This gallery contains 8 photos.
As part of my Press Photography project we have to choose from one of either National Allotment Week, National Baking Week or National Knitting week. One Saturday, whilst out walking the dogs, I found a local allotment. I took down the contact number, gave it a ring on the Monday and arranged to visit the …
Homework! I spend the majority of Saturday afternoon (6th Oct) writing up what we’ve done for the first few weeks in my sketchbook. As well as printing, cutting and sticking my own images and stuff from google to illustrate points.
Another part of the homework was to buy 3 newspapers, 1 of each ‘type’ Regional, Tabloid and Broadsheet. We are to take a look at the differing ‘house styles’ and see how images are used. Picking out different types and sizes of image.
In Wednesdays lesson, we briefly looked at different ISO settings and how the higher settings are more sensitive they produce ‘noisy’ images with washed out colours.
We were also given an introduction to our first assignment. This is in two parts, the first is the part that i’ve been writing up for homework. This is to prove that you’ve got the basic skills to continue. This can only get a pass or fail mark.
The second part is a larger assignment, we have to submit a main image and 3 smaller images for each of two ‘features’ Feature 1 is to be suitable for a Regional newspaper to cover either National Knitting Week, National Allotment Week or National Baking Week. Feature 2 is to cover one of the 9 significant celebrations or festivals between now and 12th December.
I don’t think i’m the only person who is a bit nervous about this, but it’s a little way off yet and we are going to get a lot more input and information over the next few weeks.
I actually missed this lesson because I was sunning it up at Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. However this is something I have done before and feel that I have a pretty good grasp of it.
Whilst these aren’t the two best images I’ve ever taken I feel they demonstrate the two ends of the spectrum.
Shallow depth of field ISO100, f2.5, 1/40s
Wide depth of field ISO100, f16, 1/80s
Well, college has started. Generally the course is on a Wednesday night from 5pm till 9pm (which is a long day when I start work at 8am). To start with we had a Monday night (10th September) this was mainly signing paperwork, enrolling and setting up payment…! We started properly on the Wednesday. There are currently 14 of us in the group, ranging from around 20 to 50. Everyone seems really friendly, although because we’re all a bit shy at the moment there are a few silences. There are a couple of people that I have met on previous courses at the college so i’d got a couple of familiar faces to start with. The lecturers are experienced photographers, have also done part time study and are very enthusiastic.
The first few weeks of the course is a sort of ‘back to basics’ to make sure everyone is at the same level. It has been a little tedious but I suppose it doesn’t hurt to refresh your memory about things and possibly iron out any bad habits that I may have gotten in to. Our first ‘homework’ was to go and shoot examples of fast and slow shutter speeds. I was quite pleased with my efforts and the slow, zooming image got quite a lot of discussion in class, with someone mentioning they were going to try the effect. I was also very impressed with the variety of images in the group. One particular image got a lot of discussion. Someone had tied some wire rope to a length of rope and then set light to it. They had then asked their friend to swirl the rope around in a circle in front of them, the sparks from the wire wool gave an amazing effect on a 9 second exposure.
My images are below:
Fast shutter:
(Fast Shutter) Austin running down the garden
100ISO, f7.1, 1/500s
(Slow shutter) Zooming into dog toy
100ISO, f29, 10s. Zoom-pause-zoom…
(Slow Shutter) Nodding dog
100ISO, f5, 1/3s
At the start of August I had a letter come through from Leicester College to confirm my HNC place and give information about the books and materials that I will need for the new term. I knew it was coming, but still a bit strange to be talking about going ‘back to school’ when my 4 year old niece has just started! As you can see, i’ve purchased the books I need, using the New and Used feature of www.amazon.co.uk. Photography A Cultural History is an ex library book, but fine for what I’m using it for. There are a few more small items to get, but i’ve got just over a week. Really excited about starting, its going to be hard work, but I’m looking forward to improving my knowledge and skills.
The HNC is the main reason for this blog, so i’m going to keep it updated with how I get on.
Starmead Photography 