35mm Underwater Trial.

I was slightly skeptical about what would happen with these images. Particularly from the second roll due to the fact that I opened the back and the film hadn't rewound properly, but only a few of the images were over-exposed and I didn't really lose any, which was good. I do have some classic 'film snapshot' images with thumbs over the lens, which is nice (Moon!). I really enjoy shooting on film actually though. I think the instantaneous process of digital takes the excitement out of photography somewhat, but I think that that view has been pounded into me from being a photography student, even if it is actually what I think as well.

So I'm quite pleased with these, even if I'm fully of the opinion that Boots totally overcharge for 35mm processing and I probably won't be going with them.
These are from Brittany, so they're mainly beach ones, I'm not sure how I would use such a simple camera in any other way really.

Like I said, we've spent a lot of time around the Brittany area in our life, this was probably the first time we've been on this side of the beach, probably the last too because the sea on that side appears to have a bed of clay rather than sand, it's fun for about 12 seconds until you realise you can't really walk properly.

Facebook album

Currently listening to Ed Sheeran's debut album, '+', while uploading this, download, it's perfection. It's everything I was hoping for, even if he's altered 'The City' and 'You Need Me I Don't Need You', I now have a consolidated collection of Ed Sheeran tracks and I am happy, I think I'll be listening to this album for a while until The Maccabees get their arses in gear. My favourite track on it at the moment is Grade 8, it has basically everything I like about music.

Wednesday 14th September.

Day 10 of 'keeping myself active', it certainly is weird to be home while knowing that in a week's time students will be returning to University and I won't be, probably ever again.

Thorpe Park yesterday was good, and it was great to catch up with my friend Laura too, who I haven't seen in ages. I think my favourite ride was 'Stealth', which I forgot was so fast. Probably the best freebie, I've had all year.

It was Mid-Autumn festival a couple of days ago and the moon looked beautiful, so I took the opportunity to get a snap. I don't think that it's quite as good as what I got when the moon was really big (Supermoon), but I like the result, especially as there was no tripod involved and I just took it from my bedroom window.

I've noticed more and more that a lot of bloggers seem to be posting photos taken with their phones, so here's a bit of a weekly digest. It's quite useful to have a camera on your phone, I used to hate the idea of it, but since I now have a decent camera on my phone I tend to use it a fair amount when out and about. Although an actual camera/my SLR (when I'm feeling strong) is obviously preferential.

Ed Sheeran paw prints outside Banquet Record Store, Kingston

Cute prizes at Thorpe Park that reminded me of Moon's drawings.

Sadly, despite being out all day yesterday, I had no replies from any jobs, but I do have a 'professional' blogging opportunity in the works, which I'll link to if I'm successful.

My second driving lesson went much better than the first one, which I'm very pleased about, I actually can't wait until I've had enough lessons and can drive off and around all over the place. I know I've still got a while to go yet, but it's still exciting, even though there's still things like parking to learn and the actual proper rules when it comes to the test.

---

What I wore 14/09/11:

Cardigan: H&M
Dress: Primark
Belt: Primark
Tights: New Look
Nails:

Stripes: Models Own, Sophie's Pink
Models Own/WAH Nail Art Pen, White
Leopard Print: Models Own: Peach Puff (My new favourite colour)
Models Own/WAH Nail Art Pen, Black
It's back to the grind of the job hunting this afternoon, which of course I must write down in my Jobseeker's 'diary'. I just received a rejection for my application to Kingston Disney Store, darn, there goes my post-degree hopes and goals down the drain...

Super Moon.

So I used my 70-300mm lens to see if I could get a decent photo of the moon when it was brighter and 0.3% bigger than it has been in around 18 years.
The second one is cropped into on Aperture so it's not as crisp as it could have been if I'd uploaded the full-resolution version onto Photoshop, but I'm still pleased enough with the result. I'm a bit sad that the moon here wasn't nearly as big as it was in Glastonbury, but I still like my photos.

© Ruth Johnston 2011.

Rhinos.

I found this; it's from over a year ago when Moon and I went to Marwell Zoo, I was looking back that far to see what I looked like a year ago, what a tubz, anyway, it made me smile. The whole 'looking back' thing is something I'm going to write about at a later date when I get a decent recent photograph of myself, stay tuned.

Did I mention, I'm a bit less fat.

Float your own boat.

