4 April 2014

Time for a very, very long over-due update.  Fall semester came and went in a flash (work from this can be seen on my website), and now Spring semester is about to do the same.  Four weeks until first year is over.

Some recent work, using my iPhone.  Comparing economically different areas in Southern Illinois.  These are 2 pieces in a series that I plan on continuing for quite sometime.  I always like to 'collect' things when I make art, so I see these as documents of an exploration.

These were printed to 24x34" for the purpose of critique.  I am considering potentially making these into a book or a website, but I am not sure on their final form for now.

I am also in the process of making a film using my iPhone.  All the footage is shot, but I still need to play around with a few different edits.

The past few weeks have been a very big break through in terms of my practice, which I will update more on soon!

A long overdue update...

Well, crumbs!  Tomorrow is the beginning of week 7 of the semester here at SIU, which means I have been living in Carbondale for 9 weeks!

My time has been pretty hectic so far, as college keeps me busy 99% of the time - I take two history/ theory classes, and one studio practice class, whilst also working at the university for 20 hours a week.  I manage and oversee the digital print lab for half of the time, and assist the Professor in teaching an Introduction to Photojournalism for the other half of the time.  I mostly work one on one with students, helping them with technical issues they have with their cameras, and with helping them with Photoshop.

I have the entire day off from college on Fridays, which I use to go out filming/ photographing.  I was out on friday for 4 or 5 hours, so I have a huge lot of photographs, as well as some short video clips to  edit from then, but here are some photos from my previous trips:

To put it very simply: I am looking at America, and American culture from an outsiders perspective.  At the moment, I am not focussing on a particular aspect of the culture that fascinates me, but rather on the culture as a whole.  Through this I hope to develop a few strongly focussed projects (One subject I think I may focus on is religion), to produce through out my time here.

I also have some video footage, although I am not sure how much I like it at the moment.  Once I am shooting footage I am happier with, I will start to put it up here.

Over the week end, as part of my teaching, I am taking part in the Photojournalism departments annual Weekend Workshop, where a group of students, Professors, and invited photographers go and stay in a small town in Southern Illinois, whilst documenting various events and places within the town.  This year we will be going to Harrisburg, which is about an hours drive from Carbondale, and three of the invited photographers are Pulitzer prize winners.  At the end of the workshop, a book is created, from a selection of the images shot over the week end, and is presented to the town.  I am super excited about this!

Exciting news!

It's time for a long overdue update!

Degree show went well - it was nice to hear what people thought of the work, and get some time to stick my nose into a few good books!

During the degree show, I was invited to apply for a MFA in Media Arts at Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois.  On Monday I found out that my application has been accepted!!  All going well, I'm hoping to move out there at the end of next month, to get myself settled in time for Orientation week, and classes starting in mid-August.  You can read more about the course here.  Whilst I'm there, I'm hoping to continue with my photography and also explore video.

I will also have a Teaching Assistantship, which I am super excited about!  I have always wanted to teach at a College or University.

The course is three years long, so for the next three years I will be living in the United States!  I have always wanted to move over there, for as long as I can remember, so I am very excited!  I probably wont have much chance to come back to Scotland during that time, but I'm hoping I can manage at least one or two big trips - I will really miss my family and friends over here, but am super excited about what adventures await me!

The next month or so will be very busy, but I will be sure to try and keep my blog updated.

DJCAD Degree Show 2013

Photographs of my final set up for degree show;

I have to confess, I'm feeling a bit lost now its all over!

DJCAD Degree Show 2013 - Website

The DJCAD Degree Show website can be viewed here.  If you search carefully you'll find my profile ;)

It has been a lovely week end - very, very surreal.  I have been wanting to come to Art College since I was in primary school, and have always looked forward to the degree show.

After all the effort, exhaustion, tears, highs and lows I am very, very pleased with how my show  turned out, and my result.  I've always felt that dundee has been a bit bitter sweet for me, but I would never change my time at DoJ for anything.

It's nice to finally sit down, have a wee chat, and read a good book.  I will post some of my personal favourites later on in the week.

Fourth Year, Easter Holiday

The past few weeks have been very quite for me.  The bonus of printing digitally is that they are handed over a good few weeks before any deadlines, to allow the company to print them!  They are all loaded into the back of the car, ready to head back up to Dundee tomorrow afternoon.  Everything is in place, and now its just a case of sorting out my space, and hanging my show.  A week on Monday were into our spaces!

I have spent the past few weeks reflecting on what has been an amazing academic year, and one I will be very, very sad to see the end of.  I am going to really miss having a studio with so many people, and going to Art College every day.  I have loved my time at DoJ, and I owe a lot of people a very big 'Thank You' for making it all possible.  If you had asked me what I was expecting from this year, I would never have imagined that it would be what I have produced!

I dont expect to be posting too much else on here until after the degree show, but in the mean time my website can be viewed here.

Fourth Year, Semester 2, Week 11

This week I submitted my entry for the Magnum competition with IdeasTap.com, which can be viewed here.

I have been working on my book, and think it is more or less finalised, apart from the finer details, and some technical issues.  Once its done it can be purchased online and delivered, or via e-book ;)

I will have my sample strips from the printers back on Monday.  I might be going home next week after my tutorial to reshoot some images to stitch them together for one large print, but I'm still not sure about that...

"What changes when you are there before my eyes is that you become unpredictable.  What you are about to do is unknown to me.  I follow you.  You act.  And with what you do, I fall in love again."