• Some more opportunities…

    Posted on February 25th, 2010 Richard No comments
    <<Because of your involvement with Fools Experiments at Bournemouth Natural Science Society they have has asked me to email you some information regarding an open day next Saturday 27th Feb @10.30 - 4pm.
    This email is also going out to any of my contacts who I think might be interested in visiting BNSS.
    BNSS are launching the publication of a book they have just produced, The Natural History of Bournemouth, which will be on sale,  but also to let you know BNSS will be open to the public for the day and you and your family and friends will be able to view their fascinating collection.
    Please spread the word that this is a great opportunity to see inside BNSS.>>

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  • Possible exhibition opportunity

    Posted on February 24th, 2010 Richard No comments

    Stop the Bus is a collaborative arts event run by a small arts organisation called NACC, who aim to support economic development of independent artistic businesses. This event will take place on Saturday 24th April 2010 in Bournemouth Town’s Triangle. The event will celebrate independent artists and provide an innovative showcase space as well as a platform for artists to sell their work. There will be a double decker bus which will be used for gallery space as well as a large marquee for stalls. There is also an opportunity for artists involved to hold small workshops for the public to experience their particular art form. We aim to involve the Bournemouth community with this event by giving them the opportunity to experience high quality art along with the chance to try their hand at different art forms. We shall be holding this event in line with Bournemouth’s Bicentenary Celebrations and the additional publicity and profile this entails. Stalls are very reasonably priced and offer a great platform for artists to sell and exhibit their work. Places are limited please contact Natalie at the earliest opportunity on: Natalie.gayle@hotmail.co.uk

    and

    Transformation – Bournemouth Open Art Exhibition
    Bournemouth Library 9 June to 10 July
    Closing datefor entries Friday 23 April 2010
    Calling all artists in the BH postcode. As part of Dorset Art Weeks and
    Bournemouth’s Bicentenary.
    To reflect the changes which the town has undergone throughout the last 200 years
    and anticipate what the next 200 years might bring, entries should encompass the
    theme of Transformation in its broadest sense.
    Transformation is ….
    ? Open to people living in or near Bournemouth with a BH postcode
    including students and staff at all educational institutions.
    ? Open to all ages
    ? Open to anyone regardless of training, skill or art form
    ? Max of 3 entries per person.
    ? Work can be of any shape, size, medium or finish.
    Closing date for entries: 23 April – images on cd or hard copy to be sent to:
    Open Art Competition, Bournemouth Arts Development, Bournemouth Library,
    22 The Triangle, Bournemouth BH2 5RQ together with cheque for £5 per entry.
    To download entry form and further information:

    http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Residents/Arts/Whats_On/default.asp

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  • Possible Photography Job {very small}

    Posted on February 23rd, 2010 Richard No comments

    Hi All

    Have been approached at short notice by Lisa Male who is a Youth Worker with Bournemouth BC – have run a few projects with her recently. Lisa is looking for a photographer to cover a couple of  events this Friday/Saturday – she wondered if any of you might be intrested. Her email text follows:

    <<

    Got an event Friday night (7pm ish)and another Saturday (12pm ish) morning and I really need a photographer to take portraits of children receiving awards from the mayor at AFC Bournemouth. It will be 1 hour Friday and 1 hour Saturday. Do you have any students who might want the experience? I have a very restricted budget……. but could pay a small amount.
    I only need someone to take the photos and then put them on a disc for me – no alterations or printing or anything.
    Any ideas??? 

    >>

    Interested? I guess it could be different people on different days.  Really good experience if you see yourself getting more into this sort of photography [Dave? Gilly?] [and others - you know who you are...].  You would probably benefit from having an external flash, but you might get away with built in one.  i would suggest having some sort of reflectors to bounce more light around too.

