A little place for Photography

Hi there and welcome to my blog :) I’m Faye and I’m a first year student at Swansea Metropolitan University. My passion is film and being in the darkroom as this is where I am most comfortable. My aim is to be a darkroom technician. I’ve started this blog as part of my course, but ideally I wanted to get more out of it than just doing it to pass this required module. I wanted a place where people could find all things useful.

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ARTIST THOMAS RUFF

Ruff subjects extend from portraits to galaxies, from the micro- to the macrocosm. His approach the scientific and political, while he is also sensitive to shifts in the approaches of contemporary visual culture. The techniques he has employed represent all major steps in the development of photography, including digital image making. His monumental enlargements are expressive lessons in the method, or what he calls the grammar of photography.

Thomas Ruff made professional techniques his starting point. His large-size blow-ups surpass even reality: stepping close, you can see details in the pictures which would normally require a microscope to detect. This is his way of reflecting on the uses of photography in the technological culture that emerged in the 1990s. One possible application, he suggests, is to make the photo show more of reality than what is available to the naked eye.

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Thanks for this Georgina! I think this will actually be very useful for my own current project where I am looking at women who turn to the sex industry for money.

[maybeitsfayebelline]

ffotogallery- Paul Reas So yesterday we made the trip up to ffotogallery in Cardiff to check out some work by Paul Reas. We were aware of his work thanks to our own Paul who had mentioned him in previous seminars as someone to check out. The layout of the gallery was very easy to follow, nice simple clean walls and although I did question why an image seemed slightly off centered it was very well laid out. I personally think it worked well for show. The exhibition was over two floors and as soon as you got through the door you could pick up a information sheet which helped elaborate on some of the images. I read the sheet afterwards as I like to take in the images and see how I perceive things before I see what the photographer was trying to convey. It was later explained to us that this was only a fraction of what images had been chosen for the touring exhibition, which to me felt like a little bit of a shame because I would have happily stared at most of Paul Reas' work. But at the same time a "touring exhibition" is a very clever idea as if gives more people the opportunity to see exhibition first hand.  Overall I really liked the chosen images from each set of work. We later went onto the second floor of the gallery and while looking at some his images from Working Men 1982 it immediately reminded me of Lee Friedlanders work which I had looked at myself for a project.  The exhibition is on until the 10 May, and I highly recommend it and the staff are lovely :)

[maybeitsfayebelline]

I love StumbleUpon! Top 27 Adorable Picture Of Growing Up Pets |

StumbleUpon is probably one of the greatest websites invented! Its really easy to use and you can pick what topics you want to 'Stumble' onto. This idea is really cute. We all document our pets growing up, I know I have a million images of my dog Jack. Not something I would probably do as a project, just something to put a smile on mine and hopefully your face. Also go make an account on the website haha!

[maybeitsfayebelline]

A Man Spent Years Taking Photos Of One Small Town. When You Look Closer, You'll See Why.

I really love this idea. Its cute, quirky and takes A LOT of dedication and time. If I had only seen the end photographs I would totally have believed that they were taken during the era that they are faking. But it goes to show that photography can be staged and yet still look like its documentary. Question everything people!

[maybeitsfayebelline]

So while helping Lisa come up with a new project as the idea of Voyeurism would take time and proper planning, I suggested she did something along the lines of this photographer Ben Canales. I came across his work a few years ago while browsing on one of my favourite websites (stumbleupon or viralnova- I cant remember which one) and it fascinated me, the are very visually appeasing! As a teenager I used to sneak out and go for drives with friends up to Brecon etc where we would just sit for ages. I suggested Lisa could attempt something similar for a project. I may do this for my own personal project perhaps. On Ben Canales website he gives an awesome demonstration of how he takes his photos which is easy to follow especially for people like myself who tend to stick to digital. http://www.thestartrail.com/

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Monday nights adventure!

Advice: Monday night is not where the action is! So Lisa's planned project had fallen through and while spitballing ideas, a suggestion (By the artist in residence) said "What about photographing people who go dogging?" For people who don't know what this is- this is where consenting adults meet-up and quite often have sex with strangers. We researched the "best-known" places in Swansea, we even joined up to certain websites. Lisa looked at rules (1 flash for a woman, 2 for a couple and 3 for a man). While I looked at the legal side of taking photographs of this subject. Then off we went but alas we found no people doing such things. We think its more of a weekend thing! In light of this project, we have decided to continue it but in our spare time. We've been told its best to get an ethics form and we may ask people to follow them so consent forms are also needed. An interesting question that came up in a previous mentioning of this subject is; although the photographer is just documenting in and is in not way sexually excited by the events, is it still classed as voyeurism? Other notable works are: Kohei Yoshiyuki who took images of the act itself and Paul Graham who took an image of a well know site during the day. Those are two possible routes we could take this, the act itself or the remnants/aftermath. Most of the places we went on Monday night were "pretty" places, maybe one option is to explore that side of things 'The Dark Side of Beauty'. Anyway, watch this space for future updates. I may make an entire page for this so its easily found. Kohei Yoshiyuki Paul Graham Lisa Joanne Moseley

[maybeitsfayebelline]

The 13 Most Intense Facial Expressions Of Olympic Figure Skaters

We've pulled several photos from the Sochi Olympics figure skating competition that illustrate the intensity of the sport.

