Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

 

I guess one important thing to remember after finishing a photography degree and all the modules along with it, is that my camera does still exist..

 

I don’t want to fall into the same habit of the last two summers where I didn’t pick up my camera at all after finishing the last university term of that year. So today I went for a trip to the Slimbridge wildfowl and wetlands trust reserve and photographed some otters and flamingos and some other crazy birds. I hope I’ll get back into photographing people soon, however much I’ve been enjoying photographing animals, it is people I really enjoy to capture.

 

The Pipeline

I FINISHED MY DEGREEEEEEE

AH the freedom! Now, what the hell am I going to do with my life?! Like, seriously.. I don’t even know where to apply for jobs.
So I finished my degree last Friday, and I got a small wacky little job the day after at some place near Liverpool street called ‘The Pipeline’, there was an fundraising event going on in the basement of this place for some Alice themed film. There was some pretty crazy characters performing, but it was good fun.

University stuff..

My graduate showcase at the University of East London with work on show from all the other students on my course will be opening on the 29th of May in the AVA building, feel free to come along and have a look.

And again, I will be doing the Free Range graduate exhibition at the Truman Brewery on Brick Lane this year. My university will be exhibiting between the 12th and the 16th of June. I posted about this a few times last year, where I said I will be the one curled up in the corner.. And I probably will be again. I’m sad I won’t have Paul, the brilliant technician who got me and others through the course in my first two years to help out again. And with the exception of Dom who has been doing the same course as me this year as well as the first two years back in Swindon, there is barely any one I even like that will be around. So it’s gonna have to be a round up all the free drinks before any one arrives tactic…
Here’s hoping my boyfriend finishes his masters degree in time to come for the open evening!

 

The actual end of education..

…is coming to an end for me.

So it’s been 5 years of Secondary School and GCSES, 2 years of College and A Levels, 2 years of Foundation Degree and 1 final year to get my full Bachelors Degree at the University of East London. And all of that is going to be over in two weeks. TWO WEEKS.  (and hopefully I’ll never go back to education ever again…it’s not for me)
I’m not sure I can cope with the idea of having to be a real grown up after that time. I’m going to have to get a proper 9-5 job. That’s a terrifying prospect. In some ways, I’m looking forward to having a job, I’d like to be able to earn my own money and not having to freak out that I’m buying clothes or nice food with my student loan instead of using it for printing costs blah blah etc.. and I will love being able to get back into some kind of routine again. I think that’s what I’ll miss the most, having a routine… because I definitely won’t have that for a good few weeks.

I am really looking forward to be able to spend some real time with Ben again. I’ve shown the below pictures before, but wanted to show them again. I know one of them is kind of christmassy in the background, but it’s a lovely picture of my Benjamin. (:

Tipsy the little cat

She really is a pretty little cat..

Could do without her dribbling on our bed though.. Somehow she made a little nest out of our throw and curled up inside it and I thought she looked so cute I had to take a picture.

But no sushi…

Stanton House is my favourite Japanese restaurant and does the best sushi I have found yet…

So if you are in Swindon, I would definitely recommend the visit. Stanton House also has these beautiful massive grounds – Stanton Park – which is where I went for a walk around with my boyfriends wonderful parents and jack (the dog) on Sunday. It was a lovely day, and a lovely walk. But I’m still sad about missing the sushi.. But here’s hoping I can go next week!

Want a free E-Book?

If you’re interested in travel photography, or just interested in photography then this is for you!

Please feel free to click here and download our free E-Book called ‘NO BORDERS’, filled with works from 5 aspiring photographers in their graduation year at the University of East London.
All you need is the free iBook app on your iPad or iPhone or iPad touch, open the download link on whichever device and it goes straight to the app!

It was created for our final year of university, and is part of one of our modules.
Feel free to tell us what you think!

In and out in 15 minutes

Limited time, and having to get a bunch of students photographer

And why not have some music playing in the background to lighten the mood. Heres just some shots me and dom took the other week of the BTEC performing arts students. I’m having to now rush shoots to portray youth culture for dazed and confused(but in a new spin), but i’m seriously stumped. I hate coming up with ideas. That’s not my strong point.. at all.

Booooooo, I hate my course. With a passion.

Image credits: Gema Bird, Domanic Hunter

Image credits: Gema Bird, Domanic Hunter

Image credits: Gema Bird, Domanic Hunter

Image credits: Gema Bird, Domanic Hunter

Image credits: Gema Bird, Domanic Hunter

Image credits: Gema Bird, Domanic Hunter

It’s taken me 23 days…

It took me 23 days into the New Year to actually use my camera…

But it was a good day to use it, as me and Dom were photographing performing arts students in the studio for their portfolio’s, and for our agency (‘Turn It Up Photography’- website coming soon) to get some work we can show other clients. This business stuff is hard work, and business plans are utter nightmares.
Anyway, so we were just doing headshots of these students, a couple of full lengths and three close ups, we didn’t know how to pose them, and some of them were so shy they didn’t know what to do either. I had thought they would have been prepped for this shoot, but nevermind. I suppose posing models is a skill i’ll need to work on…tips?

I hate my tendency of getting ill, just gets me so far behind on my course, building up the stress which makes me less likely to want to do any work. Such a good student still.

Here’s one of the playful shots..

Its all DRAMA these days

Literally on my course which takes the piss… and also creating dramatic shots…

Using a portable lighting kit outdoors is new to me and yesterday was the first play I got with a lumedyne flash. I’ve been considering getting some new equipment like this, and getting to experiment with it has definitely persuaded me to search and BUY! Any suggestions on budget but good portable flashes?

As a Nikon shooter, I felt like an actual traitor using a Canon 5D to take these photographs. Boo me. I’m so ashamed.
See more of these photos on my Facebook. And don’t forget to like the page 😉

Suzie, Me and Dom; Photo taken by Jordy Day