THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I CHOSE IT.

Because if I’m being honest, that’s also how this class felt at times. Not in a bad way, but in a way that everything was constantly moving, changing, and sometimes hard to fully understand in the moment. But looking back, it all made sense.

I JUST RELIED ON WHAT LOOKED GOOD TO ME AT THAT MOMENT.

At the beginning of the trimester, I did not have a clear direction in photography. I knew I liked taking photos, especially of quiet scenes and warm lighting, but I did not fully understand what made an image strong or meaningful. Most of the time, I relied on what looked good to me at that moment. I also depended a lot on automatic settings. It was easier, and I didn’t have to think too much about it.

UNDERSTAND, INSTEAD OF GUESSING. 

My initial goal for this class was simple. I wanted to improve my technical skills and learn how to take better photos. I also wanted to become more intentional, instead of just taking pictures because something looked nice. I did not expect that the class would change the way I approach photography as much as it did.

As the course progressed, I started to see photography differently. Each assignment pushed me to think more deeply about what I was doing. It was no longer just about taking a nice photo, but about making decisions. Where to place your subject. How light falls. When to take the shot. Even when not to take it. I found myself slowing down more. Instead of just pointing and shooting, I started observing first. That process alone changed how I see everyday scenes.

One of the biggest changes for me was how I use my camera now. I realized that I no longer rely on automatic settings the way I used to. I am not saying that using auto is a bad thing, but because I feel more confident adjusting things myself. Instead of letting the camera decide everything, I understand how to control exposure, lighting, and focus depending on what I want to achieve. It made me feel more in control, and honestly, more connected to what I’m doing.

MOST OF MY SHOTS LOOKED SIMILAR.

Another shift I noticed was in how I feel about post-processing. At the start of the course, I mentioned that I did not like editing my photos. I preferred capturing things as they are, and I thought post-processing would take away from that. However, while working on Assignment 3, where we had to compile ten of our best shots, I started to notice a pattern. Most of my photos had the same look. They were darker, with strong shadows, and leaned toward warm tones, almost a golden and black color palette.

I thought this was a problem. I realized that these photos did not exactly follow the real color science of things. They were not technically accurate representations of reality. But the more I looked at them, the more I started to see consistency. It was not random. It felt like something I naturally leaned toward. Instead of forcing myself to match what is “correct,” I began to understand that this could actually be my style.

THAT'S JUST HOW I SEE THINGS. THAT'S WHAT I'M DRAWN TO.

And instead of correcting it, I started leaning into it. I stopped thinking of editing as “fixing” a photo, and more as shaping it into something that feels like mine. That’s when it started to feel like I was slowly developing my own visual identity or branding when taking photos. It's not perfect and not fully defined yet, but consistent.

Of course, it wasn’t always smooth. A lot of times I doubted my work. I’d look at other people’s photos and feel like mine were too simple, or not strong enough. I kept wondering if I was doing things right. I am naturally drawn to warm tones, quiet environments, and moments that feel personal. So instead of trying to completely change that, I learned how to improve within it.

PATIENCE.

One of the most important experiences for me was learning patience. Photography is not always instant. There were times when I had to take multiple shots, adjust settings, or wait for the right moment. This was especially true for this long exposure photo. I did not get it right on the first try.

Back in Assignment 1, when the theme was night, that was my first time attempting to shoot light streaks from cars. I didn’t even have a tripod then. I was just using slow shutter speed and trying to stay as still as possible, which was honestly a struggle. Some shots worked, but most of them didn’t look the way I wanted.

So for this end blog, I wanted to try it again, but properly this time. I made sure I had a tripod, and I approached it differently. I wasn’t just guessing anymore. I knew what I was doing, or at least I had a better idea of what I wanted the result to look like.

That process reflects how learning in this class felt. It was not immediate. It required time, effort, and most of the time, repeated attempts before things started to make sense.

There were also areas where I feel I could have done better. As an online learner, I sometimes stayed quiet instead of participating more actively in discussions. I could have asked more questions or shared more of my thoughts with others. At the same time, the feedbacks and discussion forums, still played an important role in my learning. Seeing the work of my classmates and reading feedback helped me understand different perspectives and made me feel like I wasn’t learning alone.

I BECAME MORE AWARE OF MYSELF. WHAT I LIKE, WHAT I NOTICE, THE KIND OF IMAGES I KEEP GOING BACK TO.

This course also influenced how I view photography as a whole. Before, I saw it as something casual, something I did without much thought. Now, I see it as something more intentional and expressive. I am more aware of how different elements work together in an image. 

That’s why this photo feels like the best summary of my experience.

The light trails represent movement. Progress. Different moments happening all at once. When you first look at it, it might feel messy. But there’s still direction. Everything is going somewhere.

THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THIS TRIMESTER FELT.

It wasn’t always clear while it was happening. But looking back, I can see the growth. Not just in my photos, but in how I approach things.

It is very different from the quiet and still images I usually take, but it represents an important part of my learning.

In the same way, my experience in this class was not perfectly organized or easy to follow in real time. There were moments of confusion and uncertainty. There were times when I felt unsure of my work or questioned my progress. But looking back, I can see that everything contributed to my growth. Each experience, whether positive or challenging, helped me understand photography better.

If there’s one thing I’m taking from this class, it’s this:

GROWTH DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL OBVIOUS IN THE MOMENT.

Sometimes it feels like you are just moving through different experiences without fully understanding them. But over time, those experiences start to connect, and you begin to see progress. You become more confident, more intentional, and more aware of what you are doing.

FORWARD.

Prof. Al taught the technical side of photography really well, and honestly, those lessons still come to mind every time I take photos now. Sometimes it feels like there’s a small voice in my head reminding me to think about lighting, framing, timing, or exposure before pressing the shutter.

But at the same time, what I appreciate most about the course is that it never felt like I had to completely change the kind of photos I naturally like taking. Instead, it felt more like learning how to photograph the things that already make me happy, but with more understanding and intention behind them.

I honestly thought my interest in cameras and photography was something I had already slowly given up on. I still liked taking photos, but it no longer felt like something I deeply connected with the way I used to. However, this class pulled me back into it more than I expected.

It reminded me why I liked photography in the first place. Not because of perfect results, but because of the process itself. Observing, experimenting, making mistakes, trying again, and learning how to see things differently.