    If you are interested,  email Lisa fairly smartly at  Lisa.Male@bournemouth.gov.uk or ring her on landline - 

    Lisa Male
    LAC Participation Worker
    Participation Team

    Telephone: 01202 456391

    any problems, try getting hold of me – i think i have a mobile for her, but won’t give that out for now.

    thanks

    Richard

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  • Coming up… GCSE and AS/A2

    Posted on February 21st, 2010 Richard No comments
    Nicholas Nixon's Brown Sisters - Woodstock, NY 1990

    Nicholas Nixon's Brown Sisters - Woodstock, NY 1990

    Nicholas Nixon has photographed his wife and her three sisters every year since 1975 – is that passion/obsession or rhythms/cycles?

    http://blog.photoshelter.com/2008/08/nicholas-nixon-and-the-brown-sisters.html

    Anyway – this week, please bring in workbooks for course work in whatever [hopefully quite close to finished] state they are in.  We also need to decide which images you finally present as the finished prints for the coursework.  It would be great to bring in all or some of your choices on memory stick so we can help you decide.

    A lot of this will have to be 1:1, so suggest you bring in work to finish – either on photoshop, or research to do, stuff to write up, etc….

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  • Photo Competitions

    Posted on January 29th, 2010 Richard No comments

    Always worth a try…

    This one is promising – part of a stock photo library, and you don’t seem to totally lose copyright if you enter – but do check the details?

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/istock-britain-is/istock-photography-competition

    And an article on Infra-red photography at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/photoblog/2010/01/on_a_different_wavelength_100_years_of_infrared_ph.html

    Bob Dylan 1968 - Elliott Landy/Magnum Photos

    Bob Dylan 1968 - Elliott Landy/Magnum Photos

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  • Important – GCE/GCSE registration

    Posted on January 27th, 2010 Richard 2 comments

    Hi

    Two things – I need you to email me urgently if you have taken a GCE or GCSE in the last 7 years.  If so, you will have a UCI number – which we need – my fault, but needs to be done by end of week – sorry.  The UCI number is 12 numbers followed by a single letter – so something like 123456789123A.  It will be on a results slip, a certificate, etc.

    NB – I do have the numbers for some of those who have been with us before, so this is really for Jan  (Birch), Jeff, Kristi, Janice (Jordan), Bob, Laura, Yvonne, Liz, Jane, Cleo, Heather, Cheryl, Helen, Marilyn and Sam.

    I do need an email if the answer is ‘none’ please. Sorry again for last minute nature of this, but is quite urgent. emails to richard@richardjeffery.com will be best.

    And AS/A2 – remember, for thursday – images from the still life shoot for a quick group critique, and your portfolios, in whatever state they are….

    thanks

    Richard

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  • Long Time No Post

    Posted on January 23rd, 2010 Richard No comments

    Right – apologies for last week and classes cancelled, various…

    for this coming week we need to review your still life results, so please bring in a handful of most successful images to show, and also I really need to see your workbooks/portfolios in whatever state they are in.  A couple of you have already shown me bits – that’s great – but need to give more formal feedback, so you know what else you might need to do to get those extra marks. Fortunately, I’ve had GCSE and AS/A2 doing same thing {because it’s easier than putting lights in and out of the car…}, so this will apply to everyone.  I want you all to end up with a good idea of what your portfolio could look like.  Remember, they don’t all have to look the same, and i would rather you found your own style, which is why there isn’t a paint by numbers version, sorry.

    Some more bits:

    Peter Cooper, a ranting poet friend of mine has a gig in the Winchester on Sunday night – he has  a new website and is looking for photos.  I don’t suppose you’ll get in for free, but if you do go, say you’re a student with me and do some pics – you’ll get a credit at least. probably.  I was going to go, but should probably do my tax instead.

    “Don’t forget Field of Fantasy 8.00 Sunday a the Winchester.  There’s nothing else on a Sunday night in Bournemouth.  This will make you smile, make you sniffle a bit and perhaps even get you thinking.  And the Winchester is a nice place to be.  Come and see how entertaining poetry can be.  (with music by the excellent Matt Wilkinson).  Tickets at the door from 7.00 so you can have a drink beforehand. Peter”

    And no zombie gags.

