Returning to Film

It has been a while since  I have worked with film. A process that I remember being slow, relaxing, almost therapeutic. Well not this time!

I wanted to try out some 120 film shots on a project I am working on at St. George's Park. It was a test of an idea I had, but being on a construction site, a badly exposed image can mean a photographic opportunity missed completely. The day was terrible, grey and dull but I tried to make the most of it. However not knowing if I was walking away with any shots after a days work was a little frustrating to say the least.

I've had to wait a few days until I could develop the film. I was relieved to see a full roll of images on all the films today but I'll have to wait until the end of the week to get some printed up and see what they really look like. 

Serpentine and V&A.

At the Serpentine Gallery yesterday was a show by Anri Sala. The exhibition lead you round in a circle in which you viewed a drum beating by the vibrations from the film in another room. This trend of linking the work together throughout the gallery continues with a film that is being played called Le Clash 2010 in which the song "should I stay or should i go now" by The Clash is played in various ways, over layed upon one another. This links with a music box which plays the same tune and invites people to play the music to add to the disjointed layers from the film.

It was an interesting exhibition but I did not feel motivated or inspired by the work.

Later in the day at the V&A I viewed the Power of Making exhibition which reminded me of a television programme i find interesting called "How it's made" my geeky pleasure. I have always been interested in the process of making and creating so I was looking forward to this exhibition.

It ranged from the amazing pieces of machine embroidered snowflake by Ellis Developments which is actually a surgical implant that aids the replacement of lost tissue by providing multipule attachment points.

To Elisa Strozyk's wooden carpet textiles.

To the bizarre, baby cake. Which conjours up so many questions in my head! Is there a trend of people that ask for cakes to be made to look like their babies? and if so, can they really take a knife to it and eat it? 

Wildlife Photographer of the year 2011

                                         

The wildlife photographer of the year 2011 exhibition was held at the National history museum.   

These are a selection of a few of the photographs I found interesting from the exhibition. As usual I am drawn to the clean, graphic style images.

I was astounded by the level of quality in the work from the under 10 category, so much so that I questioned why I was attempting to get my work into the world of photography when there are people younger than 10 producing such incredible work.

 

                                                             

What I have noticed looking up these photographs after viewing the exhibition, is that the way they were displayed. This significantly added to the aesthetics of the images. Each image was printed A0 and back lit. This made the colours really punchy, gave a boost to the contrasts and helped to show the sharpness in the photographs.

Queens Hospital cafe photos

I was given a couple of hours to produce some food orientated photography suitable for display within the Queen Hospital cafe.I wanted the photos to be fresh and bright yet still visually interesting.

After quickly thinking up a couple of ideas and gathering items together I started shooting straight away.

I began here, arranging and rearranging the grapes and crackers. I was liking the photographs that I was creating but I couldn't help but think they would look a little out of place in a hospital cafe. These images would be more suited for a food magazine rather than a cafe wall, the hospital would benefit from bright colourful phtoography.

Which is when I moved onto the fruit. Keeping these simple was key, I liked the split colour background that was appearing in the first shoot and decided to stick with this trying to match up the other colour to one similar to that of the fruit.

One of the reasons why this is such a quick turn around is because the photographs need to be ready the following day to be given to fine art student who will then overlay sketches, typography etc.

An interesting quick assignment that I would have liked to have had more time on.

Fleeting Moment

The fleeting moment brief had been in the back of my mind for a while, I was conscious that the deadline for the internal competition is drawing closer. Ideas were sparse so I was grateful when I found out that we were working on producing ideas for this today through a day assignment.

Starting this with words, being asked to write down my experience travelling into college seemed like a strange thing to do. To then turn this into a Haiku and set out to take a photograph that described what I had written seemed all the more bizarre...until I read the brief again.

My morning pretty much revolved around running late and therefor being challenged by every red light and slow driver on the way into college, adding to my frustration of not having any money for the car park resulting in a power walk to class.

I set out thinking too literal to the story of my morning, thinking about photographing someone through a car window screen or something that was mentioned within my writing. 

These photos did not conjure up thoughts of a fleeting moment. Had I just gone out to photograph without the text I would not be thinking about road users and traffic.

Are fleeting moments not just natural occurrences that pass by as quickly as they arrive? A moment in everyday life that is a second of exceptional beauty often gone un-noticed.

Completing this assignment has given a better understanding and helping to generate ideas. I would not say the photographs I took describe my morning, possibly the chaos and the rushing, but I think the images are interesting and could be built on.

