Energy levels and outdoor class

It's Monday evening, 25th July. Only 3 more Monday's to go before the end of Summer Intensive. Time is running out almost as fast as energy. That said energy seems to come from somewhere and we all keep going. This past fortnight* we have worked late fairly regularly, typically after 8 hours of regular class. Even so some of us still found time to head out of town to shoot star trails again on Friday night - I got to sleep in the early hours of Saturday and was in class for 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

Stars at dusk

On Saturday afternoon I had a chance to take photos of a guitar maker in his home workshop, then on Saturday evening there was an optional landscape photography class at the National Bison Range. Most of the Bison seemed to have had the day off but at least the scenery was good and the flying wildlife that did show up left me alone once I'd sprayed bug spray on my arms. (I was told about a spray without nasty chemicals and also without an overpowering smell - and it works, no bites!) We were out at the Bison Range practicing with wide angle lenses and hyper-focal distances - and enjoying what must be one of the nicest "classrooms" around.

Back in the real classrooms we continue to learn different aspects of photography. The intricacies of Photoshop are being mastered, albeit slowly. The final project, due in the last week of school, is occupying the minds of students - the deadline for that is approaching rapidly. We have also started to cover portable flash units (these are the small flash guns that can fit onto a camera but which are best used off the camera). Today we had a lecture on photojournalism which was very interesting.

Erica admiring the view at the Bison Range

Class almost over

Part of Glacial Lake Missoula

From the peak of the Bison Range you get a great view to the Mission Mountains over what was once Glacial Lake Missoula. Back in the ice ages ice dams blocked the rivers to form a huge glacial lake. Eventually the ice would give way and the lake, 2,000 feet deep in parts, would flood out with the force of 60 Amazon Rivers to carve up the landscape. The ice would reform and a new lake would build up. This cycle happened many times during the ice ages. You can read more about it here http://www.glaciallakemissoula.org/   Suffice to say that I cycle to school and back each day over a nice flat lake bed!

For a recent class exercise we had to look at the work of photographers we like and come up with our attempt to photograph using that style. This is my attempt to imitate some of the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson who's work I admire a great deal.

Inspired by H C-B

In this shot legs were supplied by Diana and the head by Donna - thank you, ladies.





*Fortnight:  from "fowertiene niht", Old English for 'fourteen nights' - they counted nights not days.  This became shortened to "fortnight" by Middle English times and is still in common use in modern English.