OCA The Art of Photography Course Discussion Including Assignments and Submissions

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can someone give me the link to this course? ive just started photography and want to progress from a btec
 
I swear it was linked earlier in the thread, but anyway;

OCA - The Art of Photography

OCA - Photography Degree

How are people getting on anyway?
How is DPP going byker?

I'm nearly ready to submit my first assignment and luckily have been transferred tutors to someone local, useful as I'm prefer keeping a physical journal :thumbs:
However, I will eventually upload all my exercises onto my blog, it'll just take a while :)
 
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Dpp so far is going ok. I'm putting some work into it, working on the first assignment this weekend, hopefully submitting next weekend. Mostly I seem to be shooting at the weekend, doing the work during the week.
Yet more books to buy but only one arty one, the others are technical.

Dpp covers the specifics for digital photography, so the first part is all about workflow. Having been a Lightroom user since v1 it's been fairly intuitive for me so far. Reading through the notes I haven't seen anything too difficult so I'm hoping this will be an easy module for me to make progress through. Mind you I thought that with taop.

How's everyone else doing.
 
Earlier this week I submitted my first TAOP - much later than anticipated. Awaiting my tutor's comments next week. And although he may suggest a couple of changes, all in all it's a good set of images I think (www.richardrowan.blogspot.com)

I'm expecting a couple of months off in the summer and intend making much quicker progress; enrolling on the next module before the year's out.

The key thing for me is to know precisely what exercises are around the corner. That way you can spot opportunities ahead of schedule rather than working one exercise at a time.

Rick
 
Actually that's an important lesson I learnt from TAOP. Always read through the course notes first, thoroughly. I was missing parts of the notes that I didn't notice until I came to the exercises. It appears an incomplete set of notes went out to some students.
But also you need to be aware of what's required, what's coming up so you can plan ahead. I struggled at times due to seasonal conditions and where I was in the course. The obvious example was lighting where you are asked to take a daylight shot every hour of the day. Not good to do that in June with a 4am sunrise and late sunset :)

Apart from everything else, it's really good to read ahead, make notes, ideas. I find my subconscious kicks in with ideas at strange times so I make notes, often on my phone. I also look ahead for image ideas and if I need a reference save those images to a mobile device (in my case iPhone or iPad) so I have a reminder. Some ideas come from magazines, adverts etc so you'll be surprised how useful a phones camera is to record ideas, as the shots don't have to be great, just as a reminder.
 
Hi Richard
A little feedback. Like the use of yellow with the diagonal/ curved to link the images and the curved is the stronger image.

High low, I wonder if a polarising filter may have helped on the windows of the high, but a great angle of an iconic building. I like the low, my only comment might be that I may have moved slightly to have the double yellow lines on the bottom right to balance the colours of the mural more. Did you try that with a bigger depth of field?

Curved straight is nice and on the curved you've got both elements. The curve of the track and the straightness of the trams trying to make the curve is very clever. Did you consider that as your combined? Love the straight shot from the higher angle.

Few many, love the pigeon shot, great low angle and I think the b&w approach works well.

Broad/narrow I think are your weakest pair. Not sure about the broad but the heavy narrow crop helps the narrow. There just doesn't seem to be a link between the two images?

Blunt/sharp is brilliant. Spotting the egg shape in the barbed wire was inspired, a great pairing.

Moving/still, nice lighting on the taxi, always hard with black cars but the lighting picks out the lines nicely. The bike is a great contrast.

Strong/weak not sure. I don't like the vinyetting on the statue and I'm not sure it says strong. Similarly I'm not convinced on the weak of the homeless man (but that might be as I was once involved with a homeless project and found most very strong characters).

Dark/light is a great image. Really like that.

So easy a strong set of images for the assignment. Well done.

Update: Just looking at the images again on a large, colour corrected monitor rather than the iPad.
I'm loving the curvy ramp, got ideas for a car shoot :)
The homeless/moth organ player, I really like the movement of the people just walking past ignoring him, also the reflections in the windows add another depth. Very minor point is that the suitcase is pin sharp and the old man is just slightly off, so I tend to find my eye drawn there first. I suspect you used centre focus point, so when framing it might be an idea to use a different focus point to get the element completely in focus.

Seriously good set for the first assignment, looking forward to seeing more.
 