Self Promo Draft Booklet

As I briefly mentioned before I have been working on a self promotion booklet. I have currently just finished the first draft and I'm working on correcting the changes.

This assignment was not as easy as it may appear, the reason for the booklet is to give a background to my portfolio and an insight into myself. It needed to be appealing to the type of clients I hope to work with while carrying a consistent style throughout.

I decided to include the pages set out from the brief (dress code, colour, skills etc) but also incorporated a mini portfolio into it and couldn't resist working on a few illustrations.

Creating a draft copy, printed in book format has meant that I can see what the booklet will look and feel like to the viewer. This has made noticing mistakes and areas that need improving on much easier.

I need to tidy up the layout of the pages and rewrite the text.

It has been a long time since I have been this frustrated with myself and my camera.

I had four shoots in mind over this weekend and non of them have gone to plan. This is possibly because the shoots themselves were just tests for a bigger idea. Still, it is very frustrating because I now need to find time to do them over the coming week, by which point I will possibly have more on the to do list.

My idea yesterday was to go out with the camera simply for fun and to accumulate some ideas. I very rarely take my camera out to aimlessly photograph things and I think this is why I found myself getting frustrated. I got home and didn't feel like I had anything, I didn't have a single photograph I liked.

Today I had some time and had a subject matter in mind. Drove to the location and within 10 minutes I was back in the car and driving home. I couldn't even bring myself to get the camera out of my bag.

I wonder if other photographers have this problem? It really dents your confidence when it happens, I imagine it to be like the photographers version of writers block.

Think I will be writing this weekend off as a lesson learnt.

Slipstream

It's official, slipstream is a little addictive!

This was my first attempt at capturing a slipstream by projecting it and filming using my phone. The film is made up of two photographs that I chopped up using the slipstream software and then as I played the collections I kept chopping up the sequences.

Apologies for the poor film quality and the slow processing of the computer, as a result the slipstream is a bit slower than it should be.

www.thesnibstonpalimpsest.com

Food Glorious Food

During a chat with Lance the other week he was telling me about a cook book that IKEA have produced called Homemade is best. Carl Kleiner is the photographer who created these amazing pieces of work.

While working on food photography skills I decided to try out this style of image. This is a real game of patience and a steady hand. The camera was set up on a tripod above the A4 size space I was working with, one mistake with any of the ingredients and you need to start the whole process again!

I tried to work out which ingredient would effect the paper the most, so as to put that on last. Working with cream, butter and blackberry juice was not as easy as Kleiner makes it look.

To make this better it would be more ideal to work on coloured perspex so that mistakes could be wiped up. Plus spacing and precision can be better executed. 

An infectious process, I want to try more.

The food photography that I was working on at the time also went well except I'd like to do some more shoots with a reflector to try and eliminate the shadows that appear in some of the photographs. Thankfully I don't think they effect this shoot too bad but I would like to work on manipulating natural light.

Self Promotional

Inspired by Chris Doyle's Identity guidelines booklet I have been given an assignment to produce my own version of this by next week. When I first saw the brief I was a little unsure about it but since I have been thinking about it and coming up with ideas I'm looking forward to getting started on it.

http://brandtao.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/personal-brand-identity-guidelines/

Capturing Kate

Fashion Photography

Not my strong point. It's going to be interesting being put out side of my comfort zone for this new assignment set by Julien. To create a fashion photograph that is clearly inspired by an iconic fashion image.

The assignment needs to be planned and completed in just over 2 weeks and yesterday I was given a few hours to create a photograph inspired by a well known artist to give a better insight into what I need to take into consideration for the final photograph.

I knew exactly what I was going to do before going into the studio, that scared me a little, it wouldn't be this simple, surely. No it wasn't, looking at the photos on the computer I had not taken inspiration from Avedon I had simply copied it. Stark white background, high contrast image. 

There is a fine line between taking inspiration and just copying what a photographer does. 

Looking at the other photographs I had taken I began to be lead more by personal preference...I have some research to do!

 The final photograph presented to the class.

17

Final year is very much underway, been back for the first week and have plenty to think about and get working on. Have a feeling this year is going to be slightly insane!


To get people interacting and back into photography mode we were given a quick turn around exercise to photograph 17 items. 


I think we all thought it would be easy, until we got outside in the rain and our brains went to mush.


