Day 11

14:00 B&W Film processing (120) group I.

RiIkka was wonderful and very helpful in explaining and assisting with the film processing, thank you Riikka!

All twelve (the nine requested, and three taken to finish the film) of my images look to be exposed well enough, I'll detail them after we have printed the contact sheet.

We make the contacts in a further printing workshop with Colin

Wanting to check the images I scanned a couple in my negative scanner (cropped out a background distraction and closed in on the object just so that I could upload a photograph into the blog)

Day 10

Wednesday 28th September 2011

10:00 (Historical Environment) The Picturesque Period and the Taming of the English Landscape-(Seminar 1) Steffi Klenz

This was actually more interesting than I had expected.

After the lecture study group 'I' were tasked with the deconstruction and analysis on an image "Crocodile on River Bank, Egypt", 1857, Albumen print from wet plate negative by Francis Frith.

We agreed as a team to have a 10 minute break before attempting the task in hand.

Being Group 'I' we weren't prepared to await our 14:45 appointment with Nick Turner before we started!

The group discussed what was required and read the brief closely, we then split into two groups, one using online research techniques, the other the university library. Having not used the library previously I joined Dana and Ian Wisbey to see what we could achieve within the library. Upon entering the library it soon became apparent that the catalogue system was not working. I initially logged onto Art Full Text, but saw little in the way of quality or quantity of information that might assist us, so we resorted to an online search to find books featuring information on Francis Frith. We located the book we (Ian) had found online and two other books were selected (via title, and based on our knowledge of the date of the photograph and the scope of the books) a check of the glossary to see Francis Frith was listed was made prior to booking out.

Armed with this information we worked on the presentation (Ian Turner kindly using his laptop to create the PowerPoint) with input from everyone. Images were located and added to the PowerPoint and it was complete prior to the 14:45 appointment with Nick. The appointment proved to be interesting, because Nick with myself re-visited Art Full Text, and found the few references to our artist were in fact all unavailable. We  showed Nick the presentation, explained we had three books to reference from and basically confirmed that nothing more was available. I had spotted  a book printed in 2000 referenced in one of the books we had, containing much of Friths work. Nick checked and that too was also unavailable..

15:45 Presentation to several groups (for a first attempt and considering we went first) was OK. Everyone spoke (not something many people enjoy), and we delivered as a team. Next time it will be even better with some tweaking. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Free Day

Tuesday 27th September

Spent most of the day on uni related tasks:

Logged into myuca and repeated the searches I'd done in Nick Turners session (to ensure I'd remembered it all)

Set up 'scribd' account and downloaded everything I could in relation to the course.

Printed off numerous useful items including instruction manuals for medium format cameras

Printed one lecture presentation (which killed my black ink!)

Shopped for Ink/Paper

I've been reading 'Ways of Seeing John Berger'

Re-read the objects brief, I've had numerous ideas about new topics..I'll post these separately. I found some interesting images online, and have stepped back to take more of an overview of what is required rather than racing on with my initial idea.

Equipment wise I've got my light meter out, acquired a couple more 35mm cameras from a friend

The darkroom also progresses

Day 9

Monday 26th September 2011

10:00 Perception Unit Briefing (Dr Tom Slevin) Interesting and thought provoking, I would have liked the project brief to have been issued since I like to mull the information over. It is my intention to print off and file every presentation made available to us, adding any key notes I make that aren't in the actual presentations.

I walked and I walked and I walked after the brief, until I reached my destination, the Chatham Naval Memorial. I love these places and I have to say it left me wondering if the feelings these places give me could be translated into an image for the Environment project. I read name after name and wondered at their ages, their lives and their stories. I would imagine that many were the same age as those at UCA, 18615 souls, their lives and stories elusive and unknown to those of us who viewed the names. Then one name with a poppy and a hand annotated message inscribed on the petals, very touching. I cursed myself for not having a camera to hand..