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You guys have tempted me to do this.... Going to give them a call on Monday and see what's what... Lol here goes
 
Byker28i said:
Hi Richard
A little feedback. Like the use of yellow with the diagonal/ curved to link the images and the curved is the stronger image.
High low, I wonder if a polarising filter may have helped on the windows of the high, but a great angle of an iconic building. I like the low, my only comment might be that I may have moved slightly to have the double yellow lines on the bottom right to balance the colours of the mural more. Did you try that with a bigger depth of field?
Curved straight is nice and on the curved you've got both elements. The curve of the track and the straightness of the trams trying to make the curve is very clever. Did you consider that as your combined? Love the straight shot from the higher angle.
Few many, love the pigeon shot, great low angle and I think the b&w approach works well.
Broad/narrow I think are your weakest pair. Not sure about the broad but the heavy narrow crop helps the narrow. There just doesn't seem to be a link between the two images?
Blunt/sharp is brilliant. Spotting the egg shape in the barbed wire was inspired, a great pairing.
Moving/still, nice lighting on the taxi, always hard with black cars but the lighting picks out the lines nicely. The bike is a great contrast.
Strong/weak not sure. I don't like the vinyetting on the statue and I'm not sure it says strong. Similarly I'm not convinced on the weak of the homeless man (but that might be as I was once involved with a homeless project and found most very strong characters)
Dark/light is a great image. Really like that.

So easy a strong set of images for the assignment. Well done.
Click to expand...

Appreciate you taking time out, Byker, to give such comprehensive feedback. To answer a couple of points:

- I take your point about the yellow lines (low). As for it's DOF, I did take a number of shots varying from wide open to f/16. The more shallow DOF definitely emphasised the brief more
- I did consider the straight/curved as the combined shot - it was a close run thing with the dark/light shot.
- I'm expecting feedback on the strong and weak pairing. All initial thoughts seemed cliche - so I've tried to avoid physical strength and weakness. Instead I've opted for strength as in authority and weakness as in vulnerability.

My favourite is the dark/light image. In fact, I've got it blown up and framed - looks great even if I do say so myself!

Would you mind if I referred to one or two of your comments in further reflective notes? No worries if not.

Cheers again,

Richard
 
No problem at all. I learn a lot from giving feedback also. Mind you, that doesn't say I'm right, as I don't understand arty :)
I just know what I like and what I'd try and take after seeing your pics;)

I know what you mean about the dark light. Very good.

Edit - just updated my feedback at the bottom.

How are you delivering your images, prints?
 
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Hi all,

I've been watching this thread for quite a while. Needed to get a few things sorted before committing to something new but got everything finished at the weekend and finally signed up today.

I'm ready and raring to go now and just waiting for the course to arrive so thought I'd say hello.
 
Byker28i said:
Hi Richard
A little feedback. Like the use of yellow with the diagonal/ curved to link the images and the curved is the stronger image.

High low, I wonder if a polarising filter may have helped on the windows of the high, but a great angle of an iconic building. I like the low, my only comment might be that I may have moved slightly to have the double yellow lines on the bottom right to balance the colours of the mural more. Did you try that with a bigger depth of field?

Curved straight is nice and on the curved you've got both elements. The curve of the track and the straightness of the trams trying to make the curve is very clever. Did you consider that as your combined? Love the straight shot from the higher angle.

Few many, love the pigeon shot, great low angle and I think the b&w approach works well.

Broad/narrow I think are your weakest pair. Not sure about the broad but the heavy narrow crop helps the narrow. There just doesn't seem to be a link between the two images?

Blunt/sharp is brilliant. Spotting the egg shape in the barbed wire was inspired, a great pairing.

Moving/still, nice lighting on the taxi, always hard with black cars but the lighting picks out the lines nicely. The bike is a great contrast.

Strong/weak not sure. I don't like the vinyetting on the statue and I'm not sure it says strong. Similarly I'm not convinced on the weak of the homeless man (but that might be as I was once involved with a homeless project and found most very strong characters).

Dark/light is a great image. Really like that.

So easy a strong set of images for the assignment. Well done.

