Things are starting to get easier, I am slowly beginning to understand the technicalities of photography.
Last week I got the opportunity to use the studio as part of a small group. Our task was to create three different images using only one item and background brought from home. I was very pleased with the outcome of my photographs and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working hands on with lights, products and backgrounds to the point of myself gatecrashing another group just to assist and see how others worked.

We have also learned a little about working with RAW files in photoshop. This included emphasising detail, altering lighting and colour balance etc. Using one of my older photographs I practiced using this programme to create a newly stylized picture. This has helped me gain extra knowledge regarding post production of photographs.

Yesterday we were given the challenge of "Bracketing" this involved finding the aperture and shutter speed for a perfect shot and then also capturing shots using shutter speeds three stops faster and slower than the original. Using silver based materials, this would help us understand the use of shutter speeds and how it alters the image, these pictures will be kept for use in our research and technical manual. I had quite a lot of trouble during this exercise as the light meter on my camera didn't seem to be reacting correctly and after changing batteries and spending far too much time trying to get it to work and still not having taken a single useful shot, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to work no matter what so attempted the task anyway and the results will show in the development.

After following advice from my tutor I have changed the font colour of my blog to make it easier to read.

The first few weeks.

I am currently having some difficulty involving my Photographic Practice. After spending the past 6 years shooting on automatic I am now having to re-learn how to use a camera properly. With everyone talking about f-stops, ISO and RAW files, I feel like everyone else on the course knows so much more about the technical side of this art form and everything is going over my head. On top of all this I broke my camera last week due to me being an idiot and not stabilising my tripod properly. this can be looked upon as a good thing as well as bad. Bad because I am now camera-less, having pushed the lens into the camera body and broken the mirror, but also good because a new camera was needed anyway as the old one was not an SLR and was very difficult to use, plus having learnt from my mistake, will always check the solidarity of my tripod from now on. I'm currently using one of the borrowed cameras from the college supply, however due to ill health, have not had the motivation to experiment properly. I am hoping to teach myself as much as possible, more through trial and error, whilst also gaining knowledge through my tutors and other classmates.

What makes this course unusual is the fact that we are also studying a form of creative business studies alongside the practice and creativity of our chosen career. This will help us at the end of our course in finding work and setting up our own businesses. I find this part of the course very useful and feel it will prepare me for my future as a professional photographer. After learning a lot about business from my Father, I'm finding many aspects of this class quite easy to understand. However, some of the specialist areas and in depth study are proving a slight struggle. It is a lot to take on board at such an early stage in education and I am working to research those areas in which i have difficulties.

a re-start on life

I have started this blog as part of my personal professional development class (PPD) for my Foundation Degree in Commercial Photography. I will be using it over the next two years to record my development, achievements and struggles throughout my course. I will also be publishing my work for the purposes of professional criticism, both good and bad, to help me find my strengths and weaknesses.
I have had an interest in photography for the past 7-8 years after taking a Photography A Level alongside my GNVQ in Media studies in 2001. I enjoyed the photography A level more than the Media GNVQ and decided to make this my career.
I enjoy taking photos of nature and wildlife and live events such as music and theatre. I hope to specialise in these fields after I finish my course.