Blog – Studying photography
I like to learn about photography, whether it’s by reading books, going to exhibitions, viewing online gallleries or following a formal study.
The Happy Immigrant
Classroom 10 was about symbolism and semiotics. I don't think I have ever really understood semiotics; it has always appeared to me to be a complex theory to cover a rather simple idea that we all instinctively understand, and I'm afraid that my view hasn't really...
Book review: Hockney on Art
A collection of conversations between David Hockney and Paul Joyce spanning nearly 20 years from 1982 to 1999. As well as many insightful discussions about art in general, there are large parts of the book dedicated to Hockney’s famous photo montages that he calls “joiners”.
The Ongoing Moment
Geoff Dyer’s The Ongoing Moment is a fascinating, interesting and fun overview of important photographers and themes in American photography, focusing mainly on their pre-colour photography. A good read that will form the basis for further exploration of many of the individuals discussed.
Joey L. and Studio Anywhere
While being away with the caravan I thoroughly enjoyed two very different photography books: Photographing Shadow and Light by Joey L. and Studio Anywhere by Nick Fancher
Assignment 3 Feedback
Feedback from my tutor for my TAOP Assignment 3.
Judging colour temperature 1
In this exercise I’m looking at how the colour temperature of sunlight changes between mid-day and sunset.
Exploring Color Photography
There is nothing wrong with Exploring Color Photography, and there is a lot of things right about it. It just feels like Robert Hirsch has taken a general photography manual and added the word color [sic] to every other heading, just like a house-owner looking to make a quick sale will get the decorator in to give all the walls a quick lick of magnolia. On the plus side, the book is lavishly illustrated with a large selection of beautiful (color) photographs.
TAOP Assignment 3: Colour
This assignment is all about colour. Harmonious, contrasting, complementary, accents, design, filtering, adding and subtracting, etc. I sometimes describe myself as a bit of a colour-holic, and here present 16 colourful pictures with commentaries on composition, balance and movement.
Colours into tones in black & white
In this exercise, I look at black and white conversions of a colour photograph, and how to change the tones in the picture.
Goethe’s colour relationships
From Goethe via Union Jack to autumn colours at the local crematorium. It’s about contrasts and harmonies; a lot about colours but no mentioning of Faust.
Newton’s Primary and secondary colours
I was asked to photograph scenes representing the three primary and the three secondary colours. What better place to look for colours than at the green grocer?
I Only Want You to Love Me
Thoughts about the Miles Aldridge exhibition I Only Want You To Love me at Somerset House in London. In a single word: Wow! i love it!
Back at it again
After a 7 months hiatus, I’m finally back at the study again. The first exercise is a gentle start with 20 pictures of dry paint 😉
Photography from The Mountains to The Sea
The main lesson I took away from the wonderful Ansel Adams exhibition was not about individual photographs, but about the old master’s mastery of the print. Truly amazing!
Man Ray Portraits
Thoughts from my visit to The National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition of 150 original Man Ray portraits.
Assignment 2 Feedback
Feedback from my tutor for my TAOP Assignment 2.
TAOP Assignment 2: Elements of Design
10 pictures of foodstuff arranged to match a pre-defined set of compositional design elements. It was a fun exercise that I learnt a lot from.
A question of colour
Thoughts and notes about the exhibition Cartier-Bresson: A Question of Colour.
Rhythms and patterns
In my learning log for TAOP exercise 2-9 I look at repetition, patterns and rhythms in pictures, and manages to get myself somewhat confused.
Real and implied triangles
In this exercise, I investigated “real” and “implied” triangles as a compositional device.