*'After the First World War, an appropriate way had to be found of commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave, the majority of deaths having occurred at sea where no permanent memorial could be provided. An Admiralty committee recommended that the three manning ports in Great Britain - Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth - should each have an identical memorial of unmistakable naval form, an obelisk, which would serve as a leading mark for shipping. The memorials were designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, who had already carried out a considerable amount of work for the Commission, with sculpture by Henry Poole. The Chatham Naval Memorial was unveiled by the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) on 26 April 1924. After the Second World War it was decided that the naval memorials should be extended to provide space for commemorating the naval dead without graves of that war, but since the three sites were dissimilar, a different architectural treatment was required for each. The architect for the Second World War extension at Chatham was Sir Edward Maufe (who also designed the Air Forces memorial at Runnymede) and the additional sculpture was by Charles Wheeler and William McMillan. The Extension was unveiled by the Duke of Edinburgh on 15 October 1952. Chatham Naval Memorial commemorates 8,517 sailors of the First World War and 10,098 of the Second World War.'

I noted the sad footnote on the CWCG website that vandals frequent the site and therefore access could be limited on occasion

* Information via CWCG (Commonwealth War Graves Commission (http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=142000&mode=1)

15:00 Research Skills (Nick Turner) I found this very useful and the resource available to students is excellent indeed! My confidence grows with macs and the resources each time I use them.

16:00 Seminar Perception Unit (Dr Tom Slevin) More of a get to know you session, an ice breaker.  All of us feeling our way, the first tentative steps on another Journey.

Object project

Sunday 25th September 2011

Initial ideas

·         Redundancy

After brainstorming what redundancy meant to me it consisted of a number of very complex ideas.

Obviously I have personal experience to draw upon, but something Jonathan said kept popping into my head about not internalising the subject too much. I guess this becomes a rather personal story, but hopefully one that others would relate too with ease. Initially I thought about using a bin as a metaphor (with items placed in it), but that aspect is still fluid in my thoughts atm. What I do what to emphasise is the human aspect.  

I have to consider lighting and impact, and the strength of the image that needs to develop. If I don’t actually use a bin there are plenty of ways of expressing the massage of individuals being discarded/displaced/. I wanted to highlight human frailty within the machine that is capitalism, the fact that we are all small cogs in the machine that is society, and that we can be discarded in an impersonal manor that can affect us individually in a much more personal way. There is something poignant about a career ending, since the subject has obviously nurtured their career, lived it, embraced it and its untimely end is not of their making.

I’ve had more ideas after discussing the image with a good friend, and I think people need to be seen to be the key subject matter of the image, with the narrative showing their situation. 

Their journey, an enforced one taking them via the process put in place to an undetermined final destination, a story of transition, of being selected and having their position terminated. I can see photographs with faces crossed out, indicating selection and the final indignity of being selected. How I structure and construct the rest of the image has yet to be finalised.  My influences will develop as I get my induction to researching and the library and I’m exposed to more artists work.

Free Day

Saturday 24th September 2011


More work on the darkroom; See pictures.

Spent a short while starting to write up notes also. I'll concentrate on that tomorrow, along with formulating more ideas for the object project. Also made up a project book to go along with the idiots guide I'd printed off.

Day 8

Friday 23rd September 2011

09:30 Collected ID card

10am 'Studio Practice' (Studio 2)

Spent a very interesting day in the studio with an induction to the Studio environment and equipment, including the medium format Bronika, Mamiya Rz67, Sekonic L-308 Lightmeter and continuous Tungsten Arri lighting, C stands, backgrounds and Poly boards. Film used was ISO 100 Delta, and we'll develop those  on Thurs 29th in the B&W 120 processing induction.
I'll write up my notes over the weekend, and I also plan to work more on the construction of the darkroom.

Free Day

Thursday 22nd September 2011

More time spent on creating the darkroom, buying paint, and starting to restore a storage unit.

The structure is now watertight (which it hadn't been before), the lining is going up and after another trip to B&Q I have more supplies.

Day 7

Wednesday 21st September 2011

10:00 'The Environment Unit brief & introductory thoughts' Steffi Klenz

I'll need to sit and read through all of this and digest it in more detail, but I like the subject matter. I wasn't to concerned about the regimented approach to the proposed Wednesday 'Environment day' activities. I've worked within a very structured and regimented environment for many years.

