Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Focus On Imaging
On Monday we went to the show Focus On Imaging at the NEC, Birmingham. It was a 2 hour coach ride there and after an hour inside we were ready to leave. It was absolutely mobbed so the whole time walking around was a struggle. You couldn't get close to any stands and couldn't here any of the talks as they were all going off at the same time on microphones. If you were going there to buy kit at an only slightly discounted price then you would have enjoyed it but for us students who can't afford any of it there was nothing else there for us. A few exhibitions with work that didn't particularly blow us away and only about 3 college stands and we are already at college. There was also hardly any freebies apart from a few postcards and pens. The food was also a ridiculous price inside and outside of the show. We went back to the coach at 2 and it wasn't setting off til 4.
How I Learn
After doing 2 mini-tests to find out what kind of learner I am I have discovered that I am a Kinesthetic Learner. The traits of a Kinesthetic Learner are that they learn through doing themselves rather than sitting in lectures listening to how things should be done. I agree with this as I zone out during most lessons and thrive when we actually get to do something physical. I think looking back on this course so far I can't pinpoint anything I have learned in the actual classes that I didn't already know a bit about. Anything I have learnt has been in the studio. This is evidence that I am a Kinesthetic learner.
However I don't agree with some of the suggested learner aids for this type of learner. It is suggested that I would learn better if I do things such as write on surfaces with my finger, dance, role play, use poems and rhymes etc. I don't think these would necessarily help me as I would find them too much of a distraction.
By doing these tests I have learned that I need to work on my concentration whilst listening to lectures as when we get to the end of the semester I normally can't remember things we have done at the start of it so I would learn from taking more notes physically.
However I don't agree with some of the suggested learner aids for this type of learner. It is suggested that I would learn better if I do things such as write on surfaces with my finger, dance, role play, use poems and rhymes etc. I don't think these would necessarily help me as I would find them too much of a distraction.
By doing these tests I have learned that I need to work on my concentration whilst listening to lectures as when we get to the end of the semester I normally can't remember things we have done at the start of it so I would learn from taking more notes physically.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sweden - Reflection
A final blog to sum up my experience in Sweden.
It was amazing. I am so grateful for being picked for the photographer's placement. Before going I was nervous as I knew it would just be myself and 4 guys for a whole 3 weeks. I also thought that the 3 weeks, as I wasn't entirely sure what my time out there would entail, may drag out a bit but it zoomed by far too quickly! Yes I had difficulties at first, the place I was staying was awful and I was missing out on what the guys were doing and really I didn't need to be based at Lugnet University but after that was sorted out I had the best time. The family we stayed with were amazing, they took me in and made me feel at home the second I sat down to the first meal on the first night. I went out there having expectations from our preperation meetings etc that we had before hand but it was nothing like what I expected. I didn't think we would be going up a ski jump, going to snowmobile jumping and having a BBQ in the snow (although that was because of our family). I didn't think I would be going underneath a pool to take pictures!
I have really learned alot of a photography as well. Alot of our college course is limited to being in the studio and as I don't really know the area I've moved to I don't venture out to find locations. This pushed me to learn my way about another new place and as we were there for 3 weeks it felt nice when I knew my way about and felt like I actually lived there as I knew it that well! It was exciting for me to be able to shoot in an all new place. I made a few technical mistakes whilst shooting and unfortunately it was so cold outside that the video camera was playing up so I only have around 2 videos from the whole time out there but it's things like this that make me learn for next time.
Before going out we also had to fill out a self-evaluation so we could measure how this experience has changed us.
The skills/interests that I felt I lacked in were:
Foreign Languages (although I only picked up around 5 words whilst out there)
Good memory
It was amazing. I am so grateful for being picked for the photographer's placement. Before going I was nervous as I knew it would just be myself and 4 guys for a whole 3 weeks. I also thought that the 3 weeks, as I wasn't entirely sure what my time out there would entail, may drag out a bit but it zoomed by far too quickly! Yes I had difficulties at first, the place I was staying was awful and I was missing out on what the guys were doing and really I didn't need to be based at Lugnet University but after that was sorted out I had the best time. The family we stayed with were amazing, they took me in and made me feel at home the second I sat down to the first meal on the first night. I went out there having expectations from our preperation meetings etc that we had before hand but it was nothing like what I expected. I didn't think we would be going up a ski jump, going to snowmobile jumping and having a BBQ in the snow (although that was because of our family). I didn't think I would be going underneath a pool to take pictures!
