Just another day at the office

It has been a really ordinary day.  Chance to catch up a bit on processing some of my images into photographs.  As you can see it has been a mixed bunch; two bird shots in the garden and two from my visit to York last week.

Actually it was quite nice to work on something other than 'nature'.  I am hoping to get out tomorrow and pull in a few landscapes - not sure if I will succeed - lets hope.

One final thing.  May I wish the best to all my old university colleges who will be frantically working this weekend with their final submission of the year.  I wish you all well and I am sure you will be successful.  Now I am out of that I don't envy them - I really am enjoying the freedom I have - long may it last.

Thinking about a theme

A number of people have said that I need to make the next project about more than 'flash photography'.   I have been somewhat resistant to this suggestion as I don't feel that either I am not explaining myself too well - not unknown - or that other people have not got what I have been saying.  I am not sure whether this is helping or not so I have decided to modify what I am doing.   Instead of just ploughing on regardless I am now going to slightly change my approach.  It is still going to be around flash photography or painting with light but instead it will be in support of the 4 project I have on the go at the moment.   These are:

Leicestershire Landmarks - an exploration of the landmarks that have a significant impact on Leicestershire

Park and Ride - Documenting the building of a new park and ride at Enderby

Jubilee Park - Documenting a local park

Varsity - Documenting my life at University

Walking to University

Aylestone Meadows - Leicester

What a pleasure it was to walk to University yesterday.   It was a bit slippery under foot but that didn't bother me.   On the way I was able to do a bit of photography - see above - and also a bit of bird watching - saw a lovely Little Grebe as well as some nice views of Long Tail Tits.   We had a bit of a Christmas lunch/snack with some rather nice mulled wine and mince pies.   

The day was very short.   We had a bit of a discussion about next term/semester and the work we are likely to do...we are actually going to take some photographs yippee...   As I was not in last week I messed the second half of the seminar's and clearly there was some rumbling in the camp about the length that some of our colleges seminar.  Whether it was the mulled wine but we then some of our number decided to slag off men.   A catalogue of faults with men were then put out as though they were indisputable facts.   I am never ceased to be amazed at the sexist comments made by women about men.   This is not to say that men are without their faults it is just that it would appear that nowadays you cannot say anything about women but it is open season on men.   I also found out that there would appear to be a bias amongst some of my colleagues against long lenses and wild life photography.   This, however, was wrapped up into a general moan about men.   I did try to defend men but to no avail.   Clearly,  it is a proven fact that whatever men do is rubbish!   

The only formal part of the day was a tutorial.  This went well and the feedback I got from my first draft was very encouraging.   It looks like Gregory Crewdson will be resurrected to add some extra power to my analysis.   I intend to get this essay finish before Christmas as I want to go to Norfolk and get some winter shots of the geese and other birds.

Anyway, a merry christmas to all my colleagues and I look forward to working with them in the new year.

Should I walk in?

Surfers on the beach - St Brides Bay Wales

It is a lovely morning - the first in several days.   I am almost over the lurgy that has struck me down over the past fortnight so the question is - should I walk in to university?   It is just under five miles and I haven't gone for a nice walk for a few days.   I am tempted.

Harvard System of Referencing

I have just spent the past two hours trying to make my draft essay comply with the Harvard System of Referencing. This is the most frustrating thing I have done in a while! I am sure when you get use to the system it makes more sense but at the moment I am having difficulty understanding why this is the prefered methodology. I don't want to be too critical as I don't understand all the nuances but it goes make me shake my head with disbelief. Perhaps in a couple of weeks time it maye make more sense.

The draft is now complete. I have my seminar presentation tomorrow and then we hand in the draft. We should get them back by the 17th December. Then no doubt there will be some series redrafting to be undertaken! What a wonderful Christmas that will be.

The Hard Work Begins

As with all my other colleagues I am now immersing myself in the research for the first essay for the MA course.   I have to say this is an absorbing activity.  However, the knock on effect has been that I am no longer paying as much attention to my own photography as, perhaps, I should.   This is not a unique problem.  David Manley on his blog as eluded to the same issues.   Trying to mix work with study is never easy.  I know this from personal experience when completing my degree with the OU.  I still have a second degree course started with the OU and I doubt this will ever be completed as my life has moved in new directions.  It is hard.

