Hi folks,

It’s showtime and we need to get a few things in place so everything runs smoothly on the night. The End of Year Show is our chance to let our fellow students and college staff, friends, family and the local community see a selection of the fantastic work that you’ve all produced during the year. You should all be rightly proud of what you’ve achieved over these past ten months and this is an opportunity to celebrate and show-off the wide range of talent that we’re unleashing onto the world!

The Private View for invited guests is next Tuesday night 1830-2030. The NC Photography class has been beavering away doing fundraising, sourcing frames and designing invites and posters and most of the main things are in place. Now we’re down to the details and this is where everyone needs to do their wee bit. It’s not a lot and it’s for your personal benefit.

Richt-click the link below and “Save as…” to download a template Name Card:

Name Plate Template

Please open this up in Photoshop and add a text layer with your name and class beside the black rectangle that will display your mugshot. In the space below please write a paragraph about you, the work you’re displaying, what you’ve gained from your course and what you hope to be doing next year. (It would also help greatly if you delete the text from the background. Just use it as a guide for positioning and size). Save the file (with your name) as a layered photoshop file and bring it in with you when you’re next in. We’ll leave a folder on the teaching machine in each room for you to save them into and you’ll be able to set the right font so all the cards match.

I’ve also included the following pro-forma for you to fill out. This is for use with any work displayed on the College web site. It’s basically the same information but in an easier format for the guy that does the web site to work with. STUDENT PROFILE – SHOW

The College plays an important part in the development of this area and you shouldn’t underestimate how important it is to the local community. Folk want to see local success stories. This is your Show so try to make it stand out and be proud of your achievements!

Dave

Licence of copyright      Licence of copyright T&C

This is the report commissioned in 2010 to look at the issues of copyright and IP, which could impact the working practices and potential earnings of professional photographers. I would urge you to engage in the process of debate that will spring from it. Ron

Digital Oppertunity Report Hargreaves

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988If you have a few hours/days to kill, here is the Act in it’s entirety

Ron

I’ve been asked about using older shots for the Environment unit. The brief was given out at the start of December so anything from then is ok but my worry is whether people have properly thought about the brief and what this unit is asking for. Much of what I’m seeing in the research is pretty landscapes rather than memorable, considered images. The evidence requirements state:

“…all the following points must be achieved:

• the exposure must be correct for the desired effect for the assignment
• images must be technically and aesthetically consistent with the assignment
• composition and viewpoint must be selected to achieve the desired effect
• use of light must achieve the desired effect”

Achieving a ‘desired effect’ implies having a plan. The brief asks that you, “…clearly show how your research has influenced your creative approach and technique to achieve your aims for the shot.”

It’s how the location/setting/weather/light affect the way people read an image. The shot could be a portrait, an advert, a reportage shot or it might be a landscape but the environment you choose is used to create a context or layer of meaning. Remember the Salgado pictures?

The time and setting of a shot is within our control. We can plan for certain effects, certain conditions. Perhaps sunlight coming through a stained glass window imbues a shot with religious significance or the view reflected in a window at a particular time of day might create a narrative. It’s how movies work; they flick switches in our brain to make us react to scenes in certain ways – cry now, laugh now, scream now. It can be very formulaic but the most memorable films are not so heavy handed and the same is true of great art and great photography. They work their way into our consciousness because they have layers of meaning and beauty to engage with.

Annie Leibovitz - Jack Nicholson 1990

Annie Leibovitz - Mark Morris 1990

Annie Leibovitz - Keith Haring 1986

I’ve included some Leibovitz portraits that I think succeed because of the way they exploit the environment.

None of them are accidental. She’s chosen the environment fully aware of the possibilities and, in the Keith Haring shot, gone as far as creating it!

Overworld

I’ve also included some of my efforts in urban, planned and wild environments.

I’d taken the shot of the Glasgow skyline before against a beautiful, blue sky. It was a total non event. This later effort exploited the low contrast light and sheen of rain to help make the chaotic jumble of metalwork stand out as strong geometric shapes and mini-tower blocks in this hidden overworld that surrounds us.

Considered space

The Lighthouse provided many interesting spaces but I really liked this exhibition reflecting on Mackintosh. I came back at different times that visit before I got the light and people doing the kinda’ stuff I wanted.

Revealing the dark

Revealing the dark is a fascinating rock formation I had noticed at the foot of The Birks o’Aberfelday and it needed a boring flat overcast morning to allow me to draw out the detail. It’s really just a photographic exercise in shooting black stuff but I love the tone and texture. It makes me think of whaleskin.

Wild Glencoe

The Glencoe shot needs revisited. It’s almost doing what I want with the man-made structure slicing through a wild landscape and I like the scale the figures bring to it but I couldn’t wait for the best light. I had a bus load of students to drive home!

Whatever the shot, try to tell a story and make the viewer think. It’s about making images rather than just taking what’s in front of you.

Apologies, but we will have to call-off the proposed trip on Monday 28th March. I’m afraid that I am unable to get away on Monday and have not had time to organise an alternative schedule. When it’s an official trip I have to ensure that transport arrangements will work, that catering facilities are available for the size of group and also do risk assessments and stuff. It all takes time that I’m afraid I just don’t have at the moment. We will get away at some point but it will now have to be after the Easter break.

Please, attend Ron’s class as normal on Monday.

In view of the late notice I would be grateful if you could make sure other members of the class have seen the message.

Sorry…

Dave

Hi folks,

Many apologies for these late changes. Another department that was meant to service one of the HN Media units is unable to do so. As rooms and staff throughout the College are already locked down I’ve tried to make sure these changes have as little impact as possible but it is obviously not ideal for everyone.

For most of you, it will just be a subject or staff change on one of the days you are already in. However, for the following courses I’ve had to switch days in order to find appropriate rooms and keep you with your lecturers. In view of this I have put your new t/table here for download.

HN Creative Industries: Media & Communication: HNCMC Blk3

NC Media Studies & Production: NCMSP Blk3

NC Graphic Design: NC Graphics block 3 – timetable

Dave

For HNs (Photo and Media) I’ve uploaded a slightly revised version of the guidelines to help prepare your Stage 1 Planning submission. It can be downloaded here or from the Graded Unit section in Photo Downloads.
Planning-Document-Structure REV

I’ve also uploaded the Studio booking, Print ordering and Feedback forms. These are combined in one PDF and found in the Notes & Info section of Photo Downloads.

Dave

BHF competition poster

This is an interesting and accessible competition you should be interested in entering. The British Heart Foundation started this last year and have obviously been pleased at the response they had  so it looks like it will become an annual event. The good thing is that it has pulled in good sponsorship so the prizes are great. First prize is spending a day shadowing a top professional photographer and there’s also a Canon EOS 60D up for grabs.

I’ve gathered-up the entry info in the following pdf so please read it carefully to make sure you fully understand the brief and are complying with their requirements. Be particularly careful about filenaming and image size. You only submit email sized versions just now but must have 300ppi print-ready, correctly sized versions available if selected as a finalist. Red for Heart entry info

There’s a £5 entry fee for up to three submissions. All proceeds go to the charity. If you want more info then the website link is www.bhf.org.uk/redphotos.

If you enjoyed the Creative Process unit you’ve got your head in the right place to have a go at this.

Enjoy