Camille Jourdan’s Personal statement draft 1

I love photography because there are lots of techniques to learn and experiment with.
It also allows me to be creative and express my opinion in many different subjects.
There are always new artists to research and be inspired by such as Martin Parr,
Elaina Constantine, Neil Krug and many more. The more that I learn about
photography the more I become interested and passionate about the subject. I first
became interested in the subject of photography from fashion magazines and
photographs of all genres posted online especially on Instagram. From these images I
realized that I wanted to learn how to create these beautiful photos too, I wanted to
know the theory used behind the camera and how to compose my photo to create a
mater piece. When I was looking at different courses to study at college, I was won
over by the presentation given by one of my teaches, who told us about the wide field
of opportunity that photography opens for you. I want to attend university to further
those opportunities and my skills. I want to learn at a higher standard of education
about photography and how I can think further out of the box with new and exciting
creative ideas. I’d like photography to be part of my career and I think the best way
for me to start out is to have a degree under my belt.

Through my various work experience I have learnt many different skills that would
be useful to me while studying photography at university. For 2 years I worked
alongside my dance teacher as an assistant, teaching girls in-between the ages of 3
and 5 in ballet and tap. When I was working there, I learnt how to be more
responsible while the girls were in my charge. I also became more patient as the girls
gradually understood the exercises, we were teaching them. I worked as a waitress in
a restaurant by the sea over the busy summer holiday season. From my experience
working there I learnt to work efficiently and to have good costomer service. I
worked with a team of co-workers which helped me become a better team player and
help each other to create a smooth and steady flow of business. I learnt to work well
under time pressure and to give each costumer a good experience while at the
restaurant. I have also done a few service projects including cleaning the grounds of a
local public school that didn’t have the resources or time. I have cleaned and fixed up
a local play park so that children could play safely. I have made up food packages for
the homeless and given them to organizations that distribute them out and I have
knitted baby hats for premature babies in the hospitals who need the warmth from the
hat to develop into healthy children. From these experiences I have learnt how to
work hard for worthwhile causes.

Last year in my college course as part of my work experience, I worked with the
Poole society to recreate old photographs taken of Poole and the quay. I also worked
with Poole museum to recreate a painting made by Henry Lamb. To do this I worked
with a team of classmates to model and take the photographs. We had to recreate the
angel, lighting and composition the painter had created as best we could. I took
portraits of my mum for her childminding leaflets and business cards. Before
studying at college, I was home schooled where I achieved an overall grade of A
within my subjects. I achieved this through my hard work and dedication to my
education. Being home schooled taught me to become self-motivated within my
studies and to rely on myself. I am a finalist in this year’s Dorset Art Prize in the 12-
13 year entries which has helped boost my confidence in my work and ideas. The
work that I entered was a photograph and a jacket made entirely out of plastic bags.
The piece was to raise awareness to the plastic pollution problem earth is facing and
its effects. Other qualities I have learnt that would help me at university, I’m
enthusiastic about my work, I always aim for the best grades, I have good time
management, I have good communication skills and I’m a visual fast learner.