Snotty

I've been struck down with a cold. I'm achey, tired, snotty, blocked and headachey and everything seems to take three times as long. I was fine Monday night, just a slight sniffle down the pub, and now whoomp a big horrid cold. I'm hoping I'm better by the weekend as I have discovered I am trebled booked for Saturday night. Hey three Christmas parties, three parts of London and a tube map... I'll be fine right?

I'm 'pleased' to have fallen ill this week as it has been hell on wheels at Uni up until now. But my documentary project is nearly done and I just have a quick essay to dash off before the 14th so that's a relief. I am sure I won't be saying that next Tuesday come the crits but hey... Again, they don't seem to schedule enough time for us to carry out our practical work. One of the main problems is that as a year group of 60+ students there just aren't enough enlargers/space/lecturer time to go around...

Knowing what it was like on our last photography project, Landscape, (which I got 71% for, go me) I planned a really strict timetable for myself knowing I'd be out most of week four in Venice. Bloody good job I did really as I've been sleeping pretty much yesterday and today. My classmates are stressing out/fighting over the colour enlargers this week.

Note to self; I actually like colour printing. I don't know why, as it seems ten times harder than black and white (being totally in the dark, no red safe lights here to help you cut your test strips or position your paper) and takes three times as long to get a decent print (between 1.5hrs-3.5hrs depending on how 'difficult' your print is). That said I get a real feel sense of satisfaction when the colours pop out just right. It's amazing. It looks even better at 30cm x 40cm too.

Next week is the last week of term. Then we have the best part of a month break. I don't know really what to make of term one but I think I expected (in this age of client service relationships) more for my three grand a year fee. A good few times in my practical lessons we've been given ten minutes instruction on say strobes or medium format or colour printing and then told to get on with it. I'm all for reading around a subject and taking an equal responsibility for my own learning but really. I feel that I'm learning mostly by myself.

Our theory lectures are a bit different and are actually excellent. Our two main tutors there are very down with the information and realise that what they are teaching really isn't self-evident. Consequently, I am becoming a bigger theory geek than ever. Still hate the essay writing though.

Because of the above I've decided not to work all of Christmas break and concentrate on teaching myself everything I ever wanted to know about off camera lighting. It's going to be a big part of our course and our lecturers don't seem disposed to teach it. They'll probably concentrate on big studio lighting situations which for me is not what photography is all about. I'm a big fan of available daylight and using flash only when I have to... maybe that'll change (and I'll start carting around even more stuff), who knows. I also have another essay that we are lumbered with over Christmas... thanks lecturers.

Hope your December's are going well so far and you're are not getting caught up in holiday season panic yet? Hey, with the holidays approaching I might even start blogging more regularly.

TTFN.

PS. New flat still exactly the same. Applying for permissions and all that boring stuff. Hopefully we'll start ripping out stuff in the New Year.