Block 1 down, two more to go!

Well, that's my first block finished. I've passed all my classes, which I'm very pleased about. My second block doesn't begin until the 7th December, so I'm going to make the most of my week off and get out there with my camera. 

On Monday, my friends Laura and Anne Marie (they're in my links section under Photography blogs and websites), and I are going into Edinburgh to check out an exhibition at the Scottish Parliament.

It's called the Scots in Canada, and it looks absolutely brilliant!

There's also an exhibition at Holyrood Palace on a photographer called Herbert George Ponting. He went to Anarctica with Captain Scott's crew in 1910 -1913, but tragedy struck and and five of the crew died. Ponting shot with glass plates, as was the standard in that time, and only a few survived so now they're on display. Apparently it's quite amazing, and people do still shoot with glass plates nowaways, but it's extremely expensive. The Hubble is glass plate too.

Anyway, we'll probably check out that exhibition over the christmas break. 

I'm really looking forward to the studio shooting we'll be doing next block. And also the colour processing. It should be good. :)

Tomorrow I'm doing a shoot with my niece, nephew and son, so watch this space for results from that :)

Reflections

My first block at college is coming to an end, and as I wrap up my last two final assignments I find myself looking back and thinking about what I've learnt.

It's hard to believe we're coming into December and that I'm now 1/4 of the way through my course! 

The other day, one of my teachers asked me how I was enjoying the course, and that he hoped it wasn't too repetitive. I told him that I was really enjoying myself and that it was different from my previous photography courses in that this one is very theory heavy. Previously, I learnt about the practical aspects of photography, how to take pics and how to develop them, but was never taught WHY we do it. I'm enjoying learning about the whys!

I still have a lot to learn about Photoshop however. I'm not 100% comfortable using it yet, but we'll see how my project comes back graded. 

As I go into the second block starting in December, I'll be learning about colour film and processing, portrait shooting (start the studio work!), desktop publishing and more research for my Higher project. I have a month to go until my first shoot of Glencoe and have a lot to do to prepare for it.

I've already discovered that my preferred method is to shoot with film, but to scan the negs in and work with my images in Photoshop. I do love hand printing, and still would like to have my own darkroom one day, but the film/digital seems to be a good way to use the two mediums. :)

ONE day I'll get my medium format camera. :)

Engagement preview

On Sunday, I went through to Edinburgh to take engagement photos for Lisa and Scott. Here's a little preview:

Learning curve

Yesterday I took photos of a friend's little girl. I discovered that taking pictures of other people's children is challenging. I had taken about 100 on the digital camera, and a roll of film. Out of the 100, I had to weed it down to 30 that I could work with, and I'll have to wait until Monday to see how the film shots worked out.

I need more practice I think :)

Recap of a week - busy weekend ahead

This week started out feeling like it was going to be very productive. I spent six hours in the dark room on Monday, two hours of which were spent on one print (dodging - very time consuming). I did four prints, mounted three of them, got one final assignment finished and submitted, and another class assignment finished and submitted. I have two more prints left to do on Monday and once I mount them, I can officially say that I've completed the final assignments for three classes.

I have a presentation to do next week for my Communications class, and then 12 images to work on for my digital imaging class and a resource book of 35 photographers that we're researching. 

I'm slowly getting there, but it feels really....well....SLOW. 

This weekend I'm shooting on both Sat and Sun. Saturday, pics of a wee girl, and Sunday, a couple. Hoping the sun comes out. Also, Friday night I've got a meet up with some ex-colleagues, so it'll be good to catch up.

Keep an eye out for the results of my shoots! :)