewing
Context
You might like to see Mike Leigh’s new film ‘Turner’ or the Turner exhibition at Tate if you’re in London, which provide a fascinating insight into how the ideas of picturesque and sublime in landscape developed in the generation after Gilpin.
Pointers for the next assignment
Read carefully Preparing for Assessment in Part 6 (my notes for part 6 attached). March assessment applications must be received by 31st January, which you should comfortably make.
Keep going!
With my tutor feedback as above, I am confident that my original submission doesn't need much changing and that I just need to make a few adjustments here and there. With regards to this, I have revisited the assignment and made alterations and added in a few bits, all in red for ease of viewing. I have also removed some bits which i have put a strikethrough so that you can see which bits have been removed.
I am happy with this feedback. The assignment was one that I enjoyed, not only with my own outlook but also with close inspiration from Gilpin so it was something that I haven't attempted before. I don't have any concerns or major issues following the feedback for this assignment so I am happy to make the necessary adjustments to my original submission and continue on the the final assignment.
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