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Block 1 down, two more to go!

2009-11-26T10:43:09Z

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

2009-11-22T08:42:19Z

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

2009-11-12T17:19:49Z

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

Learning curve

2009-11-08T08:02:37Z

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

2009-11-04T16:40:23Z

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! :)

The Lit Tree

2009-10-30T08:29:20Z

When we were at the Crinan Canal, and heading north back to Kimelford, I happened to look back in the wind mirror and noticed this tree away up on the hill.

The clouds were wispy, the hills were dark, except for this ray of light that was shining down on this tree. Whipped out my digital camera, zoomed in as far as I could and got the following shot.

I increased the colour saturation, and also did a black and white copy. I quite like both.

More pics:

2009-10-29T13:14:32Z

I've spent most of the morning working on these. Let me know what you think!

1) Celtic Cross at Kimelford. This was taken late afternoon when the sun was setting behind the hills. Taken with my Canon EOS 50D. I adjusted the levels of contrast.

2) My son - sitting on a stone wall. Also taken with my digital. All I did with this one was crop the sides a bit.

3) Loch Lubnaig - Also taken with the digital. It was in colour, but decided to switch it to black and white. Tweaked the contrast.

4) And finally, a red rowboat. This was taken with a cokin red filter on my digital.

Row boat on Loch Melfort

2009-10-29T09:21:15Z

This was a red row boat on Loch Melfort. Shot with FP4 125 Ilford B&W (preferred film), developed the negative and scanned it in to Photoshop Elements. I adjusted the levels. Pretty pleased with this one!

Full Tonal Range

2009-10-29T09:13:18Z

This picture was taken of a cliff face in Melfort. I shot with FP4 125 Ilford B&W, developed the negative and scanned it in to use Photoshop for editing purposes.

It shows the full tonal range used in black and white photography - pure black, pure white and the shades of grey.

College Work & Learning Diary

2009-10-28T20:52:17Z

I am having a lot of fun with my program at college. I am learning so much week in and week out and the time is flying!

I've discovered that my preferred method of shooting is with film, but scanning negatives in and working on them in Photoshop. That's not to say that I don't enjoy being in the dark room, I do - very much. But I feel that this is the best of both worlds; developing film but digitalising it instead.

However, the dark room is turning out to be quite therapeutic for me. I enjoy setting up my negatives, and deciding how I'm going to frame my image, mixing up chemicals and then watching the image appear as I gently swish the paper back and forth in the developer. I'm learning that there's an art to it, and indeed a science, and I'm really enjoying it!

I am VERY excited to be using Glencoe as my subject matter for my Higher project. I plan on shooting it over the christmas holidays and raring to go!

I have some photographs to post, but I shoot in RAW and then save them all as tifs, so some converting will need to be done. Keep an eye out!