Inspired

Inspiration surrounds me, holds me, captivates me, frustrates me, wakes me, loses me, and shakes me. Being taught "to see" is exciting. Yet, seeing and then translating to film is a another story. 

The building blocks "of seeing", that we are being taught, are extremely crucial to success of my education here at Hallmark. And in the midst of that I am experiencing all these feelings/emotions. Wading through them is ................! (I'll let you fill in the blank because whatever you put there would probably describe it.)

I am waking in the night with ideas for photo's. I am dreaming at night of pictures and me photographing them. I am being surrounded by creative people who are pushing and pulling us in a healthy tension. It is forcing me to think and forcing me to create. None of these things have ever happened to me before. And I am loving it.

This week our assignments included photographing colour, lines and outdoor portraits. We also received our digital backs for our Mamiya 645. To the right is one first images I took with it. 

Yesterday, A photographer  (Michael Yamashita)from National Geographic was here. He has had 3-4 stories published in the Magazine in resent years and is being commissioned by them to do more. He worked on a story about Marco Polo for 2 years. To hear about and see his work was amazing.

So, all in all it has been a great week.

Until next week. Peter

getting in a routine

Routine is starting to set in (and depending on how you are this is good or bad). For me it is good and bad. I don't want to get life in my school to become routine so I forget why I am here. But I do
like some routine because it will keep me sane. Our schedule is far from routine. But my life is starting to fit into that routine (if that makes sense). Enough babel let me tell you what I did this week.
Monday I had 7 classes and got 5 assignments. Four photo shoots and a speech. I was really overwhelmed to say the least. Once Tuesday rolled around it started to make a little more sense why we got them all in one day. Many of our assignments will be done in class where we are given a lot of instruction and help if we want it or need it. And they all build on one another. So, the things we learned in the first assignment will have to be taken in account for second. And so on and so on. Nothing is random although it feels that way sometime. On Tuesday we went to Clark Art Institute in Williamstown Ma (An absolutely stunning drive). There we photographed art and architecture taking into account composition and lighting. We spent all day there and by the end of the day I was done. A very rewarding and stretching day.
Wednesday we had an assignment to shoot regarding Depth of Field. (if you are really interested in what this means e-mail me and I will explain It) I was able to tag along with three other classmates. One of them new of a real sweet spot very close to school. In many of our classes we are required to have people as our subjects so we use each other in our assignments. It kinda forces us to get know one another. I am developing (no pun intended) some real cool relationships.
On the first day of class we were given a "friendly" competition assignment. The topic was "childhood fears". It was not mandatory and no grades are given. The picture I entered is to the right. I will let you guess who it is!
Well, until next week. Here's to studying hard and having your work in on time.
Peter

a new view

I woke early Thursday morning excited and a little nervous. My first day
to use my new camera for an assignment we had just gotten in class. Its
like taking out the brand new car for the first time.
(although the"smell" isn't quite there ) We were going out to a nearby
historic town to try it out.  I didn't have to be there till 9. 
So I had time to take the kids to school. We left a few minuets
before 8. 
(they start at 8, as do I so I don't get to take them to school often) I started the van and there was a no so good noise. I decided
to carefully ignore it. 
The kids got to school fine. But my attempt to get home was not as 
successful. A very loud noise and loss of power steering later, really made me wish my careful ignoring had been more thought through. 
My thinking was this.... "I can not be late to my first day of shooting" 
What am I going to do? 
We don't really know anybody yet that can just drop everything and help us out. A taxi drive, $8.50 and 10 minuets had me back home and on my
way to class. 
Thank the Lord we are in a more rural area. The van was fixed by a real 
nice mechanic before I got back.  But set us back $300. 
One thing that has been drummed into us this past week and a half is to...
 "not be late!".  
No matter what!  
Aside from that, It has been a real good week and I am even more excited
about doing this school. 
We already have 5 assignments, from writing a press release to capturing
 "side light", "front light", and "back light". 
 I will keep you posted on some of my results and where you will be able
 view them.

Other family news includes, Noah and his new set of eyes. He doesn't have 
a site problem, (his eyes are 20/20) but a vision problem. We were able to 
get him to a vision therapist and she said that he uses his whole physical body 
to visualize. 
So his glasses are calming in nature not corrective. He has to go back and 
have vision therapy. 
He is looking very studious which really fits his season of life.

Our week in a nutshell. 
Check in soon
peter 

the begining

So, here I am. My first week at hallmark complete.  
On September 5 , 2007 my journey  began. 
I walked into the building and had to pinch myself.  
It was difficult for me to hold back my emotion.
This really is happening!!! I had to pinch myself.
I remember the my very first photo and when I told myself that photography is what I wanted to do.  I guess it is never to late to get the ball rolling.
My class is composed of 230 people from 41 states and 9 countries. 
Women outnumber the men 2 to 1. We range in age from 16 to 60. 
This is going  to be an interesting time with a lot of information being tossed my way.
This will be my last real free week-end till graduation, on June 20. Officially we start on Monday. My first class is at 8, Intro. digital imaging
So. Why am I blogging this part of my life? Partly selfish. ( so I don't have e-mail all of you that are interested, Because I will not have time) and it will be a good way for me to track my own progress. I am going to try to do this once a week and I will try to post a picture of the week. So, enjoy the journey with me and I look forward to your coments.
Peter E