Update: Just looking at the images again on a large, colour corrected monitor rather than the iPad.
I'm loving the curvy ramp, got ideas for a car shoot :)
The homeless/moth organ player, I really like the movement of the people just walking past ignoring him, also the reflections in the windows add another depth. Very minor point is that the suitcase is pin sharp and the old man is just slightly off, so I tend to find my eye drawn there first. I suspect you used centre focus point, so when framing it might be an idea to use a different focus point to get the element completely in focus.

Seriously good set for the first assignment, looking forward to seeing more.
Click to expand...

Genuinely chuffed with your feedback. Ta.

The homeless one is good spot. Been having a few focus issues recently. Has something to do with continuous/single/auto focus. When I hold the shutter button and recompose in auto the camera thinks I'm panning and focusses centrally. Have changed it to single shot focus and will monitor it (and probably do some test shots this weekend).

I've also changed camera settings to phase detect rather than contrast AF. Do you have any preference?

Feel that I've learnt a lot from this first section and in all honesty when I first read the first section I thought I'd just be going over stuff I already knew.

By the way, feedback is always welcome regardless of whether I explicitly ask for it or not. :thumbs:
 
Byker28i said:
No problem at all. I learn a lot from giving feedback also. Mind you, that doesn't say I'm right, as I don't understand arty :)
I just know what I like and what I'd try and take after seeing your pics;)

I know what you mean about the dark light. Very good.

Edit - just updated my feedback at the bottom.

How are you delivering your images, prints?
Click to expand...

Emailed images to my tutor in the first instance (along with a PDF of reflective notes). He suggested that it will only be worth making prints after the assignment is complete - i.e. after his feedback.

How did your tutor play it?
 
AlfyB said:
Hi all,

I've been watching this thread for quite a while. Needed to get a few things sorted before committing to something new but got everything finished at the weekend and finally signed up today.

I'm ready and raring to go now and just waiting for the course to arrive so thought I'd say hello.
Click to expand...

Welcome, Alfy. Somewhere in this thread is a list of student blogs for TAOP - a worthwhile place to start when finding your feet.

Enjoy.
 
OK, a quick catch up of useful stuff to stop you searching:


Full details about the course in the handbook here:
http://www.oca-uk.com/data/useful_do...handbook-5.pdf

Completion of Level 4 gives you a Certificate in higher education in photography
Completion of Level 5 gives you a diploma in higher education in photography
Completion of Level 6 gives you a BA(hons) degree in photography


I'm not on Flickr but a lot of students are: http://www.flickr.com/groups/ocarts/


Going through the thread for Blogs:
Mine is: http://www.nineelmsphotography.com/blog/
HeWhoKnows: http://mattgilesphotography.blogspot.com/
DubCat: http://ocalog.blogspot.com/
BenJ: http://benclist.co.uk/oca/
Muz: http://futurephotoltd.blogspot.com/
 
AlfyB said:
Hi all,

I've been watching this thread for quite a while. Needed to get a few things sorted before committing to something new but got everything finished at the weekend and finally signed up today.

I'm ready and raring to go now and just waiting for the course to arrive so thought I'd say hello.
Click to expand...

Welcome Alfy.
 
rrowan said:
The homeless one is good spot. Been having a few focus issues recently. Has something to do with continuous/single/auto focus. When I hold the shutter button and recompose in auto the camera thinks I'm panning and focusses centrally. Have changed it to single shot focus and will monitor it (and probably do some test shots this weekend).

I've also changed camera settings to phase detect rather than contrast AF. Do you have any preference?
Click to expand...

I always use one shot AF unless it's something moving, such as cars, animals etc in which case I switch to AI servo. I know some like using back button for focus but I didn't feel comfortable. Didn't see a reason to change.

I use contrast detect as I can usually find a contrast edge to focus on and it's what I've got used to. As with everything, the less I have to think about, the more I can concentrate on the composition.
 
Byker28i said:
I always use one shot AF unless it's something moving, such as cars, animals etc in which case I switch to AI servo. I know some like using back button for focus but I didn't feel comfortable. Didn't see a reason to change.

I use contrast detect as I can usually find a contrast edge to focus on and it's what I've got used to. As with everything, the less I have to think about, the more I can concentrate on the composition.
Click to expand...

Cheers, Byker. Daft question… what's back button focussing?
 
There's a custom function that will turn the exposure lock button into a focus button. A few of the sports shooters use it this way, so they'll press the back button rather than press the shutter half way down.

