Last week we got introduced to our new unit. To find out more we all completed one of the main parts of this Unit, The Research Report. During the day we used websites such as Google and Wikipedia to find out more about the fine art photography and art installations. At the end of the day I found out a lot of information about our unit and I wrote the information up in my research report.
Today started when we got given the professional cameras and Mr Hind explained how to use them. Then we got into pairs and we went to take some random pictures until the break time. I found it difficult to take some pictures at start because I didn't know how you get the green light or the red light, but with my partners help we found out how you make the lights show up. If the light was red then I had to change the shutter speed or the brightness, and if it was green I could take a picture. I also kept forgetting to rewind the tape so that I can take another shot, but fortunately in the end I remembered it and I got used to it.
After break we came back and Mr Hind explained to us how to prepare the taken pictures. To do this we had to work in a black and well closed bag. In this bag we placed the taken picture case, scissors, a roll on thing for the footage, a case for the roll on thing, a lid for the case and the footage case opener. This is what we had to do in the bag:
· Firstly open the footage case with the opener
· Then take out the footage and cut of a bit of the start with scissors
· Start rolling up the strip onto the roll on thing
· Then when finished rolling cut the end with the plastic bit (straight line)
· Put the roll on thing with footage rolled on in the big case with the pointy bit up
· Close the case with a lid until it clicks
· Finally take everything out
I found it a bit difficult at start but after few more seconds I got used to not seeing what I am doing. It took me about 4 minutes to complete this part of the photograph production. I think that this part was the hardest because you had to concentrate a lot and you must not lose focus. The next part we had to do was to prepare the footage using 2 chemicals. This is what we had to do:
· Add 700ml of 20 degrees water and 300 ml of the first chemical and then pour this into the footage case
· Then for shake and tap the case after every minute for 10 minutes
· After 10 minutes empty the case and rinse for a while and empty the case again
· Then add the chemical called fix and shake and tap for 4 minutes, every 30 seconds
· Pour back the fix into the container (the chemical can be reused several of times)
· Rinse for 10 minutes
· Take out the tape and dry it by putting it in the drying cupboard for an hour
I found this part easy to do and a little boring because I had to wait for 10 minutes. The only thing that I found difficult was to remember how many ml to put in the case. Fortunately there was a poster explaining the process which really helped. After this task we went to lunch.
After lunch we came back and we all went to the dark room where Mr Hind explained the process of making the actual picture. Unfortunately our tape was still a bit wet even if we dried the tape for more than an hour. We used a hair dryer to dry off the water droplets, but I noticed little spots from the water drops and I was a bit worried, but fortunately Mr Hind told me that it will be OK and those dots won’t show on the final product. I was relieved. This is the process of making the actual photograph which Mr Hind explained to us:
· Firstly adjust the clip board to the size of the actual paper, 700 by 500
· Put in the tape in the case shiny side facing upwards and turn on the machine
· Adjust the size of the image so that it fits the frame
· Adjust the brightness so it’s not too bright and not too dark
· Adjust the resolution so it is not blurry
· Take a test photograph by using the carton by placing the paper in the frame and covering with the carton, only uncovering the corner more and more when you count to 2 seconds and switch the machine off – for few more times
· Place the test picture in the first chemical for one minute and then rinse in the water for 30 seconds
· Place the picture in the second chemical for 4 minutes and after than rinse for 5 minutes in the water
· Put the picture in the tray and go outside the dark room to dry the image with the dryer machine
· Look at the picture and decide how long to keep the light on by looking at the lines and which looks the best (for mine it was 4 seconds to get a perfect brightness image
· Now you can try it for 4 seconds on the whole paper and then using the same process
I found it difficult at the start because it was a lot of information to take in. To overcome this problem of forgetting something like for how long do I need to rinse the image I asked my class mates and they really helped me. Another problem I was facing was that it was really hard to place the paper on the frame so that the sides are straight and there are no white frames. In the end I had enough practice that I could do it with no white frames, but before if that happened I trimmed the edges with the big cutting machine. It was really easy to cut straight lines on the machine because you just had to place the image and then just swing the cutter from one side to the other. I also had a problem with my first picture; there were lines on it because I didn’t rinse it in the first chemical properly, so that the paper was not completely covered. The next image I made I was more careful to not let the same happen again by pushing the image into the chemical. The last pictures which I produced I think we’re good, because the brightness was perfect and there was no blur, also the image was covering whole of the paper. Overall I think that now I have learned how to make a photograph properly and I can make the photographs professionally. I also think that I have done well today because I have succeeded in making a photograph in the dark room. I will use the skills learned today next week and I think that they will really help.
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