OCA preloader logo
A Dozen Eggs - We Are OCA

To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.

A Dozen Eggs thumb

A Dozen Eggs


In this video, Photography Curriculum Leader Peter Haveland, talks about the level three project ‘A Dozen Eggs’ by Harry Pearce. Harry’s work will feature in an exhibition at Bank Street Arts from 13 November. Jose Navarro will be hosting a study day on family photography on Saturday 24 November to coincide with the exhibition. There are 15 places available and they are open to students currently on People and Place or any level two and three photography course. To reserve a place email enquiries@oca-uk.com


Posted by author: Genevieve Sioka

22 thoughts on “A Dozen Eggs

  • Thank you so much for your comments Catherine and Eileen. The work was a real labour of love (hard work but really close to my heart) and the OCA have been amazing in their support, both in bringing the work to fruition and in encouraging me in the development of the exhibition. I cannot thank them enough (especially Peter Haveland, my tutor, who really pushed me to explore beyond the boundaries of my initial thoughts).
    I hope lots of people can attend the study visit. I would really welcome the feedback (in whatever capacity).

  • Congratulations Harry, this is such a great family collaboration, so intimate and a neat conceptual idea with the egg box! I wish I could see it at BSA, it looks like it will be amazing and I am sure you will have a fantastic and very enlightening time there. Enjoy!

  • OCA students out there…if you have the chance please do go and see Harry’s work. It was one of the most accomplished level 3 portfolios that we have ever seen on assessment. The marks that we awarded him went almost off the scale.
    Why? Because Harrys’ work is a perfect example of visual competence, artistic creation and conceptual approach all working together. Of these, it is the idea behind the project, that concept that Harrys developed so beautifully, that makes his work stand out. And that’s exactly why I strongly recommend that those who are able to, come and see his work. It will tell you what is it that we are looking for at level 3.

  • Very interesting… such strong recommendations from two (high level?) tutors… impressive.
    Congrats Harry, it really does seem a very personal take on relationships.

  • Sorry I won’t be able to make the visit Harry it’s a bit too far I’m afraid, but I loved the work and can only hope that I can achieve something even close to this at the end of my journey.

  • I shall certainly try very hard to attend. Peter and Jose’s comments leave me very intrigued about the process of developing the work – the stages it went through from initial idea to fully evolved piece. Hopefully some of that will come across to those of us who get to the study day or exhibition, but maybe an additional video could explore that process for those of us who can’t make it?
    I see from your website that you are planning to undertake further study Harry. It would be great if you could come back when you are a few months in and let us know how that goes. I know I am not the only person who wonders what happens next – after the degree I mean.

  • I wish I could make it, but for what I’m doing in the near future would not allow me time. Congratulations Harry! The work is delicate and beautiful and it is around such an important nucleus like Family is. I agree with Eileen on a follow-up video on the processes for those of us who can’t attend.

  • The development of the ideas for the work were discussed in some detail within the Learning Log that I submitted with the final assignment. I am happy to make this available to others if it would help. I also think the follow-up video idea would be really useful as well – I will have a chat with Gareth Dent from the OCA to see if this is possible. The interesting aspect of this project is that it is ever evolving (hence why I am so interested in taking the ideas further) – the photographs are already ‘out-of-date’, in that events have overtaken the contexts within which many of the photoshoots were based (eg., Linda (Egg No. 10) is now married and has a baby daughter – but she was photographed for this project at her engagement party). Life moves on, nothing stands still, and presence becomes absence within such a small window of time. I am already exploring two photo projects that have evolved from this work, and there will undoubtedly be others.

  • I concur that this really was a labour of love – a dodecahedron of love! From the perspective of at least one family member (I am egg no.2)I find these photographs conjuring a mass of emotions. I am immensely proud of my brothers achievement and indeed the whole of my family. I have watched as most were hatched, became fledglings and flew the nest to become thier own person. Well done bro! and to anyone out there come and meet us – I am sure you will enjoy the show!

  • Congratulations Harry! Have had a look at your website-which I enjoyed. You mention there that ‘Dozen Eggs’ is available as an ebook, would love to have a look at that and at your learning log is possible. Seeing the product and the process would be most helpful to me as a fellow [first level] OCA student.

  • Inspirational stuff Harry. I’m constantly amazed by the originality and vision of OCA students. I just hope I can pull something as original and fresh out of the hat when my turn comes.

  • What a great learning resource this format is, and how lovely to hear your dulcet tones, Peter! It looks like a very rich project that has some interesting outcomes – sll the best with the exhibition.

  • Thank you all for your kind comments – it is very humbling. As you all know, any creative journey is very private (and lonely at times), and opening your soul to a public audience can be quite daunting. It is somewhat of a relief to know that it is well-received (and a great boost to all my family who really have opened their lives to the public gaze).
    I have had some requests for my Learning Log and a copy of the e-book for A Dozen Eggs. The e-book can be obtained from the ‘Blurb’ website (type ‘A Dozen Eggs’ into the search facility and you will find it). As for the Learning Log, if you visit my website at http://www.harrypearce.co.uk you can leave your contact details, and I will be more than happy to e-mail you a copy, if you think it may be of benefit to you.
    Thank you all again for your kind words; they’re much appreciated. I cannot wait for the exhibition in November!

  • I can’t help thinking that you have obviously done so much work, put a great deal of time into this and at the end … a sequence of photos with some handwritten text … almost as if it had been done in a day yet obviously if it had been would not be so inviting to the eye!

  • I don’t think you have missed the study day Amano. I believe it is on 24th November, when the exhibition is on. I have only just spotted that a date has been set, thanks to you and to Keith – I am sure there was no date when the post first went up, or was I just having a particularly unobservant day?
    Sadly this date coincides with a long-standing appointment I can’t easily change, which is a great pity for me.

  • You’re right Eileen, it is Saturday 24 November and when the video first went up the date had not been fixed. I’m grateful to Keith and Amano for pointing out that there was initially an inconsistency on the date – all sorted now – definitely Saturday 24 November

  • The family is such a good subject. It is a nice counterpoint to the kind of glossy celebrity photos we see. It’s not often we get to glimpse the lives of pleasantly ‘ordinary ‘ people.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

> Next Post 3 D Printing…. really? Really!

< Previous Post Erotic music

Back to blog listings