Always felt strange to me having got used to it the standard way.
 
I've had a pm about the book list, so I thought I'd put my thoughts on this thread.

There is a suggested reading list and you will be expected to read/blog about them. It's also handy to stick references into your posts. I wrote one bibliography post and reviewed the books, this time I'm adding references into my posts.

As much as I hated reading Charlotte cotton, photography as contemporary art (because to me a photo shouldn't need pages to describe it) , it's an important book to read because this is an art based degree and it'll get you info that thinking, plus inteoduce you to some interesting, famous images.

Don't know if you still get it with the course notes but Graham Clarke, the photograph, is another good book to read. Bit more historical, but again, photographers and images you should know.

The course is written by Michael freeman and his books appear on the reading list. I got photographers eye as an iPad app when it came up cheap one weekend. It's easy to think its another revenue stream for freeman, but actually his books are informative and I've bought a couple others.

I also bought a few other books. A couple of Joe McNally to help with my lighting, a don McCollum after going to his exhibition and it gave me another excuse for a blog post. You get extra smarty points for referencing other photographers work.

One not on the list but recommended is the photographers guide to photoshop, I think by Martin Evening. You can usually pick up the previous version copies quite cheaply, but it's a great guide to doing things in photoshop.

Incidently, if you move onto DPP, then I'm finding Lightroom a must as the first part is all about workflow and that makes it easy.

Any thoughts from the others?
 
You've got an interesting blog Byker.

Quick question for everyone, how long did it take for your course notes to arrive? I signed up on Monday and was hoping to get them for the weekend so I had chance to flick through them but they've not turned up yet. Is my enthusiasm just making me overly impatient?
 
I'd have thought about by Friday, but they'll probably come Monday. Sods law. My latest ones came in about 3 days.
If they don't come soon, give the office a ring. They are really helpful.

Thanks for the comments on the blog. I've never blogged before this, learnt a lot during TAOP and I think I'm writing better notes now.
 
I'm going to throw my name into the hat - I started TAOP 1 last week with the OCA after dithering for many a year. Long time since I did anything formal in education, so a little daunted thus far - will just have to see how it goes.

My learning log is online at http://www.dave-thompson.org/oca-learning-log/
 
Furtim said:
I'm going to throw my name into the hat - I started TAOP 1 last week with the OCA after dithering for many a year. Long time since I did anything formal in education, so a little daunted thus far - will just have to see how it goes.

My learning log is online at http://www.dave-thompson.org/oca-learning-log/
Click to expand...

I have just sent off my application pack so I too will b starting shortly x
 
Welcome aboard both of you. Hopefully some of us a little ahead can help if you get stuck. Really looking forward to seeing your work.

AlfyB - did yours turn up yet?

Furtim - have you done all that in a week! That's impressive and looking very good.
Can I suggest you add a menu on the right hand side, or a link that gets you back.
Who was your poor subject walking back and forth for the panning/shutter speeds?
 
I assume they tried to deliver it this morning. I'd ask for them to send it to my wife's work but they've posted it to my house.

Working from home tomorrow so will hopefully have it in my hands then :)
 
Byker28i said:
Welcome aboard both of you. Hopefully some of us a little ahead can help if you get stuck. Really looking forward to seeing your work.

AlfyB - did yours turn up yet?

Furtim - have you done all that in a week! That's impressive and looking very good.
Can I suggest you add a menu on the right hand side, or a link that gets you back.
Who was your poor subject walking back and forth for the panning/shutter speeds?
Click to expand...

Menu added, but I need to work on it a bit I think, and the mug , oops, err 'model' was my reluctant No.2 child :)
 
Been reading this thread & really intrested in joining,but i have a couple of questions that maybe someone could answer.if you sign up for the first module now are the fees frozen for the rest of the modules & how are your assignments marked i.e pass or fail or %.
 
OCA on the student site has a raft of info, not sure it it's available before you pay.

However, fees if you start the course now are frozen for the next 5 years, I think the cuttoff point is before june.

You don't have to submit for formal assessment if you dont want to, but assessments run in March, July and November. Scoring is standard 1st, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd.