14:00 Seminar 'Approaches to making work'

Interesting to note the percentage of mature students presenting work over the two sessions I've had showing third year work. I found that very encouraging indeed. I warmed to the B&W architectural images, something about the stark brutal nature that drew me to them. I tend to be drawn towards the darker harsher fringe subjects, and history fascinates me. Although it has to be said that I am also a collector of images (on a small scale), although  they are dark and linked to a very narrow specific period in history


I've already had an initial idea about the 'Object' project, and Ian Turner seemed to like the subject as it affected us both, so I suspect we might cover the same subject in our own unique ways, early days yet so only time will tell on that. I expressed an interest in depicting 'Redundacy/Joblessness' and the effects it has, using an overflowing waste basket and training records/cv's/pay slips/job applications/signing on books, cast into the receptacle. Would they be simply discarded, or would they be re-cycled?
They would face a journey either way, a transition, and in many ways there fate has been passed over to others. It's a narrative about the human condition, fate, birth (or re-birth), a commentary of broken Britain. Raising questions such as: Why are they discarded and no longer needed for future use? What is the human story behind the objects story? How would the viewer relate to this situation, should they face it themselves?

Free day

20th September 2011 (Tuesday)

Based on concerns of lack of technical ability I've spent the day printing off the .pdf documents created by the resource team (and located on 'myuca') and filed those away in a folder. I'll add any of my notes as I make them, or any other useful hints and tips as I come across them. I've also watched John Sullivan on 'youtube' demonstrating the Bronica 6x4.5 camera.

More work has been carried out on constructing the dark room/study room (an ongoing project started several weeks ago), I'll attach some pictures to show the progress. I'd very much like it to become a place where everything I need is to hand, including the books and equipment I'll need.

Day 6

September 19th 2011 (Monday)

Arrived early to speak with Jackie Andrew re 'myuca', and again checked with the library to see if my pass was available "Should be here Thurs-Fri" was the response.
Not sure I'll feel part of the uni until I have my pass, in fact I'll probably feel like an outsider for months to come!

10:00 Briefing: The Body and Object
Lots to think about here, I'll probably need a day or two to mull this over. The one overriding feeling I have at the moment relates to the steepness of the learning curve I face. Being a mature student with no formal training I'll be taking every opportunity to pick up anything I can to assist me in completing the goals.
It's true to say I was considered an expert in my previous job, and to be the new boy and to lack expertise is something I'm not used to.

11:30 Lecture: Genres and Contexts of still Life Investigations into the eras and aesthetics
Took plenty of notes here

14:00 Lecture: Symbolism
Lots of artists names noted for further investigation and research

Ian Turner has asked if I'll team up with him as a member of 'Study group I' for the 'Body and Object' project. It was nice to be asked,  especially as I'm the oldest in the group (Course?) and like I said, I've no formal training or previous experience with any of the equipment.

 Saw this lovely WWII Austin Fire Appliance (complete with Coventry Climax pump) on the way to meet a friend for dinner after leaving UCA. It sat with it's engine running totally unattended just a shame I couldn't capture the sound and the smell of this lovely machine.

Day 5

 September 16th 2011 (Friday)

Last day of the induction week.

Upon returning home and signing into 'myuca' it now informs me that I am no longer enrolled!
I have no course, no units, and 'myrecords' simply states "You are not currently enrolled in any courses". 
Yesterday I showed as enrolled and finally was able to view all the relevant information.  Something to discuss with the office on Monday!

More of the books I have ordered have arrived.

Day 4

September 15th 2011 (Thursday)

It would appear that the units are now available to view on 'myuca', as are the diary and the blogs I wanted to see. Spent a long time looking at everyones images, very interesting.

Purchased some supplies for the course this evening, as it's my intention to build and stock a darkroom at home. Not been in a darkroom for maybe 15 years and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then!

Day 3

 September 14th 2011 (Wednesday)

Another good day, with lots to take in and consider.

The only negative seems to be with 'myuca', which i need to familiarise myself with more before I can be sure it's not me simply doing something wrong, rather than a proper issue.

The timetable has been issued.

After the morning session I was able to show Ian Turner some of Rochester, and had my first decent chat with Dana from my study group too. I spoke briefly with a couple of girls from the course, I'm attempting to chat to everyone I can where posssible.

I checked with Jackie Andrew to ensure she had my Summer Project blog link whilst showing Dana where the Office was (thus killing two birds with one stone), Jackie had the link.

Had my picture taken in studio three which was not the first time I'd been photographed in that location. Having modelled in that studio last year for a UCA project called 'Satisfaction'


Some mention of a trip to the IWM was made and I love going there, so I hope that occurs!

Still no uni ID card yet, that should be available on monday hopefully.

