Tuesday 5 June 2012


My aims and objectives for Work Based Learning were all along the same lines. It was about further developing my experience of working with people and to spend enough time learning about some prestigious competitions, to then be able to choose some to enter, as this is important to me. By doing this working with people/clients, I’ve had more experience not only in the organising and actual involvement of picture making, but also in the direction of working with and to a client’s desires, thus also learning more about how the professional world of photography as a job works; time management, working to briefs, invoice writing and working out estimated material costs as well as profits, working together again with the client to make sure they’re happy with the outcome, whether that be meeting up with them so they can choose their favourite or meeting up to re-shoot if the client is not happy with the outcome the first time (I haven’t yet had to re-shoot).
It’s been a fantastic eye-opener working with clients, such as the Skin Deep hair salon for example, in the way that I’ve experienced all of the above and it’s given me a great understanding into the professional world of photography.

Sunday 13 May 2012

Career direction for the next several years.


So it's fairly strange but I've taken quite a change in direction lately.
Of course I'll be finishing the degree and then enduring the BA Honours year due to such big plans for that year, but after this, I plan to be doing something quite different for several years after.
My father's been a man of the military all of his life and I've been looking into the Royal Marines.
Although I studied and then completed key skills in Mathematics and English at the highest level during the National Diploma, the problem here is that they were two subjects I didn't get a C or above in for GCSE.  If I were to go into the Royal Marines to train as a general Commando, I wouldn't have to worry about grades of any sort, however after studying for four years and achieving somewhat very high levels of Academic as well as artistic results, I feel that I should and could do better than something so easy to get into. So I will be re-sitting Mathematics and English at GCSE level to better my grades and to go in to train as an Officer. This requires five A-C's which after sitting the two above subjects, I will have.  This, as well as the physical training which I am capable of, requires 180 Ucas points (which due to my 27/27 distinctions in the BTEC ND, is nothing on the near 600 I have) - Also with the degree, this puts me straight onto a near 30K salary, but more importantly has me doing something I've longed to do at some point my whole life and will not feel content until I have done. The training is two years.

I have received various packages on thorough information concerning the job rolls, life style, training, etc.
I have been to my first meeting and am aware of what it takes to get through the fairly nerve-raking and somewhat lengthy recruitment process.

Colour darkroom printing

Something which has been of massive benefit to me lately is that of the colour darkroom printing tutorial I have had. This was the biggest help because of the way that, after shooting all finals for my BA year, I will be wanting to print everything myself with my own hands, in the colour darkroom (I am looking into paying for the use of Plymouth Uni's darkroom). Another good reason is for the reproduction of the prints for limited edition print sales and exhibitions I'd like to put together.



Some of my first prints;  taken on a Yashica T4 point and shoot 35mm camera and printed in the darkroom.

Material research

I've done a small amount of research into materials for future projects, such as that of the BA.
I'm looking to photograph my whole BA Honours on either 5x4" or 10x8" Kodak Portra negative film.
'Silver Print' is a good supplier of photographic film.

They stock 5x4" of Portra 160 iso however no 10x8".
They stock both 5x4" and 10x8" of Portra 400 iso (which will in all honesty be my preferred choice due to 400iso giving me more flexibility in lighting conditions - thus also allowing me to shoot at a faster shutter speed).
Everything above stated aside, this is all only relevant if by some miracle, I am not able to get this for trade price anyway, through working for Kodak (which has proved no problem in the past for 120mm and 5x4" film.



I used to go through 7dayshop.com for my film however they have now stopped stocking such a range and they especially do not stock 5x4" or 10x8".

Future commissioned work


I’ve done three weddings so far and have one at the end of this month (June). I have been paid for them all.
They all follow a somewhat consistent process. I start the day with photographing either the bride or groom or both, as they’re getting ready in the morning.
I am at the location (be it the church or registry office) for when the bride turns up, so I am able to photograph her getting out of the transport and walking down the isle.
After the vows are said and done, I photograph the kiss and the signing, then it’s off outside and/or to another location and/or to where the celebratory ceremony/reception is held. In the above locations, I will be doing all of the group shots, bride/groom photographs in a free order, but covering the necessary arrangements of guests. I will stay for a short while at the reception before making my way off home to edit.
I have, so far, offered a package of having me for the above listed day/routine with a cd of low-resolution images, a full set of 6x4” prints and a selection of eight 10x8” enlargements. Starting off, I was doing this for very cheap; I started at £200.00, then my second was £250.00 as it was for the family of a friend, leading onto my last wedding which I charged £600.00.   All clients have been very happy, as have I with the way that I’ve learnt a lot during and before the day. I’ve had to look into the routine in which all the guest and family shots are to be taken, and how they actually differ from church to registry office weddings. I’ve learnt how to work well under pressure, how to feel more confident and take control (which is very important in working with people and/or photographing a wedding).
With the wedding 30th of June, my old college friend sealed the deal with this one.
He asked me to work together with him on weddings as it would make him feel a lot more comfortable, so he’s been finding extra ones for me to work with him on. The way this will work will be by splitting the £550.00 down the middle, both photographing all of the usual shots that are needed at a wedding, then going off and getting amongst the rest separately, hopefully making for a larger coverage and documentation of the event.

The weddings that I have had in the past;
The first one was a friend’s sister, the second was a friend’s mother and the third was through receiving a college email where somebody had mailed the college requiring a wedding photographer.

I keep in contact with an old college friend, Benjamin Lawley, who I endured the National Diploma course with. He now focuses on doing nothing but wedding work and commissioned work, rather than personal projects.  He's asked me to work with him this year on being second photographer so to speak on his jobs. He feels more comfortable with having me there, so of course I approved of the idea.
We've got two next month (June) and one in July so far.

Information and name, etc, mentioned on his site;
http://benlawleyphotography.co.uk/

Kodak



It's my fourth year of working for Kodak. Of course I've used this as part of my work experience before but it is still relevant for more of this year's experience.
To re-cap, I work 64 hours a month (16 hours a week) and I cover:

- Photolab operating/management/printing, colour management
- Photo editing/restoration
- Reproduction of prints (scan, edit, colour management, printing)
- Passport photograph taking, sizing, printing, cutting
- Mounting/framing of prints
- Film loading for process
- Washing rollers, setting up/setting down of negative processing machine
- Paper/ribbon, ink/toner changing on printers
- Working with trade companies for the ordering of photographic products
- Learning thoroughly about a range of photographic products to be able to teach others and/or sell

Cargo Collective - www.cargocollective.com/oliveraj





Above is some screen shots of my Cargo Collective page.
Cargo Collective is a collective of artists which are either invited to use space with CC or have applied to be a member and have been accepted.
I applied and was accepted thus enjoy the privilege of using Cargo Collective's minimalistic design free space. I feel it's a very professional way of presenting one's work and personally can not fault the layout and design for the sort of work I make. This is the link I give to people I'd like to impress and to people of importance, regarding commission work or interest of fellow artists.
And better still, for a small sum, one can pay to have their own domain name with the layout of Cargo Collectives. So when I pay for my domain, people will be able to find my Cargo page under the link of something like;  www.oliver-aj.co.uk  (A lot more personal and professional)

Despite this being a fantastic way of presenting work, my friend who works with web design is looking into building my site from scratch (I'll be paying him an hourly rate for coding/designing).
He's already been working on the design/templates but unfortunately this has not been digitalised yet.
We're looking at going for a gallery sort of theme, where people will be able to scroll side ways and my work will be presented like that of the wall of an art gallery. All with minimalistic, neutral, clinical colours and shapes.