Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Monday morning I woke apprehensive. Tuesday morning I woke terrified. Wednesday morning... hope was on the rise. The afternoon sessions from the day before had finally explained to me how to create the image I wanted. The mystery of aperture, shutter speeds, and ISO had been unveiled, and though I launched the day's photo shoot with no scrap of experience using these concepts, for once I "had a clue." Still, feelings of frustration and bewilderment haunted me throughout our shooting time, but it was frustration with the details of shooting in manual mode and wondering if I had it right, rather than the frustration of shooting in automatic mode and wondering what the camera was going to come up with.
Having covered the foundational elements of camera control the day previous, this afternoon we got to the fun stuff: how to create an amazing "people picture." The tricks of studio lighting and equipment were finally unveiled, along with several dozen principles and ideas toward lighting and posing that captures a person's personality.
This is what I came for ñ why homesickness, exhaustion, and the rather painful brain crunching of the past 48 hours holds value and purpose. I always feel as though life is slipping away from me, and photography is one of the only methods I have to hold onto some of it. Personally, understanding the technical side of "holding onto" those memories is pure work and no fun, but... by the grace of God it's slowly beginning to make sense.
—Prizewinning Photography Student Brandy Zeek
I rolled over in my bed and reached groggily for my watch. Pulling the curtain back, I let the light illuminate the time. It was Wednesday, day number three at the Institute of Photographic Studies.
Classes began at 7:30 am with a straight talk by video on leading by example. Breakfast was at 8:00; the previous day's contest winners were announced at 8:45.
From there, we took off to yet again test our prowess with newly found camera skills. Our minds swirling with a load of new information, we were soon fussily clicking away; a change from the first day of peaceful shutter-snapping. Truly ignorance is bliss! After fulfilling our quota of pictures for the day, we piled hot, sweaty and perhaps a bit peeved, into the van.
Classes resumed after lunch, with Rowan expounding to us the wonders of the flash. Katie followed this with an in-depth overview of portraiture, and the final lecture of the day, delivered by Mandy, was on shooting macro—basically taking pictures of things really, really, REALLY, close.
Dinner followed, and with it a hysterical bout of laughter. My sides hurt, and I wasn't sure if one of the girls at my table was going to take a breath again! After the hysteria subsided, the final part of the evening was consumed with reviewing the pictures we had taken earlier that day.
Finally, we enjoyed a slide presentation of todayís contest images, led in a humorously witty manner by Peter! He then closed the evening in prayer, thanking God for the day, and for the ability to learn and take pictures!
And now... a much coveted sleep awaits me between the sheets... of... my... bed... zzzzz...
—Prizewinning Photography Student Jared Mosher