Day 2

 September 13th 2011 (Tuesday)

Rode the Multistrada in today and got in very early with the intention of doing some reading, only to bump into Ian Turner from my study group, we sat and chatted, small talk mostly.

The enrolment process was rather dull and it seems that the education system is  rather different from business. Possibly an odd contradiction of a statement as maybe the 'Education business' would describe it better? Until I'm more settled, until I find my feet I'll continue to feel awkward and  I found the long gaps of inactivity frustrating.

Also I've suffered today with my back which takes the fun out of everything.

I've spoken to a fair number of people and I hope to converse with more as the days go on, I'm rather voyeuristic when it comes to people. I watch initially rather than engage, but with everyone in the same boat, all new and many having no friends at UCA, I've made more effort than usual to converse with everyone I can.

I must say that on top of the bad back I've been ill all evening with a bad stomach.
Jim Crowhursts  face popped into my head during the evening whilst I was feeling sorry for myself, I worked with Jim and he passed away a few days ago at 56. His funeral is on the 26th.
I think the situation of a new chapter starting in my life, just as his ended stuck in my mind as being rather poignant.

Day 1

September 12th 2011 (Monday)

Really interesting and different day for me today, as I start to 'tune into' university life.

Also completed a couple of tasks after returning home, writing up the staff questions and answers from 'study group I', and e-mailing those to Jackie Andrew along with the picture taken by Chris Turner.
I used my hotmail account initially and logged into the new uni e-mail system (when it eventually allowed me, having been offline earlier in the evening) and duplicated the mail using that also. I have a suspicion my previous mail containing my summer project link went into a spam filter, so I re-sent that with the Group I Q&A's.

The day started off with the whole A2 shut off, stuck sat in a massive traffic jam hoping it wouldn't make me late on day one (which it didn't), but other than that the day went well. I suspect I'll start to commute using the motorbike as many days as is possible to avoid the traffic. I spoke with the front desk/reception/security team and have been allowed to park my Ducati where the staff park their vehicles. Result!

Summer Project - No Winners

Read brief for initial project and set up and photographed a number of images today. I used a soft toy that I've owned since birth to represent myself, with the brief being basically a self portrait using items and belongings that represent myself. It's the same age as me, and shows it's age with wear and tear visible. I've used further toys (toy soldiers) that belong to my son to represent the battle of life and they all have further meaning also. They relate to hobbies of mine, some of my interests, they are a reminder of childhood, they represent the son I have and his impact on my life. They are positioned attacking and overwhelming the bear, symbolic of my recent struggles, my vulnerability, and battles and conflicts. Even the background has meaning, red for anger and conflict/blood, but also representing my abode. Some cotton wool was added to represent the stuffing from the bear, symbolically torn out by a savage attack, representing pain and loss.

My image - No Winners:

MW

Introduction. BA Honours Photography (Contemporary Practice). UCA Rochester

Born in Dartford in Kent I moved several times living in Wilmington, Cliff Woods, Hextable, and finally Darenth (just outside Dartford).  

Many of my interests stem from my childhood, where I developed a passion for history, an interest in conflict and war. As I grew older my passions evolved and encompassed the technology, equipment, politics, and personalities of recent military history (mostly the 1940’s).

Whilst at school I had a weekend job working at a paintball site as a marshall.

In my late teens and early twenties passions for music took me to many gigs and also lead to me having green hair for almost two years! It has also been bright pink, blue, etc. Although that may not be too sensational it was considered to be by my peers and employers as I was working within a very regulated Industry at the time. I guess I was always alternative in one way or another. I left a conventional secondary school and found myself working in a large pharmaceutical company, where I stayed for 20 years (until redundancy). I worked within Logistics covering almost every role within that sphere; I also became a shop steward for the TGWU, a First Aider, Fire Marshall, and Trainer. Eventually being posted off site to three major international IT related projects.

I’ve been a lifelong biker and petrol head, and only recently got a car licence having been on two wheels most of my life. I own a number of old vehicles dating from the 40’s mostly with two dated from the 60’s-70’s.

I’d love to eventually find a career that relates to my passions in some way and I’ve already had an article published online and a couple of pictures used by websites and a book.

Finally I have to mention my son Alexander, whose life I play an active part in, and for whom I am doing this course.

I start BA Honours Photography (Contemporary Practice) at UCA Rochester on 12^th September 2011