    There is an excellent [it says here] photo exhibition at Lighthouse in Poole,

    Africa Awakes
    Sat 6 Jan – Sat 27 Feb 2010
    Raw and compelling, Africa Awakes brings together the power and sheer scale of Africa as well as the energy and fire of the ancient and the new. It highlights the challenges and contradictions facing Africa today through the eyes of the people and their customs.

    I missed the preview, but will try to get there one evening.  The bod’s website looks good.  Remember that showing you have been to look at ‘real’ photography – that is, first hand, as the photographer wanted to show it, not just reported in a book or a website, helps gather extra marks.  If you didn’t it would be a bit like saying you are passionate about music but never go to a live gig.

    You are passionate about photography, aren’t you?

    For the more adventurous, some competitions.  Oh yes you can.

    http://www.thegalaawards.com/prizes_and_awards.html

    and http://www.thegalaawards.com/categories.html

    and http://www.thegalaawards.com/entry_fees.html

    and http://www.bwpawards.org/

    My second studio flash has been repaired [ouch] so we can plan another portrait session after half term – that way you might be able to take advantage of it for the exam theme….

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  • Photography’s first footsteps: Points of View at the British Library

    Posted on January 13th, 2010 Richard No comments

    Might be worth a trip… http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/video/2010/jan/12/photography-british-library-points-of-view

    Brian Duffy's photograph of Reggie Kray with his Grandfather, 1964.

    Brian Duffy's photograph of Reggie Kray with his Grandfather, 1964.

    And in case you missed it, http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pwsns/The_Man_Who_Shot_the_60s/ is a powerful review of Brian Duffy’s work – up there with Donovan and Bailey.  As it says – strong language. You have been warned….

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  • Interesting Times…

    Posted on January 7th, 2010 Richard No comments

    Thanks to the the 3 (+1) who turned up for GCSE on Monday – I’m going to assume the rest of you thought better of the weather, rather than just forgetting…?

    I had wanted to set out some plans for the rest of the course – you’re about half way through, and we need to see some evidence of progress. I will do what I can to reschedule, but for now I would like you to prepare some sort of simple still life for next week If you haven’t already, go look at the work of Edward Weston and Josef Sudek, and find something to photograph that will have some definite shape in black and white.  Maximum of 3 items, but 1 good one would be easier (if you can relate to Edge that would be good too); 1 light source, and think about the type of shadows the shape will provide – and how you want to render them – hard or soft?  I would like you to come in knowing what you want the image to look like.  Plan to have an assistant too.

    I will postpone the second portrait session – but would like you to agree a sitter/model from the class to work with – this time with more deliberation.  I will want you to agree a style for the portrait that relates to edge. Think props, makeup, clothing – whatever. We will have a go at that in a couple of weeks.

    Thursday classes – if you are sat there wondering if the AS/A2 courses are running today – well, so am I. I’m assuming all is ok, and just about to set off from Swanage – I’m sure someone will ring if not…

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  • Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyond Limits

    Posted on December 6th, 2009 Richard 1 comment
    One of Dorothea Langes images of Florence Owens Thompson, California, 1936. Photograph: Dorothea Lange/Corbis

    One of Dorothea Lange's images of Florence Owens Thompson, California, 1936. Photograph: Dorothea Lange/Corbis

    Sean O’Hagan applauds a meticulous biography of Dorothea Lange who will forever be defined by her images of the Great Depression… Useful background stuff in this review by Observer of new biography…

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  • Photography quotes you should know

    Posted on December 5th, 2009 Ian No comments

    I subscribe to a rather amusing photography blog called the Digital Photography School. Posted today was a list of famous quotes from photographers which I thought were rather good forming perhaps a musing on what photography is.