However, we got there:

*Photos to come soon*

About half way through the exercise I thought maybe we were being a little too literal. I had the ideas of wanting to take every photograph as a portrait, with a 1.8mm lens, making sure the background was out of focus but still coherent throughout so that they all looked regimented except for the subtle changes of the points we were photographing from the list.


Working in groups, going out with no initial plan and aware of short deadlines can sometimes mean that ideas get lost. I'm glad I've reminded myself early on that planning what to photograph before going out to look for it is always a good idea!


Seeing everyones slide show at the end of the day, it was interesting how others interpreted on the words. Good start.

Planning to visit Bristol again soon as there are a few exhibitions I'd like to see. Martin Parr has an exhibition opening at Mshed at the end of this month. Hopefully get chance to get to the talk on 11th October.

At the same time there is a Michael Kinder and Bridget Riley exhibition on at RWA.

                        
  
                    Michael Kinder                                          Bridget Riley

"The Spastics Society collection box of a girl with teddy bear and leg in callipers was a familiar site in the 1960s and ‘70s, but fell out of fashion in the 1980s as a disempowering image of pity. Hirst has remade the splinted girl, scuffed her appearance and burgled her charity box to highlight the erosion of society’s values and put the issues on a pedestal."

Damien Hurst's Charity first appeared outside the White Cube in 2003 as a part of his Romance in the age of uncertancy exhibition. Charity, the 22 feet high statue will be situated here for 12 months.

Not sure if you can see from this photograph but all over the floor by the entrance are huge coins, probably the size of your hand. I was itching to pick one up but I remember the last time I touched an instillation...don't piss of the curators!

Seeing as the bolts holding in the engine of my car decided to sheer last week I have had the delight of being educated in "How to rebuild an engine". I know I enjoy making things but that wasn't quite what I had in mind!

Still, I managed to complete a batch of handmade invites that have received awesome feedback. I was really happy with the finish on these. I was working with a test card which was covered in smudges, wax spots and finger prints. Happy to say the final batch were pristine. Though I have to wonder how many fires started in the past from sealing letters. There is something that just doesn't feel right having a flame that close to paper.

I've also been playing around with some ideas in regards to the National Forest. There are so many things wrong with this that I don't know where to start. It's only 2 layers deep so there is no real depth of feel to it. I'm just trying to get some ideas, lacking inspiration at the moment, big time! I may need to hit the drawing board.

                                                                  

Photographs have made it to the D&AD site

I am yet to post this week due to more urgent things taking up my time, which I hope to share soon. I just wanted to post a quick link to a sample of my portfolio that is now available to view on the D&AD talent section of their website.


Rather exciting and extremely grateful!

http://www.dandad.org/talent/portfolios/project/9902

Monday, Monday

It's Monday again, I think that tells me I'm much better at finding time to post on Mondays! 


I have been a little lost in my thoughts about some photographs I want to get done this week with the National Forest in mind and been working on a few little projects. So hopefully have some ideas to show in the next post.


This week has flown by and I have a list of things to do that seems to be getting ever longer! But if I'm honest I wouldn't want it any other way.


Only thing I have to share this week is that I received a surprising email from the people at D&AD. Which stated that Tim Jenkin from Making Pictures had commented to them that my portfolio was particularly strong. As a result I have been able to upload samples of my work to the Talent section of the D&AD website. As soon as it has been uploaded by their IT people I will share the link.  


For now, a little view of a photograph I took for a small, up and coming cake business.

On Friday I contemplated about my blog. Some people seem to be able to do something or see something and blog about it straight away. I however, can not. If I see something of interest or do something, I process it in my head and I'm already onto the next thing. The idea of blogging does not enter my head very often. When I am reminded I kick myself for forgetting and try to rewind the last week. Resulting in gobbledy gook and random forced postings...rather like this one.

My answer to solving this problem was to commit to one post a week. I decided I would post every Sunday, but now it's Monday.

Great start.

So what have I been up to this week? I have been taking photos! I am good at remembering to do some things...and I was super happy to see some of those photos in a few newspapers too.

The shots were to advertise the opening of the maize maze in Tatenhill. This years Shaun the Sheep inspired maze meant my day consisted of crowds of school children, a giant sheep and helicopters. Photographing out of a helicopter has definitely topped the previous scenarios of shooting off the roof of a land rover and drive by photos from a golf buggy. 

As for these photos they are just an experiment I had on my mind...a little Tillman inspired.

It's been a little while since I posted anything semi interesting. I'm still struggling with this social networking malarkey.


However things have been productive. New blood was last weekend, time on the stand was a little interesting but I got a lot out of the few days I was there. 

