Three Years Later
It feels very odd to think that a few weeks from now, I will no longer be considered a student at Falmouth University. Instead, I’ll be somewhere in the nether zone between ‘student’ and ‘graduate’, scrolling through different opportunities and jobs that have suddenly become available with my new-found time. I thought it would be good to reflect on my last three years and what I’ve managed to do with my degree.
SEPTEMBER 2018 – FINE ART
I often look back at myself applying for university courses and wonder how I didn’t come across Marine & Natural History Photography (MNHP) - the one I am about to graduate from. I began in 2018 on Fine Art, having applied to both art and photography courses and settling on Falmouth. My practice at the time involved a lot of painting and sculpture, I was interested in exploring different lighting in portraiture and how alternate paints/lights could expose different artworks. For example, this portrait painting was initially acrylic and oil. I then painted another layer in ultraviolet, to reveal a second picture. I loved experimenting in these ways, as it became more of a challenge – particularly as painting in ultraviolet involved painting in darkness.
Photographs below include some paintings I worked on during my first year and the transformation I made on my studio space.
JANUARY 2019 – CHANGED TO MNHP
This is when my university experience really began. I found myself enjoying everything a lot more, I felt significantly more engaged and really looked forward to the lectures. My first induction was on photo-microscopy, a technique I’d never tried before.
My first project on the course was with the apiaries at Buckfast Abbey. I got in touch with a lovely woman called Clare Densley, who has been a beekeeper since 1992. The brief was to shoot a photo series including both location and macro shots. After that project, I had to submit a series of photographs surrounding the theme of biodiversity and habitat. For this module I decided to research the Eurasian Otters in Scotland and reached out to the Mull Otter Group for help.
OCTOBER 2019 – SECOND YEAR
For my first photo series of second year I began documenting a close friend of mine, Amy Warren, and her appreciation for being outside. It’s very unlikely you’ll find her confined to the walls of the indoors. This project was probably where my recent publication (The Outsiders: Her Stories) really began to manifest.
Through hiking, paddle boarding, climbing and slacklining, she embraces nature into every aspect of her life. Proven by scientists, psychologists and mental health experts, the outdoors is wildly beneficial to our wellbeing. The health service recommends at least 20 minutes of outdoor activity a day, which for Amy simply isn’t enough. She refuses to be one of the 40% of Brits who spend less than 15 minutes outdoors each day, and actively works to get more people outside.
MARCH 2020 - COVID19
Towards the end of second year, I was required to submit a short film. This became a challenge due to the pandemic that spread across the world in 2020. My plans changed and I ended up returning home for the remainder of the year. I created a short film about my brother who also lives at home, which you can find here.
SEPTEMBER 2020 – THIRD YEAR
When it came to deciding my dissertation topic to begin researching, it was a very clear choice. In 2019 I was extremely privileged to go on a trip to Tanzania, where I climbed the tallest freestanding mountain on earth - Kilimanjaro. This trip was pretty monumental for me for a number of reasons, but one of which was the appreciation I gained for the porters and mountain crew that work at extreme altitudes.
During my climb, I became aware of the exploitation that porters experience and the ways that the poor treatment they receive can be detrimental to their health. With the help of wonderful groups like the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), and policies being put in place, responsible tourism is growing on the mountain. Due to the pandemic, and lack of research on the areas porter system, it wasn’t the simplest of papers to write. However, I am very grateful for the time that both local experts and international mountaineers gave me, as well as the support from my dissertation supervisor, Anna Roberts.
I received a First for my dissertation on this hugely important topic, entitled ‘An investigation into the working conditions of High - Altitude Porters on Mount Kilimanjaro, One of the Seven Summits’.
My final major project for third year has been by far my favourite so far. I’ve been working on a publication that I can’t wait to share, collaborating with women from all sorts of outdoor industries. My journal, Outsiders: Her Stories, will be released in mid-May. It contains 10 different stories, 55 photographs and contributions from 2 artists. Keep an eye out for updates coming soon!
APRIL 2021 – CURRENT THOUGHTS
My time at Falmouth University is almost coming to an end, am I ready? Almost. I’m going to miss the wonderful friends I’ve made, support from the phenomenal tutors on MNHP and of course living on the Cornish coast! This past year has definitely been different to what I’d planned, but I’ve adapted to the changes and made the most of being at home. I’m looking forward to my next steps and moving forward with my career.
My upcoming plans are to continue working on Outsiders, a project I’ve fallen in love with, and to gain some more work experience. I’d be lying if I said I’d always wanted to go to university, but now I look back on the last 3 years and have absolutely no regrets. I can fully appreciate what a privilege it is and would recommend anybody interested in science communication, photography or filmmaking to check out MNHP at Falmouth – I’ve loved it.