    “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” – Peter Lindberg

    “The important thing is not the camera but the eye.” – Alfred Eisenstaedt

    “There are two people in every photograph: the photographer and the viewer” – Ansel Adams

    “To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms that give that event its proper expression.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

    “I always thought good photos were like good jokes. If you have to explain it, it just isn’t that good.” – Anonymous

    “If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” – Robert Cappa

    “A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they’ll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won’t do a thing for you if you don’t have anything in your head or in your heart.” -Arnold Newman

    “Pictures, regardless of how they are created and recreated, are intended to be looked at. This brings to the forefront not the technology of imaging, which of course is important, but rather what we might call the eyenology (seeing).” -Henri Cartier-Bresson

    “The word ‘art’ is very slippery. It really has no importance in relation to one’s work. I work for the pleasure, for the pleasure of the work, and everything else is a matter for the critics.” -Manuel Alvarez Bravo

    “People say photographs don’t lie, mine do.” -David LaChapelle

    “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.” – Ansel Adams

    “You cannot depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus” – Mark Twain

    Ian F

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  • Doing Street Photography

    Posted on December 5th, 2009 Richard No comments

    Ross has forwarded these links about street photography…

    http://vimeo.com/6497905

    http://vimeo.com/6502390

    http://vimeo.com/6504591

    And now the police…  Two good articles on the legal position if street photography, and a copy of an email from ACPP that you night usefully print out and carry with you, in triplicate.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/dec/05/photography-section-44

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-uturn-on-photographers-and-antiterror-laws-1834626.html

    The quote you need to read from the Independent article:

    Chief Constable Andy Trotter, chairman of Acpo’s media advisory group, took the decision to send the warning after growing criticism of the police’s treatment of photographers.

    Writing in today’s Independent, he says: “Everyone… has a right to take photographs and film in public places. Taking photographs… is not normally cause for suspicion and there are no powers prohibiting the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place.”

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  • Various bits and pieces…

    Posted on December 5th, 2009 Richard No comments

    A few reminders – or if you didn’t know, then you need to read this…

    AS/A2 catch-up morning - this in lieu of a day we missed back in October or somewhere.  BAL have set up an additional morning class 10 – 1 on Saturday 12th December – usual place.  I’m going to keep this fairly open, but it would be a good time to get some feedback from me on progress, have access to my library,  do some research, practice some Photoshop.  It would be useful to let me know if you intend to come – I’m sorry that this date won’t suit everyone.

    Absences: BAL have a policy now of ringing up everyone who doesn’t show up, and where i don’t have a reason.  So – if you know you won’t be able to make the class, either email me please or telephone BAL – or let me know the following day if the absence was unexpected.  BAL have contractual targets for course retention rates, so if anyone doesn’t show they start firing up their support procedures – it’s also to see if there is a problem we can help with.

    And for those kit lovers out there, Helen has forwarded a YouTube special -  bizarrely, Downfall was on last night. Great, if harrowing, film…

    Just a reminder – term ends w/c 14 th December 2009, and we start again (yippee!) already w/c 4th January 2010.

    I would like to see some work in progress from you during the last week of term – GCSE, AS and A2 – so plan for a group critique.  Images on memory stick, or available through Flickr will do fine….

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  • Recent Articles and Book Recommendations – might be worth a look…

    Posted on December 2nd, 2009 Richard No comments

    The New Topographics exhibition has been put back together and is on tour – guess what? It’s not coming to UK.  That might tell you something of how seriously we take photography here: the New Topographics arguably saw the birth of conceptual photography, and is a major landmark.  It’s not just another twist on landscape.

    http://carefullyaimeddarts.wordpress.com/category/new-topographics/

    Tour comes to Europe in 2011 – I think Bilbao sounds the most tempting…  There might be a group from AUCB going to one of these – I’ll let you know.

    Stocking filler material – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/6662802/Photography-books-of-the-year.html

    An exhibition in New York, unfortunately, but a good review worth reading  – Robert Frank’s The Americans in the Guardian.

