Tweet
I did the whole mature student thing a few years back and I really don't want to get into anything too heavy again, but I quite fancy doing a course at the local college. I used to love photography before digital took over, but now it seems so.........soulless. Anyway, I thought I might have a go at a Painting and Drawing for Beginners class. Not sure it's a great idea, bearing in mind I have absolutely no natural talent whatsoever, but I've got this idea of being able to keep a sort of Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady type thing, only on the lottie. Thing is, I have to enroll today. Hmmm
-
Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.
-
go for it, you're never too old to learn something new
sounds like fun.
-
Go for it.
I've been on to the Open University this morning. Cut off is today so I have to decide quick.
You may be eligible for and Individual Learnig Account to cover your fees which would be a boost for you. Go on, go on, go on, go on......Comment
-
Go for it, I would as well if I wasn't such a chicken!
Into every life a little rain must fall.Comment
-
That sounds like a lovely course. I'd join you if you were nearer. Go for it.Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Michael PollanComment
-
Right, I've done it. It's only a 10 week course so how bad can it be? I've been given a list of recommended materials to buy too, so I'm not going to show up with the wrong stuff or - even worse - go way over the top and turn up looking all pretentious or something. I think I'm looking forwards to it now.Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.Comment
-
I am like you, thinking of doing painting (water colours) can't paint but would so love to be able to.
Go for it! even if you find it's not for you, at least you will have tried, rather than thinking well maybe!
I am going to have a go....what have I to loose!Comment
-
Photography is not soul-less!! We still use old techniques and very old cameras...the great bit about digital is using old and new combined. So, old camera, big negatives, scanned in and cleaned up and voila; wonderful images. Or, digital images, printed onto film, and used as contact prints - layered up - look wonderful.
My way of thinking about photography is that it is just a tool, it's what's inside your head that makes the magic happen.
Comment
-
go for it, i start uni in just over a week and will be a mature student LOL!!!! hoping i am now old enough to be the other students mother LOL!!
Keep up informed xComment
-
Don't worry about the photography, I agree with your comment about digital photography. I take mostly 35mm slides and intend continuing with my cameras as long as they still make the film
I know a professional photographer who uses digital as a kind of sketchbook to try out ideas, composition, and so on, then uses his film camera for the finished articleComment
-
yes you should - and i hope you have!
it doesn't really matter what you do, just so long as you do something and enjoy it
i did a degree with the OU from 1996-1999 - then my circumstances changed and the degree was almost worthless (became single parent, lost my job, unable to get new full time job), but what i learnt through the degree helped me build my own business which is doing well
last year i started learning french at adult education classes - been a good laugh - first time i've really done anything for me since becoming a single parent
and now kids are older, less reliant on me, so i'm looking at going into teaching - i have a degree, so i'm halfway there - i've got a couple of interviews coming up soon for cover supervisor / teaching assistant jobs, and hopefully get on the graduate teacher program next yearComment
-
Thanks everyone.
Geoff, I used to take 35mm trannies too, but I'm finding the film almost impossible to source now. I still get a tear in my eye when I look at the things I did with Velvia......beautiful stuff. I wish all professional photographers used real film. The photos from my wedding 30 years ago (done on medium format, I recall being very jealous of the photographer's new 'Blad) are still clear, detailed and the colours true. My daughter's wedding photos of last year are a travesty. The church ones have a deep orange cast, which apparently couldn't be sorted out in photoshop, but a simple tungsten balanced film would have done it, the outside ones have no detail and the colours are 'off' and none were taken at the reception as the 'photographer' said the conditions were too dark and that flash bleached everything out, so went home. OH nipped home for my camera after the meal (I'd been banned from taking it, my daughter thinking that the bride's mother should be in front of the camera, not behind it) and managed to at least snap off a few of the cake-cutting. If you know a reliable source for Velvia, or any transparency film come to that, you'll have a friend for life.
FG, I did the PGCE straight after my degree, looking back I wish I'd waited a year or two as I think I'd have enjoyed it more after a break, so you're probably doing it right. Hope it goes well for you.Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.Comment
-
Having been the BIG promise for my parents and not able to take up my uni place due to pregnancy in the '60's, I eventually took a degree in my forties.
I currently work for the WI at their college in Oxfordshire. It is designated as an Adult Education establishment and is open to everybody, male, female, non-member. They have some really great courses (and a lot of really obscure ones, "Elizabethan Madrigals"!!). Some do the same as 10 week ones at a normal college but intensively and you get to stay in a "Stately Home".
Most of the students are oap's, but that is mainly because the younger members are still bringing up children/have full-time jobs.
What amazes me is the continuing desire to learn no matter what age you are!"I prefer rogues to imbeciles as they sometimes take a rest" (Alexander Dumas)
"It is neccessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live" (also Alexandre Dumas)
OxfordshireComment
-
they will recommend more expensive items than you need, and probably items that can be bought in the college shopOriginally posted by bluemoon View Post
I did an art degree, and got most of my paint supplies from The Works (good for acrylic paints etc).
You only need fine oil paints, watercolours if you get serious, or seriously goodAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
-
I agree with the wedding photo issue; my BIL's wedding 'photographer' was awful; I took 200 shots [just followed my niece around mostly] and we got some fab shots of the day. My SIL and her mum fell out over it because the 'photographer' was so bad, and his images so cheesy and posed and lifeless and he charged a fortune. Mine were used in the end...Originally posted by bluemoon View Post
I mainly use my holga now; only use the DSLR when going for trickery or stuff that is deliberately over or under exposed and to be photoshopped. I've even got a pinhole lens for it, which gives great images [even if the OH gets bored waiting for my 30 second exposures].
You can get Velvia in the US; but it's a bit expensive. Try googling it, or next time I'm over there I can PM you if I remember and bring some back. I'm quite lucky as there is a guy in Nottingham who processes and contact prints all my medium format colour stuff [I do my own B&W], so I don't have to send it away. If I get there early enough it will be ready in the afternoon.
My next project [doing A levels in photography] is to use fibre paper, as i found out the college have loads of fibre paper developer - so I will be doing that for the next few months. Can't wait. LOVE printing on fibre paper.
Comment
Comment