Moon and I went to have a look at the graduate exhibitions currently showing in the Eldon Building in Portsmouth. Naturally it was all a trip mainly to look at how the Photography graduate's work turned out, it's all to such a high standard, I don't know how we're going to pull it off this time next year, but then I guess that's why they're graduating this year and we've only just finished our second year. The amount of bickering that took place for the last exhibition was unbelievable, hopefully people will be better at settling their differences next time around.
The Photography degree show is called 'Wide Eyes', like I mentioned I think a serious amount of skill went into producing these images and the exhibition really comes together despite the diverse amount of subject matter on show. I went ahead and bought the catalogue and everything. One criticism I would have would be the layout of the show as it's weirdly spread all around the building and some of the work is really far apart, but it's not really the fault of the graduates as it probably was the best that they could work with, the only reason I am mentioning it is that due to the odd layout, some of the work is quite easy to miss if you're idly walking around and not completely paying attention.

This is the inside of the catalogue, I didn't actually take any photographs of the show, not for any particular reason, I was just too busy looking to really think about it. This piece by Adam Gilbert-Anderson was probably my favourite of the show, the way it was displayed was also how I hope to display one of my major projects next year, so it was a big help. The image below also got featured as a commended image on theprintspace gallery's monthly competition, I think the whole piece was really effective, particularly the ticking clock, it actually drove Moon mad. The video piece can be found on his blog along with other work, which is also really interesting.

There really are some great storytellers among this lot, a pretty useful tool to have if you want to more than a photographer's assistant.

© Faye Wears

This is another piece that I really liked, the lines you see are light trails of planes, very interesting, also, I found the below video today and it kind of reminded me of it, two more examples of simple ideas working well.

Flight Patterns, © Charlie McCarthy via Public School

I might see if I can get to the show in London to see how it differs from the one here, the photographs are great so with a better exhibition layout they could look even better.

I also saw this suitcase of tea as part of the Collective exhibition also on at Eldon, the other pieces are really interesting, once again, I wish I'd photographed more to show, but I was concentrating, I don't even know who it's by, but it's great.

After all of that, we then went to the Portsmouth City Museum. It's not so great, but it was free, and at least I can say that I've been now, even if none of the exhibitions interested me. Well, apart from the one about 'hey day' Southsea, but that could have been done a lot better. Sorry, Portsmouth City Museum, but at least you're better than Portsmouth Natural History Museum.

And the drumbeat rocked.

These are from a couple of nights ago, I had another dabble in light painting, I got Moon to crash about on his drums and attached my mini 99¢ torches onto the end of his drumsticks. It's basically this idea, except Moon isn't actually playing anything and I'm a bit more colourful/messy, as usual..

© Ruth Johnston 2010.

Phil Colins - In The Air Tonight, © Oliver Silverwood via Public School

Andrew Moon.

© Ruth Johnston 2010.

Some images from this morning's reshoot for The Body magazine project.

Lighting sesh.

This is the first time I've ever been solo - well, nearly solo - in the studio. I did need a bit of help here and there but I think I have it down for what I hope to be a proper shoot next time.
Andy and Moon helped me out for these and I'd hope to use them again as they're quite good at being directed and once I get to what my idea is, I'm sure I'll be better at directing. What magazine uses both male and female fashion models in the same sequence without being too 'fashion for fashion' or arty? I guess I'll be going on a hunt, not only for the right magazine but also for props. GQ Style would be a good way to go, but it's too short and I don't think it has much writing in it, plus I'd like some girls. In any case, this was just to get me more used to using the equipment on my own, which is why the posing is a bit cheesier and fun than what I'd actually be going for.

© Ruth Johnston 2010

This is me helping Jason out with the lighting he wanted to do with our Sunday Supplements model, I'm pretty sure I look much fatter than usual in this, I'm blaming my clothes and lack of expression, I've lost like 5 lbs man.

© Jason Gooch 2010.

I missed my first lecture of the semester this morning, I'm not sure whether to feel bad, because once you start skipping, you keep doing it but then again, it was a pointless lecture anyway. I'll have to diagnose what I missed when I go in for my afternoon session later. Most of my work is on track anyway, I'm not sure whether I am meant to have started anything yet though, like my Dissertation proposal, I have a very thorough plan, just nothing else and the same goes for the unit I missed this morning - tutorials for each are not until at least next week.

Moon is going away this weekend, I will be able to get much more done this way.