I love stuff like this, it reminds me of a project I did where I concentrated on the facial expressions of people performing. I will upload an image of my own work later on

[maybeitsfayebelline]

So after talking to Niall McDiarmid and how he was influenced by Daniel Meadows (work which I saw up the the Impressions gallery in Bradford) I decided to go on ebay and look for some of his books. I used to have one but I accidentally left it up north. Theres something good about owning physical copies of photographers work, plus I can image the love and dedication that went into making and putting the books together.

[maybeitsfayebelline]

TED.com

So previously Sian has shown us this website and a few videos from it. I just thought I'd share it as some of the talks are really interesting. I've taken a photo of the photography related videos. I highly recommend this video by James Nachetwey, I found it very powerful. Especially why it made him become a documentary photographer: "It gives a voice to those who would otherwise not have it"

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Crossing Paths- Niall McDiarmid

The book came and I'm super excited! Im really fascinated by his work, and it sounds exciting just jumping on a train to a new place just to take photographs. Please go buy his book! Its a steal at under £25 http://crossing-paths.co.uk/book.php

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Artist Talk: Niall McDiarmid

So today we had a guest lecture with a photographer called Niall McDiarmid, he is a photojournalist himself and talked to us about his commercial work, background and personal work. He started out working for an agricultural newspaper taking photos of machinery on farms.

"You don’t need to go far to take a good image"

I think his advice was very helpful. I’ve heard students wanting to become photographers to travel the world and show people the plights of other countries and while its very important in my view, I think too often people forget what is on their front door step. Niall mentions how you don't need to go far to find a good image and I think this is sound advice. There are potential projects and important issues right in front of you already.

He went on to talk about his personal work: Crossing Paths. This project and book was right up my street, this project currently spans over 2/3 years. He started traveling to different towns and places via train and took full length shots of people he encountered. I asked him if his personal work was inspired by Daniel Meadows where he had travelled around places in a double-decker bus that had been converted into living quarters and a studio. He said he had and we had a quick chat about how inspiring we both found the work. I really enjoyed his personal work as I could imagine doing a similar project myself, I love portraiture (I’m not sure I could be as good as Daniel Meadows or Niall McDiarmid but that probably wont stop me) I did however, as soon as the lecture was over, go online to buy the book. I highly recommend it and it will probably be my book of the week :)

Overall Niall Mcdiarmid is a down to earth man who gives good advice and is very approachable. Probably one of my favourite guest artists thus far.

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Other random things I find while surfing the internet. Its always helpful to have, seeing as in second year we will have to learn how to frame and different techniques 

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Silverprint,photographic materials, films, traditional black and white papers, colour paper, inkjet paper, inkjet inks, developers, fixers, chemicals, raw chemicals, 120 film, 35mm film, medium format film, raw chemicals,

So I thought I would share a link to Silverprint.  Its really good for all photographic needs and I could easily order half the store.

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Here is how I'm doing so far. I personally love it. I love reusing old things :)

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Reusing old film slides / strips / rolls / canisters

Negative Film Earrings

So as most of you are aware I love film photography however I hate throwing away the canisters you get with 35mm film.  I was determined to find a way to reuse them other than for its main purposes to protect film, and while looking for good ways to recycle the canisters I came across this website that useful suggestions.  The salt and pepper shaker is a cute idea, I think I may do that when I have my own place as I don't think my family would appreciate it as much as I do haha. I'd be a little worried about using the old negatives for a Film Roll Candle Rings as surely the heat from the candle would warp them? However I am currently drilling holes in the top of the canisters and putting them on fairy lights I bought specifically to modify. If anyone catches me in uni and wants to donate unused canisters, please do! (Pics to follow)

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Artist Talk: Peter Dench

The other day we had another guest photographer in called Peter Dench. His work had a very British feel to it, mainly photographs of boozing Brits and what we do in our spare time such as fayres.  I enjoyed his work very much, but the main thing that engaged me during his talk was how down to earth he was and how it was a bit of a reality check in some ways. I'm often discussing with Lisa how we think some students have this idea that they will finish uni and become a famous photographer in whatever field they choose. However Peter said that this isnt always the reality. He showed us personal photos and talked about how when he is in a lull he has worked in cafes, and other 9-5 jobs just to support himself. He even joked about his children asking him when would he get a real job. This is what has mainly stuck with me from his talk. I do believe people should have dreams and goals, but sometimes an injection of reality is a bad thing and a lot of big dreams can take years of dedication and time. I tend to find the artist talks I really enjoy are the ones who just give good advice.  http://www.peterdench.com check out his website and he has a blogspot as well http://peterdench.blogspot.co.uk/

[maybeitsfayebelline]

Shy Photographer Kyle Thompson

So I will happily admit that sometimes, especially when starting a new project and knowing I will be using strangers that I still get nervous, but I usually get over it quickly, which is followed by excitement of starting a new project. What this guy did was very clever and it just goes to show if you really have a passion for something, but something else is potentially stopping you from that passion, there are always ways around it. Happy snapping :)