I have really learned alot of a photography as well. Alot of our college course is limited to being in the studio and as I don't really know the area I've moved to I don't venture out to find locations. This pushed me to learn my way about another new place and as we were there for 3 weeks it felt nice when I knew my way about and felt like I actually lived there as I knew it that well! It was exciting for me to be able to shoot in an all new place. I made a few technical mistakes whilst shooting and unfortunately it was so cold outside that the video camera was playing up so I only have around 2 videos from the whole time out there but it's things like this that make me learn for next time.
Before going out we also had to fill out a self-evaluation so we could measure how this experience has changed us.
The skills/interests that I felt I lacked in were:
Foreign Languages (although I only picked up around 5 words whilst out there)
Good memory
Talking to People
Confidence
Ability to organise
I have definately improved on these. I had to have a good memory and the ability to organise as I had to arrange my time with what the boys were doing and I had to remember to keep my batteries charged, empty my memory cards etc almost every night so that helped. I think I have improved a little bit on confidence and talking to people. With my placement, as I wasn't at the same place everyday I wasn't really there to meet people but I did meet a few people on the boy's placements so that increased my confidence and they would ask about me and what I was doing on my placement so that made me have to talk to people so I got more used to doing that.
Sweden was by far the best 3 weeks of my life. I learned so much, got thrown way out of my comfort zone and met some amazing people. We were well looked after and we always had a point of contact if needed. Nick, Inga and Carina were so great when they knew I was having problems and everything was dealt with quickly if we needed anything. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and can already see myself going back in the near future.
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Confidence
Ability to organise
I have definately improved on these. I had to have a good memory and the ability to organise as I had to arrange my time with what the boys were doing and I had to remember to keep my batteries charged, empty my memory cards etc almost every night so that helped. I think I have improved a little bit on confidence and talking to people. With my placement, as I wasn't at the same place everyday I wasn't really there to meet people but I did meet a few people on the boy's placements so that increased my confidence and they would ask about me and what I was doing on my placement so that made me have to talk to people so I got more used to doing that.
Sweden was by far the best 3 weeks of my life. I learned so much, got thrown way out of my comfort zone and met some amazing people. We were well looked after and we always had a point of contact if needed. Nick, Inga and Carina were so great when they knew I was having problems and everything was dealt with quickly if we needed anything. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and can already see myself going back in the near future.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sweden - Day 21
Saturday 27th February
The Last Day.
Today was our last full day in Falun. I woke up feeling deflated already, really dreading going home. Carina and Bengt had been out the previous night so we weren't going to the ski jump until after 2. Josh and myself therefore went shopping in the morning to both get gifts for family at home and to get Carina and Bengt presents. We bought two candlesticks, two tealights holders which had a C and a B on it and a salt and pepper set which were cats. We thought these were nice as they love candles as there is heaps round the house and they love cats also as they have 3. When we presented them to them later they loved them so I think we did well :) I also bought myself a little candle holder. I couldn't buy much due to suitcase space :( We met the other boys in town as they were also getting presents. Carina and Bengt then picked us up from Erenes and we went up to the ski jump. Unfortunately it was a foggy day but it was still a good view from the top. Josh and I are not the best with heights so Josh went back down pretty quickly and I quickly followed! It was also freezing at the top! I don't know how the ski jumpers do it as it is really daunting looking down the slope. After we got back down we went back to ours and Dale came too. Joel packed his suitcase as he was going out that night although he was coming back at night. They were going to Dribblers to meet with the girls they were going out with later that night. I had a suspicion that Joel would end up not coming back for the last meal as he would have to get the bus back up and back down again. Unfortunately my suspicions were true and he didn't come to our last meal and ended up having tea at Erene's. This really annoyed me as I found it so rude to ditch Carina's meal and impose on Erene's. I have already said this to Joel and he told me it was Bengt's suggestion. Either way it wasn't his place to invite Joel to Erene's dinner and Joel should of felt guilty about not having the last meal with us.