Now the good point for me is that I have recently retired and so have the luxury of being able to commit myself to the course full time.  I also live reasonably close to the university so can pop in to the library at short notice as and when required.   This is not the case for most of my colleagues, although some do work at the DMU but I am sure their day jobs get in the way.  I am not sure what this prattle is saying other than the course demands hard work and having to keep down a job at the same time adds to the pressures.

Back to the images.  I am not sure whether this is just the time of year/age or the course having an effect but I have noticed that I am starting to look at my photographs differently.   It is far too early to quantify this in any meaningful way but it is something that I feel is happening.  I will have to watch this otherwise I will start to be looking at photographs with the intensity and eloquence of Greg Lucas!

On the trail of Winston

What a morning.   I have spent the time writing up my notes about the image I am researching and have got to strange and bizarre details.   I know that there were 43 flash bulbs used and I have been trying to locate each bulb - now that is really sad!   Anyway, it then struck me - link used flash heads that had multiple bulbs in them  - see previous blog picture of Link and his assistant.    Not sure whether I'll use any of this detail but it is interesting to know - well I think so.  What does that say about me?

Fascinating Talk by Roger Taylor

Being a bit of an amateur historian I found the talk given by Roger Taylor  about his work to support the recent major exhibitions and book on the 19th century British photographers fascinating.   I loved the wonderful image of the Houses of Parliament by Roger Fenton - again from a catalogue/book written by Taylor (Note:   Both the links take you the web sites relating to the major exhibitions).   You have to admire the determination and stamina shown by Taylor to finish these major pieces of work.   Overall, another great talk.   There seems to be a pattern forming here - the course staff need to be congratulated on their choice of guests.   Just hope my presentation next week doesn't stink the place out!

Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper

Interesting morning trawling through their collective works. Both have given me insight into the work Winston Link and my other photograph by Neil Liefer. They are intended to examine the concept of the American iconic image. Of the two I have to say I prefer Hopper. His dark brooding images and use of heavy colours really does appeal to me. He was loathed to produce paintings with the detail of Rockwell.

Rockwell on the other hand just couldn't help himself produce a happy painting or print. Even when he was dealing with the civil rights movement, a subject he was passionate about, the subsequent image still has the candyfloss effect (see Southern Justice).

Anyway a good morning in the library - having feed my imagination it is now time to feed by stomach.

O Winston Link and Kite Surfing

(O Winston Link Museum - Property - Do not reuse)

O Winston Link

This man is starting to become imbedded into my psyche at the moment.   He is the photographer that I am researching for my first essay.   Yesterday I spent all the day chasing down facts about the man and his photography.   This was mainly successful - see 21st October blog for details.   Today I am back on his trail.   I will try and find the book previously mentioned but I will also start to research the similarities between Link's images and Norman Rockwell.

On a lighter note I have finally started to work on the kitesurfing  (apologies to kite surfers who I mistakenly called Wind Boarding.   What can I say I got it wrong - sorry.)   I have just posted a new intro image of a kitesurfer on my website.  Over the next few days I hope to develop a new gallery around this fascinating sport.  That is if O Winston Link does not get in the way.   Oh the joys of university life!

Frustration of missing book

The Missing Book

I've spent most of the day getting my research in some semblance of order.   After some initial miss steps I found this really quite useful.   I actually learnt a lot as a result of the process.   Anyway, as a result of this I identified that it would be useful to read/view a book.  I searched the DMU library catalogue and found that there was one copy in the library.  Great.  So I drove into town and went to the library.    You can imagine my surprise and frustration when I found the book was not on the shelf  (That's a polite way of putting it!)   Anyway, I decide to carry out some ancillary research about Edward Hopper and ended up with quite a bit of information and perhaps more importantly a better understanding of what I want to write about.

There are many things that could be written about Hopper's work but the one that really struck me was that much of his work was actually a record of the passage of time as shown on the features of his wife Jo.   Now I am sure this is not an original observation but none the less it was a very vivid revelation for me.   Only four weeks into the MA in photography and I am starting to think like an art historian - not sure whether that's such a good thing.

Another bonus from the trip to library was that I had at least two new ideas for projects/themes I could explore as the course develops.  It will be fun exploring these and many other ideas (both good and bad over the coming months)    Now if I could only find that book...

Back to the grind stone

After a week end spent taking or is that making photographs? I have the fun of having to get back to the research for the MA course.   Actually it is really quite interesting but just now it seems like hard work - especially as there is a beautiful sunrise outside just calling to me to get out and capture it.   Oh the hardship!