Certainly have ideas with next years final show in mind. 

The work displayed at the show was a little over whelming. I've always been drawn to books, particularly artist books. Here I was surrounded by them. The attention to detail, the clever ideas, the simple but effective touches that seemed so polished in everyone's work at new blood was inspiring, if not a little scary. Needed to keep reminding myself these students are third years. So it has to be said I spent most of my time talking to people about their work, stealing as many promo books as I could before retreating back to the hotel in a muddle of inspiration.

I was lucky to have been chosen as a student rep, a part of the networking and to receive a portfolio review. It meant that I got to have a really good study of the work before anyone else and look at the stands. Judging the best work was not easy but to pick a good stand display, it was clear when a stand was working.

All in all I got out of the event all that I could. The review with Tim from Making Pictures was the push that I needed. I know what I need to do, I think I know how to achieve it. Now begins the challenge of finding time and not being distracted. I have a few projects that need to be tied up first, one I'm hoping will link in with this.

I will divulge at a later date.

Free Range Review

http://t.co/WdQvEDJ

Family Affairs on Source

Click to see "Family Affairs" on Source

New Blood prep

I sat re designing my business cards the other day in preparation for New Blood and I have just sent off for them. Bloody good job too, seems they are going to get here just in time to turn round and go back to London with me.

No sudden strikes please Royal Mail!

Track

Burton and South Derbyshire College Free Range show 2011

Opening Free Range

_{This week saw the opening of the Free Range exhibition in London.}

_{What an amazing few days that was! Long days, tiring but undoubtedly worth it.}

_{I really appreciate all the feedback that I got from people that came to see the exhibition on opening night. Possibly one of the best being from a woman who said that she didn’t usually like photography, but really liked my work, because it was different. And not forgetting the school group that discussed my work with me.}

_{Thanks, that made my day!}

_{I was aware that this exhibition was going to be a big learning curve, and it has been. Along with the physical and logistical things that have needed to be done in order to produce a big exhibition I wanted to get a better understanding of who was viewing my work but more importantly what majority of people liked my work, who am I targeting my work at? I believe I have a little better understanding of who this is now.}

_{Going forward to a few weeks time when I am back at the Truman Brewery exhibiting for New Blood I feel more confident about what to expect and therefore can be more prepared. I have a few things I want to get straight before then but I’m really looking forward to it. I get to dip my tow into both pools of the photography world, exhibition based and commercial. I’m taking this opportunity to help me in the decision of which direction to focus my work. I think I know, however lets make sure.}

_{Thank you to everyone who worked on, and are still working on making Free Range such a good show!}

_{It’s a satisfying feeling knowing that my photographs are hanging on a wall for people to see.}

Shaun and his hoe spotted in the Burton area!

Website now so close!

Everytime I take a break from building my website I think it's nearly done. Yet when I come to work on it some more I realize there is still so much to do!

The guys at the farm have done an amazing job with the new Adventure Farm in Tatenhill.

Be sure to pay them a visit this summer!

www.adventurefarm.co.uk

I wish there were more hours in the day!

hmm, maybe?

After having to write a progression report for university lately my thoughts about the coming year have become much clearer.

I have made a list of things I want to work on in the coming year.

1. Networking

2. Updating portfolio/ Portfolio Reviews

3. Progressing personal projects

- Following on the AU and FA work

4. Showing and talking about my work

5. Online presence

I feel like I have a stronger sense of where my work is going after this first year and really need to focus on the professional side of my work and start making contacts and securing some work.

I'm already looking forward to next year but will not be waiting until September to start on this progression. I'm going to use the summer time to develop my ideas and hope to build up my kit. Personally, the main thing is to be sure that at the end of the second year I have got everything I possibly could out of this course.

Not been blogging very well, I know!

I have been working on other things and as usual getting carried away.

It's been 3 weeks now since the residency at the Eden project and I as I said before have quietly been working on something.

Not completely satisfied with my efforts from the Eden project I wanted to work on this back home and after some deliberation I decided to start work on some page layouts for a book, using some of the photographs that I liked.

The idea then was to take some more photographs, particularly product style shots to add to this and gradually build into a book.

I was hoping to be able to do a test print of it today but annoyingly this is the day my printer decided to fail on me and resist to print anything.

Anyway I have a few pages to show now but I hope to have the book completed in time to submit it with my research file in a few weeks time. Maybe I shouldn't have settled on the idea of hand making it! ...but too much work has gone into it now to not do it the way I intended.