After the meal we gave our presents to them and we also both gave them a card which we each wrote a thank you letter in. On my card I drew the house on the front and drew little things along the bottom of it to do with our stay there. I also wrote on the front " Thanks for giving us a home from home" - Cheesey I know but it was appropriate! They really appreciated the card too so it was worth it :) Bengt then got out old pictures of their house before the renovated it and pictures from previous midsummers which is basically a 3 day party with alot of dancing and alcohol. Josh and I then found some old pictures of us, and in my case pictures of my flat etc to show them. It was a really nice evening although it made it harder to leave the next morning as it made us a bit closer :(
The Last Day.
Today was our last full day in Falun. I woke up feeling deflated already, really dreading going home. Carina and Bengt had been out the previous night so we weren't going to the ski jump until after 2. Josh and myself therefore went shopping in the morning to both get gifts for family at home and to get Carina and Bengt presents. We bought two candlesticks, two tealights holders which had a C and a B on it and a salt and pepper set which were cats. We thought these were nice as they love candles as there is heaps round the house and they love cats also as they have 3. When we presented them to them later they loved them so I think we did well :) I also bought myself a little candle holder. I couldn't buy much due to suitcase space :( We met the other boys in town as they were also getting presents. Carina and Bengt then picked us up from Erenes and we went up to the ski jump. Unfortunately it was a foggy day but it was still a good view from the top. Josh and I are not the best with heights so Josh went back down pretty quickly and I quickly followed! It was also freezing at the top! I don't know how the ski jumpers do it as it is really daunting looking down the slope. After we got back down we went back to ours and Dale came too. Joel packed his suitcase as he was going out that night although he was coming back at night. They were going to Dribblers to meet with the girls they were going out with later that night. I had a suspicion that Joel would end up not coming back for the last meal as he would have to get the bus back up and back down again. Unfortunately my suspicions were true and he didn't come to our last meal and ended up having tea at Erene's. This really annoyed me as I found it so rude to ditch Carina's meal and impose on Erene's. I have already said this to Joel and he told me it was Bengt's suggestion. Either way it wasn't his place to invite Joel to Erene's dinner and Joel should of felt guilty about not having the last meal with us.
After the meal we gave our presents to them and we also both gave them a card which we each wrote a thank you letter in. On my card I drew the house on the front and drew little things along the bottom of it to do with our stay there. I also wrote on the front " Thanks for giving us a home from home" - Cheesey I know but it was appropriate! They really appreciated the card too so it was worth it :) Bengt then got out old pictures of their house before the renovated it and pictures from previous midsummers which is basically a 3 day party with alot of dancing and alcohol. Josh and I then found some old pictures of us, and in my case pictures of my flat etc to show them. It was a really nice evening although it made it harder to leave the next morning as it made us a bit closer :(
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sweden - Day 20
Friday 26th February
I went to Borlange again today as it was Joel and Josh's last day. Dale had no lessons and Tom was going ice skating on a pond but I had went with him a previous day to take pictures and it was cancelled due to the snow and there had been more so I assumed it would be cancelled again. They were teaching more swim schools in the morning and then went in the Aqua Nova pool for a while in the afternoon. We also got to go underneath the pool and look through the portholes. We got Josh to swim down to one so I could get this really cool picture of him. I love it! Hampus ( the manager ) also said at the start of the day that they would have to jump off the 5m board which Joel and Josh were scared to do! Unfortunately they couldn't use that board for some reason so they had to do it off the 3m board. Hampus and Robert were jumping off them too so I got a short video of that as the video camera finally worked with the heat next to the pool. Im really annoyed that the video camera hasn't been working for this trip due to the cold. I had some really good footage of us getting to Sweden etc but when checking them on the computer it has only kept one second videos despite me filming for 3 minutes plus.
