Never work with children or animals

Well I haven't really worked with animals apart from taking photos of my own cats, who I now almost have trained to pose. However this weekend was my first experience of photographing little children and babies.

My weak spot in photography is certainly directing people, with children this is even harder as I found out on Sunday, turns out 18 week old ignore you completely, 18 month olds have their own agenda, 3 years are easily distracted, by everything and then you have 6 year olds who over pose.

Despite all this I really enjoyed taking photos of kids this weekend (was done as some fathers day gifts), it hasn't put me off and has im looking forward to the next one.

To see this weekends shoots follow the link. http://louisegarner.webs.com/apps/photos/

Sony World Photography Awards

I took the opportunity of the Sony World Photography Awards being in London to go along and be inspired. I didn't really know what to expect, but I thought the standard would be extremely high.

I had very mixed feelings about the work on display on the night. Not really have much of an idea what the judges are looking for, felt there was a bit of the Turner Prize judging air to things though.

In the Student Focus the two that really stood out were Juliette Martin and Louis Boulet both from France both heavily influenced styles by other photographers. Louis Boulet recreated Robert Doisneau’s “The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville" originally thought to be a snap of a couple kissing and later the woman in the photograph revelled that the image was staged. well Louis Boulet's version was most certainly staged. To bring the image up to date Louis used a same sex couple in the image and instead of just passers by in the background we now have other people taking photos of the posed couple.

Juliette Martin's image reminded me of a photographers work I was shown years ago when I was studying my City and Guilds. I can't remember the photographers name, but I believe he was Japanese.

He put notices through people's doors in one neighbourhood and asked them that if they would like to have their photograph taken they should stand in their living room window at a certain time and he took a series of photographs of these people. Her image reminds me of these peaking photographs.

Probably my favourite category was the Open Competition for Amateur's. This is probably where the competition was strongest and produced some of the most stunning images of the night. The ones that caught my eye were 'Buffalo Race', 'Yee Peng', 'Going to work' and 'In the Countenance of Eternity'.

For the professional competition the images became more surreal. Some particurlury strange entries were a series of photographs featuring office settings and furniture. You couldn't

Things I hate about photography

Just been looking at other photography blogs, really just looking to see what other people write about and what interests them and also looking for people to follow. Thought it would help inspire me and it did.

Just read a great piece on 10 Things I Hate About Photography by Adidap.

Photographers are dangerous drivers - Yes I totally agree with this one, I'm always looking out the window when I should be concentrating on the road looking for things to photograph. It's very easy to be distracted.

I Can't Quit It - It can be rather addictive, but I can take a break. I think it's good for you and your photography to take a break every now and then.

It Is Expensive - It doesn't have to be any more. Sure there are always new gadgets, lenses and cameras to buy. With digital photography you don't have to develop film or print everything, but you can see your images.

It Can Be Depressive - Certainly can.

Colour Management - Yes can be tricky, but don't you get used to what your equipment can do?

It Can Often Be Forbidden - I've never actually been forbidden from taking a photograph, apart from the obvious places that don't allow photography. I've had a few funny looks from people, but generally when you explain what you're doing they're cool, or they walk away.

Some time since I've written

It's been some time since I've written. I became very disillusioned with my tutor and course. Upon receiving feedback for my first assignment I was completely confused. It was like I'd been given a completely different assignment brief to the one that he was working from. After thinking about packing the whole thing in as I was obviously not going to get anywhere I was persuaded by my husband to speak to the university and they switched my tutors. I now have a new guy, based in Ireland who seems to be much friendlier and so far makes much more sense. So now getting myself back in gear and going to start working on getting through and enjoying my degree.

Learning Log 11th January (from notebook)

One reaffirming and nice aspect of starting this degree has been looking through and reading the course folder and already having an understanding. My time spent doing the City & Guilds at college and the non qualification courses in lighting and documentary. I'm quite surprised at how much information I have actually retained.

I got myself a copy of 'The Genius of Photography' on DVD and watching bits of it back really astounded me. When it was first on tv a few years ago I had gone back to college for a term and actually had the same tutor that I had when I did my City and Guilds. Karen is passionate about photography and really seems to live her life surrounded by it. Her knowledge of the history and other photographers astounds me.

When watching 'The Genius of Photography' for the first time there were a few photographers that I had heard of. Edward Weston I had been fascinated by his images of peppers and did a project on him for my C&G. The other that stuck in my mind was Nan Goodin. Again while doing my C&G Karen had recommended going to see Nan's exhibition in London. I'd already seen some of her work and so knew what content to expect. I took along my now husband with me and even though I had warned him he was still shocked and still talks about it to this day, almost 10 years on.

What I found strange about the documentary was now was how with a lot of content as the presenter was leading up to the next photographer he was going to talk about. I suddenly realised that I actually have a fairly decent grounding in photography. Something that I didn't realise I had before. I actually did know a little something and I even could hear myself sounding like I knew what I was talking about. Scary!

Learning Log 10th January (from notebook)

I've thought long and hard about keeping a learning log and started off by trying to keep a blog, thinking that this would be the simplest option. I could update it daily or whenever I needed to at home, work or with the help of my iphone on the move as well. I thought this would work best for me.

I like the idea of it, but its not working the way I thought it would. Finding the time to log in and not so easy to get it to work on my iphone after all. So going to give the old pen and paper a go. Now thinking that carrying my notebook round with me will give me more opportunities to make a few notes when I have a couple of minutes.

I've also been very confused and worried about what I should be writing in my learning log. I've read the advice booklet several times, but it's not really gone in. I didn't get it, not entirely sure if I still do.

I've spoken to lots of friends who've done degrees and no one had even heard of a learning log. Was just going to have a go and send it into my tutor and wait for feedback but today I was talking to my boss who completed an MA last year and she did a learning log and explained what she did in about 3 minutes and I think I now get it. Well at least I hope I do!

I've never done distance learning and I never realised how hard it would be to get myself motivated. I knew I would need to make an effort to set some time aside to study and read, but I didn't appreciate how home life would affect that time.

Things started out really well for the first few weeks. I started reading the books I'd been recommended and gathering together images for my first assignment.

A combination of home life and work then took over putting all my photography degree work on the back burner.

I've never had to be so selfish with my time. With work not just needing to work extra hours but also the workload for everyone n our office is so mammoth that from the moment I walk in till the moment I leave it's completely full on and with no lunch break I'm no giving my brain a rest.

I think so far taking on doing a degree has been an extreme learning curve.

None of it's been mind blowing stuff and I'm sure it's everything that I've been told at school, college etc. It's even stuff I've learnt to do before, but as I haven't studied for a few years seriously) I'm having to learn it all over again.

It's as simple as making a study plan and setting time aside for that very purpose.

So I've made start by booking some dates off work as study days when I know no one will be at home and I can concentrate and also blocking out study time in my diary, including shorter reading blocks.

I'm hoping that this will keep me focused and organised as well as keeping my motivation going.

It seems ridiculous that I would then choose to do an OCA degree. It was really my only choice and option to fit along side work and home life.

My boss told me that she found reading back through her learning log to be really useful, especially when coming towards the end of her degree. I'm hoping that writing and re-reading the learning log will be part of my inspiration to keep going and complete.

My major weakness with my photography is my impatience. I want to know everything straight away and always the quick answer. I think I'm probably like this in other areas of my life and I think doing this degree will be good for me because there are a lot of aspects that I just can't rush. I need to work through the stages to achieve the right results.

Wish me luck!

Royal Photographic Society

Yay! Received my membership pack today from the Royal Photographic Society. Very exciting, already seen a corse that I would like to go on.