PJD224 'Personal View': What exactly constitutes a personal view?

so i'm trying to decide exactly what I want to portray as something personal to me? or something with which I want other people to see which defines my own characteristics or perceptions on life?

Googleing; as per usual, some definitions of the word 'personal' & 'view' or even both words together I found the definitions below:

Definitions of 'personal view' on the Web:

An approach taken by mathematicians and philosophers to calculate probability, the personal view is an individual's belief about the chances that an event will occur. People who define probabilities use their knowledge about the world to make the best possible guess. ...
www.umich.edu/~numbers/glossary.html

view (vy)

a. An examination or inspection: used binoculars to get a better view.

b. A sight; a look.

2. A systematic survey; coverage: a view of Romantic poetry.

3. An individual and personal perception, judgment, or interpretation; an opinion: In his view, aid to the rebels should be suspended. See Synonyms at opinion.

4. Field of vision: The aircraft has disappeared from view.

5. A scene or vista: the view from the tower.

6. A picture of a landscape: a view of Paris, done in oils.

7. A way of showing or seeing something, as from a particular position or angle: a side view of the house.

8. Something kept in sight as an aim or intention: "The pitch of the roof had been calculated with a view to the heavy seasonal rains" (Caroline Alexander).

9. Expectation; chance: The measure has no view of success.

tr.v. viewed, view·ing, views

1. To look at; watch: view an exhibit of etchings.

a. To examine or inspect: viewed the house they were thinking of buying.

b. To survey or study mentally; consider.

3. To think of in a particular way; regard: doesn't view herself as a success; viewed their efforts

Definitions don't particularly matter as long I feel it the right thing to do.

So I have two scenarios-

1. New york ('american me')

2. Family portraits ('rolling family stone')

1. so why do I want to photograph New York?
Quote from sketchbook

The personal view is to see how people/students/the youth/fellow photographers live their lives at the other side of the pond; so to speak. Do they have the same style of living to us? Is the education system the same? How is it to be a student/photographer living in NYC? Compare being a student in BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, to being a student in CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND. - hence the title 'american me'

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aphotoguy/sets/72157614761311095/

http://www.booooooom.com/2009/08/19/simon-nunn-photographer/

So this goes back to the New york trip two years back with my college and old classmate who I'm going again with in February Simon Nunn (picture+link above)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosarioleotta/sets/72157622213160443/

(above) flick contact with some interesting portrait photography in NYC.

http://www.antoniobolfo.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0

http://www.antoniobolfo.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=1&p=1

(above links) portraiture by American photographer Antonio Bolfo photographing new york's NYPD and their struggle to recruit and keep law in Nyc.

http://www.zednelson.com/?NewYork911Spectators:thumbnails

(above) photography on spectators of 9/11 nyc

2. but why also family portraits?

Quote from sketchbook:

the personal view isn't just me taking photographs of family but also recording in high detail my family's features through a large format camera onto colour slide film. This is a photographic record of my family as they are now- something I can always look back on.

As the brief says:

The documentary image is capable of involving viewers in an emotional engagement that has made it more than a means of factual record. The ability to communicate a particular viewpoint through images that display the style of the photographer.

My style of photography; which is mostly close up portraiture, could definitely communicate my own viewpoint of the old and new members of my family hence the title 'Rolling Family Stone' as family always changes and mine does also not with just people but also with nationality....................

I want to produce a series of work which honestly portrays those closest to me plus gives me a chance to re-connect with the people who should be most importrant to me personally. So the aim of photographing family isn't entirely for the project- if anything that's a great excuse for me to go back and spend some more time with them.