After we left we went to Falun centre and met Dale as we wanted to get Inga Lil some flowers. We bought some and met Tom and we all went to Kristinegymnasiet to give them to her. Unfortunately she had already left by the time we got there so we had to leave them for her. We think it may have been her husband we left them with though as she phoned us at Carina's that night to thank us for them. Dale then came up to ours to hang out and ended up staying for tea as Joel was going to his as they were going out that night. Josh and I had a night in which I used to sort out some more pictures.
I went to Borlange again today as it was Joel and Josh's last day. Dale had no lessons and Tom was going ice skating on a pond but I had went with him a previous day to take pictures and it was cancelled due to the snow and there had been more so I assumed it would be cancelled again. They were teaching more swim schools in the morning and then went in the Aqua Nova pool for a while in the afternoon. We also got to go underneath the pool and look through the portholes. We got Josh to swim down to one so I could get this really cool picture of him. I love it! Hampus ( the manager ) also said at the start of the day that they would have to jump off the 5m board which Joel and Josh were scared to do! Unfortunately they couldn't use that board for some reason so they had to do it off the 3m board. Hampus and Robert were jumping off them too so I got a short video of that as the video camera finally worked with the heat next to the pool. Im really annoyed that the video camera hasn't been working for this trip due to the cold. I had some really good footage of us getting to Sweden etc but when checking them on the computer it has only kept one second videos despite me filming for 3 minutes plus.
After we left we went to Falun centre and met Dale as we wanted to get Inga Lil some flowers. We bought some and met Tom and we all went to Kristinegymnasiet to give them to her. Unfortunately she had already left by the time we got there so we had to leave them for her. We think it may have been her husband we left them with though as she phoned us at Carina's that night to thank us for them. Dale then came up to ours to hang out and ended up staying for tea as Joel was going to his as they were going out that night. Josh and I had a night in which I used to sort out some more pictures.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sweden - Day 19
Thursday 25th February
Most people had booked the day off for suspected hangovers, apart from Dale as he was going skiiing again which I couldn't go to as it was a coach trip again. We woke up late morning feeling fine though which was a brilliant feeling! Josh, Joel and me got a scare around lunch time though as Andreas, Carina and Bengt's son, came round and let himself into the house. We were upstairs in the boys room so he walked into the room. It was nice meeting him as he is the Swedish champion ski jumper! However it was a little awkward as we didn't have that much to say to him and we were all a bit startled, plus Carina and Bengt weren't there either.
Then later in the day we were meant to be meeting Dawn at the Copper mining museum at 3. However when we got there she was no where to be found. Inga Lil was there though and she told us that Dawn was stuck in Amsterdam and would be missing the tour. Inga was also not coming down with us. We joined the tour which was us 5 and three canadians on it. We went down in a lift and had to wear orange capes and hard hats which looked hilarious! The tour shouldn't of been funny but it ended up being a right laugh, although we did annoy the canadians a little bit. I overheard one of them saying of the tour guide "She's done well to answer their questions cause I ain't got a clue what they're saying". One of them at the end also asked if I stayed with the guys and when I answered yeah two of them she said oh dear! haha. I also got this cool picture below of the bucket they used to pull loads up.
At night we were due to have a meal with Dawn. We still weren't sure if she was in Sweden yet or not but we went to the Bishop's Arm's for half 7. They wouldn't let us book a table the day before so when we went in they only had a round table which was meant for 5 which they squeezed more seats on to. It was really busy and was therefore really noisy. There also wasn't anything vegetarian on the menu for Josh to eat. When Dawn arrived just before 8 we decided to go somewhere else. We ended up in an italian takeaway/restaurant which was ok. We discussed our placements and enjoyed giant pizzas :)
Most people had booked the day off for suspected hangovers, apart from Dale as he was going skiiing again which I couldn't go to as it was a coach trip again. We woke up late morning feeling fine though which was a brilliant feeling! Josh, Joel and me got a scare around lunch time though as Andreas, Carina and Bengt's son, came round and let himself into the house. We were upstairs in the boys room so he walked into the room. It was nice meeting him as he is the Swedish champion ski jumper! However it was a little awkward as we didn't have that much to say to him and we were all a bit startled, plus Carina and Bengt weren't there either.
