Lena Crowe

Entry 1 - 05/02/2021

Hello! This is the first entry of my digital journal, in this journal I will be adding entries to catalog my professional development within photography as I leave university. Today marks the start of the module and I will be adding entries as time progresses.

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Entry 2 - 19/02/2021

In reflection on personal promotion I began looking into learning courses on graphic design, mainly to improve my personal websites visual strength. I particularly looked into 'Graphic Design Foundations: Layout and Composition,' a course by Sean Adams on Linked In Learning. Through this course and others like it I was able to improve the visual layout of my website and make it easier on the eyes.

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Entry 3 - 20/02/2021

I looked into alternative fonts from https://www.dafont.com which contains many 100% free public domain fonts which I used to give my website a fresh feel and a stamp of personality to set it apart from other websites built with the WIX website builder. I also intend to get a personal domain if my finances permit.

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I have also began to use color pallets to give my graphic design work better color coordination.

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Entry 4 - 27/02/2021

I dug my old CV out of storage and have begun to adapt it with more updated details and information, most notably the extra skills I have learnt while studying at university and have developed in my personal time.

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Entry 5 - 05/03/2021

As I am now set on my project being hosted on a virtual platform I have started looking into tutorials regarding the Unity game development platform. Most notably Brackeys and Imphenzia on YouTube.

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https://www.youtube.com/user/Brackeys

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https://www.youtube.com/user/ImphenziaMusic

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These and many other tutorials helped me step into a new field of working quickly and allowed me to put the virtual gallery together with very little experience with the program.

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Entry 6 - 7/03/2021

I have begun looking into suitable jobs for the mock interview (a little late I admit but personal issues have cropped up which have affected the work quite significantly.) Hopefully I should be able to find somewhere suitable which I can get passionate about despite my low mood.

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Entry 7 - 10/03/2021

I was able to find a suitable position for the mock interview. An opportunity to get on the job training as well as travel around the world with DreamArt Photography.

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Entry 8 - 29/03/2021

Over the Easter break I intent to further develop my professional practice by putting more time into technical and practical research to ensure I have a strong understanding of the skills required going into my mock interview.

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I will also use this time to further build the map for the gallery and learn more about game development, (which I may look into after leaving university.)

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Entry 9 - 02/04/2021

I explored street photography again for the first time since lockdown and got some initial shoots which I feel will create a good foundation for the FMP.  I have also printed out model release forms in anticipation of any organized portrait work, (if at all possible during lockdown.)

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Entry 10 - 12/04/2021

I have begun using my photographed textures to build the gallery world, using knowledge I have gained from my research into game development I have been able to produce 'Normal Maps' of my own textures which change how they are perceived by the lighting in the game (effectively giving them a bumpy realistic surface.)

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I have used these textures created from my photography to essentially bring the game world to life, as I take more texture photographs through the next few months the game world will grow more and more dynamic and realistic.

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Entry 11 - 18/04/2021

Recently I have been exploring the world of 3D modelling and have produced many rudimentary models in blender which I have included in the virtual gallery. I feel the more practical skills I learn in regards to creative development the more adaptable I can be within the workplace. I hope to widen my skill pool after I have left university and explore many other creative outlets.

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Entry 12 - 23/04/2021

I attended the mock interview today and unfortunately realized I had written down the wrong deadline for the CV hand in (which was quite embarrassing.) I will certainly have to try harder to overcome my personal issues under external pressure in the future. In response to this I have taken measures to improve my personal well-being to ensure my mental health does not affect my professional life again in such a way (to the best of my ability.) I feel however the extenuating circumstances should be taken into account at least.

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Entry 13 - 13/05/2021

I called many solicitors to inquire about trademarking for my future ventures, eventually I was able to contact an intellectual properties lawyer in Manchester who were willing to take on the trademarking for any software I may decide to produce in the future, this is still an ongoing process and I am now in contact with them as a go to law firm regarding these matters.

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Entry 14 - 19/05/2021

I have decided to try my hand at independent game development when I move on from university, putting my IT, artistic and graphics qualifications to good use all in the same field. Overall I am quite impressed in what I was able to create in the virtual gallery and am excited to see what else I can use such platforms for in regards to artistic expression.

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I feel without my extended photographic knowledge and higher learning I would not have the personal belief to explore such fields which is something I am incredibly grateful for.

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Entry 15 - 25/05/2021

Due to severe depression I developed for a time regarding personal issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic I was unable to be as involved with the group as much I wanted to, but I never halted to involve myself at every point, attending meetings and offering valuable suggestions (such as the profile picture image for each artist on the FMP website.)

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I was also able to distribute five posters for the group exhibition which is now set to be underway in the Carlisle Cathedral. I was able to get the posters into Bruccianis in Carlisle, the Caffeine Rush drinks stand at Carlisle train station, The Photo Express and Milltech computers in Whitehaven as well as the Whitehaven WH Smiths.

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Entry 16 - 28/05/2021

This will be the last entry into the journal as we go into the hand in date and the planned real world exhibition. All in all I feel this entire semester could have gone better but the ever looming threat of Covid-19 made things difficult certainly. In the future I will most likely have to put measures in place to ensure that even in the most dire of circumstances work is completed on the correct date no matter the situation.