We also got to finish our SCUBA testing and had our first open water dive in the freezing cold ocean. Colder than normal as well, since it is in the middle of winter here. We also went to Eden Adventures and shot smooth waterfalls, and went up into the Mossel Bay township, where the poor blacks, whites, and coloreds have built up tin houses by force of the government years ago. It was a beautiful time up there as well!
i personally love shooting portraits of those who are less fortunate and have been treated injustly- so I was right in the mix of the Lord's colorful world, and His beautiful people who are usually overlooked. It was an amazing time :) There were children in the streets that we shot, who all loved being in the photos and just wanted to see the result of their poses. It was a fantastic time!
i learned so much in this last week; such as how to make the entire photograph black and white except one part of the photo- or one color. i also learned how to crop a person out of one photo and put them onto the background of another; as well as learn how to make a time lapse video... even though mine did not turn out fantastic! I also learned that since i've gotten here, i've been allergic to the pollen and trees- and no amount of medicine will help the pressure my ears get when we go 5 feet under the ocean :/ so i'm not sure how the rest of the SCUBA courses will go. It may be really difficult.
i accomplished editing and preparing all the photos to give to one of our clients. We shot the Jukani animal photos at the beginning of the course, and I finally got to work this week, since we had time, and edited themall in order to put in the lot all us interns were giving to Jukani. I also managed to create a Tumblr and Pinterest account in order to market my photos better.
I have faced the challenge and difficulty of not being challenged because none of the directors gave us instructions or details telling what they wanted us to do this week. I did overcome this, though. By going personally to the directors to figure out what we were doing, what the goal was- which they didn't know themself- and get myself into a vibe where I was able to get work that I thought needed to be done- done. Such as creating all the marketing things I have, as well as editing all the photos for Jukani and organizing my work better.
Next week our head director is coming back with all the interns who went on the Sardine Run, and I will also be asking her- in front of everyone, the questions that I have about what our goals are, and what photos we need to prepare for what deadlines for what clients. Hopefully this brings some more needed pressure to the director in order to figure out what us interns are really doing- instead of just seeing day to day.
My supervisor has not given me any feedback, except in passing when he or she has liked a photo I've edited. Other than this, I honestly don't even know what project we are doing, and what needs to be done to complete it. I, by myself, have created projects for myself- but with my supervisors... mine has not given me any feedback or direction.
On the small passing feedback I have been given, Lui has said I have a good lion shot. From another woman, she is impressed wiith my editing and another likes my pinterest set up. Literally none of the supervisors have given me any area for growht or improvements, so I have no clue what steps they want me to take. But once again, I have created my own steps- and know that my underwater photos need to be better; focus in my pictures needs work; and I need to learn photoshop much more. As well as different types of shots I can do.
My supervisor's supervision style is none. I don't know who exactly is my supervisor... but if it's Natasha- she makes sure we're happy. If it's Lui, he makes sure were busy working on something. If it's Fiona, she is not supervising at all. I do like that Natasha is making the schedule again so that there is more goals and structure to the internship. I do like that Lui organizes things and makes sure that we are places on time- but he has not taught us much of anything. When we are with Fiona, I love how she teaches- and how she will personally come to you and help you understand if you do not.
If I was supervising an intern, I would make sure they knew what they were doing, why they were doing it, what their deadlines were, and what things they needed to learn and improve on, as well as what good things they were doing already. I would also make sure they taught what they needed, and were challenged.
But barely any of this is happening... out of the four weeks I've been here, there have been 5 days in total that I felt I was truly challenged.
But, through miscommunication, we've gotten another field specialist- so that she can take half the group, Lui can take the others, and things can get done better. I pray things work out better this coming week- but either way, I am learning- even if it is slowly.
i would say that it is a blessing to be slowed down and not depend ontime- so that the Lord is the one in control :)
Socially, this week has been difficult because the interns who left included both of my roommates- who I was closest too -and it's been a bit different with all the other interns, because even though I love to learn and challenge myself while I'm here- it seems like they've given up hope on the internship and are just enjoying themselves in South Africa instead.
But,with the Lord anything is possible, so all is well- and IT is well -with my soul :)
Cheers!