    And finally – another review of the Deutsche Börse prize shortlist which we will probably include in London visit.

    Enjoy…

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  • Term Dates

    Posted on November 29th, 2009 Richard No comments

    Just a reminder – term ends w/c 14 th December 2009, and we start again (yippee!) already w/c 4th January 2010.

    I would like to see some work in progress from you during the last week of term – GCSE, AS and A2 – so plan for a group critique.  Images on memory stick, or available through Flickr will do fine….

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  • Le jardin d’ébène

    Posted on November 28th, 2009 Richard No comments

    Lots of good photography blog sites out there – tripped over this one this morning when i should have been working…  They are a good way of discovering photographers you might otherwise never have heard of through some more structured research.  I found a reference to Francesca Woodman in another photographer’s work – Sara Ramo – which I found while i was on the Guardian site.   Google did the rest.

    Francesca Woodman

    Francesca Woodman

    I wasn’t really up to speed with Jim Fiscus – this blog would make me go off and look him up.

    Jim Fiscus

    Jim Fiscus

    It’s all a bit dark – but that’s the idea…  http://ebonygarden.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/francesca-woodman/

    Bad ideas … a detail from Sara Ramos Invasion of Everything That Was Restrained

    Bad ideas … a detail from Sara Ramo's Invasion of Everything That Was Restrained

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  • Points of View: Capturing the 19th Century in Photographs

    Posted on November 28th, 2009 Richard No comments

    Interesting article from Guardian based on exhibition of Victoria photography at the British Library.

    Rosemary Hill writes:  “The early Victorians were the first generation to see themselves through the camera lens, but the idea of photography, the possibility of making an exact reproduction of visual experience, was one – like flight and the philosophers’ stone – that had haunted the imagination of inventors for centuries. The “camera obscura” or “dark room” that could project images on to a blank surface was known in antiquity, but a long hiatus followed. Then, at the end of the 18th century it was found that paper coated in silver nitrate would retain the image of an object placed on it for a tantalising moment before it faded.”

    Captain Henry Duberly, paymaster of the 8th Hussars, with his wife Frances Isabella during the Crimean war, 1855. Photograph: Roger Fenton/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Captain Henry Duberly, paymaster of the 8th Hussars, with his wife Frances Isabella during the Crimean war, 1855. Photograph: Roger Fenton/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Full article here – http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/nov/28/british-library-victorian-photography-exhibition

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  • Paul Kenny

    Posted on November 27th, 2009 Richard No comments

    One of my favourite British B&W photographers – I found his work several years ago, then lost his name… found an article on him in a magazine this evening.  Large Format, very old kit, great simplicity and dramatic printing.

    Paul Kenny - sea stone no 7

    Paul Kenny - sea stone no 7

    See how long it takes you to articulate a connection between his work and the three themes – edge, chaos, and identity.  Easy, isn’t it.

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  • Edge – Sophie Rickett

    Posted on November 25th, 2009 Richard No comments

    Suddenly remembered this from last year – can’t remember why we were looking – but  Sophie Rickett’s work is all about exploring things at the edge of light and dark.

    http://www.frieze.com/issue/review/sophie_rickett/

    Do keep me in touch with your ideas and preparatory work – I’m happy to give feedback by email in between lessons. Working on using Flickr as an easy way to have images to look at in class and get peer feedback – watch this space.

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  • London trip – possible exhibition for 2010

    Posted on November 24th, 2009 Richard No comments
    Jean Shrimpton © David Bailey for Vogue, courtesy of Bonhams.

    Jean Shrimpton © David Bailey for Vogue, courtesy of Bonhams.

    Have just seen this – http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=871458 – a David Bailey 1960s retrospective.  If that works alongside the Deutsche Borse prize at the Photographers Gallery, we might have a rough time frame.

    Can always fill in with Tate Modern or V&A, or just see what else is on closer to time.

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