Then later in the day we were meant to be meeting Dawn at the Copper mining museum at 3. However when we got there she was no where to be found. Inga Lil was there though and she told us that Dawn was stuck in Amsterdam and would be missing the tour. Inga was also not coming down with us. We joined the tour which was us 5 and three canadians on it. We went down in a lift and had to wear orange capes and hard hats which looked hilarious! The tour shouldn't of been funny but it ended up being a right laugh, although we did annoy the canadians a little bit. I overheard one of them saying of the tour guide "She's done well to answer their questions cause I ain't got a clue what they're saying". One of them at the end also asked if I stayed with the guys and when I answered yeah two of them she said oh dear! haha. I also got this cool picture below of the bucket they used to pull loads up.
At night we were due to have a meal with Dawn. We still weren't sure if she was in Sweden yet or not but we went to the Bishop's Arm's for half 7. They wouldn't let us book a table the day before so when we went in they only had a round table which was meant for 5 which they squeezed more seats on to. It was really busy and was therefore really noisy. There also wasn't anything vegetarian on the menu for Josh to eat. When Dawn arrived just before 8 we decided to go somewhere else. We ended up in an italian takeaway/restaurant which was ok. We discussed our placements and enjoyed giant pizzas :)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Sweden - Day 18
Wednesday 24th February
Today was a long day for me. Got up at 6 to get ready to go with Dale to a yoga class which started at 7. Carina drove me down as she goes to work around that time anyway and she came in to yoga with me when we got there at quarter past 7. Looking back I really should of just went there for 7 if possible as we had to interupt to walk in and it made so much noise getting my camera out of my bag and when the shutter went off when I took a picture so I didn't take too many pictures. There was also an older woman that kept giving me dirty looks whenever I did take a picture.
I then got on the same bus as Joel and Josh and went back to Borlange again. Dale was on another trip I couldn't go to and Tom wasn't doing anything interesting to photograph. The boys were teaching a swim class again so I took more pictures of that, for some reason my camera wasn't steaming up this time which made it much easier! It has been good at Aqua Nova as the manager is really laid back and doesn't have a problem with me taking pictures of other people - especially considering it is a group of young children the boys have been teaching. If that had been in England they would of been really strict and probably wouldn't of let me in to take pictures!
After we got back we got ready to go to out to celebrate Josh's birthday as he was finally old enough to get into Etage. Another great night out and we got a taxi home this time so it was fine to sleep in my own bed this time.
Today was a long day for me. Got up at 6 to get ready to go with Dale to a yoga class which started at 7. Carina drove me down as she goes to work around that time anyway and she came in to yoga with me when we got there at quarter past 7. Looking back I really should of just went there for 7 if possible as we had to interupt to walk in and it made so much noise getting my camera out of my bag and when the shutter went off when I took a picture so I didn't take too many pictures. There was also an older woman that kept giving me dirty looks whenever I did take a picture.
I then got on the same bus as Joel and Josh and went back to Borlange again. Dale was on another trip I couldn't go to and Tom wasn't doing anything interesting to photograph. The boys were teaching a swim class again so I took more pictures of that, for some reason my camera wasn't steaming up this time which made it much easier! It has been good at Aqua Nova as the manager is really laid back and doesn't have a problem with me taking pictures of other people - especially considering it is a group of young children the boys have been teaching. If that had been in England they would of been really strict and probably wouldn't of let me in to take pictures!
After we got back we got ready to go to out to celebrate Josh's birthday as he was finally old enough to get into Etage. Another great night out and we got a taxi home this time so it was fine to sleep in my own bed this time.
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