More of the same?

 Since my last post, the news is that I got onto the A level Photography course and started this week. Needless to say there are a good few decades between me and the other students.... approximately 4.... but so what?  I am hoping they will teach me something and not the other way around for a change. Being the student in a proper classroom (and not a workshop) situation is something of distant memory but I am hoping it will be both challenging and fun all at the same time!

Whilst a lot of the course will focus on analogue and darkroom activity I am trying to bring myself right into the 21st century and finally use my mobile phone more for photos. Heaven knows I don't use it for communication! I don't even know the number for it . I am a real grumpy old woman when it comes to mobile technology and the whole realm of new social media so I have set up an Instagram page for using with the mobile as I recognise the need to get with it all somehow.

I still took my camera out with me this morning for a walk around Nolton Haven and Newgale and didn't once give a thought to the phone in my bag so I can't put these on Instagram and suspect I'll eventually have two different things going that will look like they're not used by the same person but it all has to start somewhere. I am here if you want to see what I've done so far. It's not a lot but it's a start.

Reflecting on summer

Milford Haven has one of the deepest natural harbours in the world, hence the reason Pembrokeshire is the site of oil refineries and power stations, enabling the transit of those huge oil tankers, through Welsh waters. It is a town that saw the Starbuck family leave it centuries ago and set up some sort of coffee company in America and it was also a trysting place for Nelson and Lady Hamilton when her husband was down here setting up naval dockyards. 

I had to go into Milford yesterday for something so decided to spend an hour or two wandering around the thriving marina that has developed there in the past decade. It was hot and sunny and the light on the water was mesmerising. I could not help but take tons of photos of the beautiful reflections from the boat masts on the water. To me they are perfect in their own right but I also see them as calligraphic drawings or even a starting point for patterns for textiles

I have had a busy summer and despite my silence on the blog, things have been happening. I am busy preparing for teaching bookmaking  workshops this autumn, doing lots of drawing, practicing  printing with plaster and also getting ready to start a Photography A level! As long as too many youngsters don't sign up in the next few days, I have a place at the local college lined up, but we mature students have to wait till last minute availability is known before being given the go-ahead. I am keeping my fingers crossed as I cannot wait to improve my digital camera skills and also go back to analogue film cameras and develop my own prints. There will be experimentation with pinhole photography etc and doing more camera less work as well. I shall be so disappointed if it doesn't come off so watch this space for improved photographs in future!