Previous Photography Experience and Course Expectations
ExperienceI first started photography as a hobby sometime around 2004. Prior to that, I had used cameras purely as a means to recording snapshots of various events and occasions.It was after taking a couple of shots whilst on holiday in France which looked so different to anything that I had previously taken that I set out to discover exactly how a camera worked and how could I take photographs like them every time, instead of through the pure chance that the automatic setting on my compact camera would capture the moment how I wanted it to be captured.My learning was primarily self-taught and became greatly assisted by learning how to use the photography software on my computer to read the EXIF data stored in a digital image. It was by looking at this data and making the correlation between shutter speed and aperture that I had my breakthrough. At this time I still had a compact camera, but my image taking improved considerably just by learning how to use the various modes to my advantage.
Course ExpectationsMy primary reason for enrolling on this course is to try and push myself and unlock my potential. Whilst I feel comfortable with the handling of a camera, I want to learn more about the subjects that were touched upon in Morocco – mainly the theoretical side of composition and how that composition can have an emotional reaction with the viewer.I am also looking to decide on a genre that I wish to focus on, and something that will hold my attention. I’m also looking to renew my motivation when shooting and actually get out there and take more images.On a personal level, I am also looking to prove to myself that I do have the ability to be taken seriously as a photographer. I suffer from depression and an effect of this is that I am very short on self confidence. I have been told that the work I produce looks good, and in general is well received. However, I hope to be able to prove this to the biggest critic of all – myself.
An early experiment with exposure. 2005 2 Sec @ f/4 - Casio Ex-S100 It was at this point that I realised that I was really enjoying photography and made the investment in an SLR. I also started to read books regarding photography technique and how to use my camera properly, such as Travel Photography: A Guide to Taking Better Pictures by Richard L'Anson. It was after much practice and following this advice that I really began to produce images that I was proud of.
Vazon Bay. 2006 1/250 @ f8 ISO200 28mm Nikon D50Since those early day the kind of images I found myself taking were unrecognisable from my old compact camera days, and I found myself progressing from shots of friends which was still my primary subject matter to local events such as sports, and concerts, as well as taking as many shots as I could when travelling.In 2009, I decided to take some training as I felt that I had reached as far as I could without some kind of tuition. I travelled to Morocco with Creative Escapes for a learning holiday. The experience was very useful with good tips and advice imparted. It was suggested that I may want to look at full time tuition if I wanted to further push my potential, and it was also suggested that I start to choose a specialist genre and focus on that; as whilst my photography was technically sound I was spreading myself too thin by shooting such a range of subjects.
A Moroccan Archway. 2010 1/500 @ f2.5 20mm Panasonic GF1
A selection of my images can be found on my Flickr site - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nezgsy/
Course ExpectationsMy primary reason for enrolling on this course is to try and push myself and unlock my potential. Whilst I feel comfortable with the handling of a camera, I want to learn more about the subjects that were touched upon in Morocco – mainly the theoretical side of composition and how that composition can have an emotional reaction with the viewer.I am also looking to decide on a genre that I wish to focus on, and something that will hold my attention. I’m also looking to renew my motivation when shooting and actually get out there and take more images.On a personal level, I am also looking to prove to myself that I do have the ability to be taken seriously as a photographer. I suffer from depression and an effect of this is that I am very short on self confidence. I have been told that the work I produce looks good, and in general is well received. However, I hope to be able to prove this to the biggest critic of all – myself.