Assessment criterea is marked out at the start of each module, but basically you are assessed on
Demonstration of technical and visual skills
Quality of Outcome
Demonstration of creativity
Context

There's another bit about Level 4 that says "is about laying foundations. The emphasis is on the aquisition of skills and good working habits, such as the keeping of learning logs. It's about informing yourself about others work by reading, viewing exhibitions etc. At this level you are not expected to have developed a great deal of autonomy or have found a strong personal language but it's important that you push your limits."


Informal assessment comes from your tutor after every assignment. My TAOP
tutor was outstanding, giving me huge amounts of feedback and other avenues to explore. If nothing else, this was an outstanding value for money.

Hope this helps
 
My love for photography has been rekindled lately. Being in my late 40's it's the time of life where you start to run out of time to make any meaningful "life" changes.

I make my living through gambling, so find I have lots of time on my hands. I have been looking for something to replace this and find myself thinking that a career within photography would be very appealing.

Does anyone who has enrolled on the degree course think it worthwhile. I am good at time management, and my discipline is very good. So I will be able to put the hard hours in.

The "degree" isn't my motivation. It's learning the skills I need to be a great photographer. Having a degree would be a bonus. I have a niggle in my mind that says there may be better ways to learn.

Any thoughts?
Cheers
Steve
 
Hi Steve,

I'm a similar age to you. i've finished sports some time ago and dont have the time for golf, well not to get any good at this. I'm a relative noob to photography have been playing for the last 2 years. Will be signing up next month. its important that you know if you are going to sign-up what the advantages are of doing this before the end of May 2012. There should be more information here but PM me if you need more and I can send chapter and verse what theOCA have said.

I think as part of this course / degree you will learn and develop technical skills but i believe more important aspects will be that you learn to appreciate images in terms of balance, composition etc better, you will become better informed about what photography is and perhaps more importantly develop your own unique style and method of expression. I would see it as a journey. Like all art there is not necessarily a wrong or right answer so interpretation and expression are really individually demonstrated.

Are there better ways to learn - well I suppose reading and researching and having your images critiqued on certain websites; or e-learning photography course, have lessons from a pro etc but this a degree which i think will challange and develop you both in terms of artistic appreciation and expression through photography. Have read through this and look at people's blogs are are doing the degree courses

Thats my view but what do i know, i've yet to start the degree but these are the reasons i believe I'm going to be doing it. If someone knows different then let me know as I'll save some money and time :D
 
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FrattonFreak said:
I've now signed up to TAOP so I am in time to register and beat the end of May deadline.

Thanks for the advice Byker and this has now been confirmed as OK and processed accordingly but I'm told its a one-off
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Hi I have just signed up too, just waiting for my materials to come through,really excited to get started, bit scared of the blog, may revery to sketch books as that's what I'm used too, but hey oh will see how it goes :)
 
Hi, what photo editing do u need for OCA I currently have photoshop elements 9, I have seen we can buy cs5 for £175 but I really gonna struggle to get that :(
 
Byker - I was always going to join, I just got pushed to doing soon by the price rise from June 1st. I'll buy you a pint for the suggestion though (it wont be allowed for anyone else though Im told) ;)

Edra78 - Hi and good luck :). I'll let the others confirm what software they have used so far. I would think IE9 to be plenty sufficient for TAOP though most would perhaps aspire to something like CS5. You may find however that you can get a cheap earlier used version of CS, say CS4 or CS3 (ebay/Amazon) that gives you the vast majority of what you want. Additionally when assigned your tutor perhaps raise it with them for their advice before spending any money. It may be better spent on a second hand lens etc
 
FrattonFreak said:
Byker - I was always going to join, I just got pushed to doing soon by the price rise from June 1st. I'll buy you a pint for the suggestion though (it wont be allowed for anyone else though Im told) ;)

Edra78 - Hi and good luck :). I'll let the others confirm what software they have used so far. I would think IE9 to be plenty sufficient for TAOP though most would perhaps aspire to something like CS5. You may find however that you can get a cheap earlier used version of CS, say CS4 or CS3 (ebay/Amazon) that gives you the vast majority of what you want. Additionally when assigned your tutor perhaps raise it with them for their advice before spending any money. It may be better spent on a second hand lens etc
Click to expand...

Hi, cheers for that, I like u have been looking at doing the OCA for a while, I was going to start from oct when my daughter is at school, but the price increase made me start sooner, so I am starting from June 1st, have you started yet? I'm pricing books at mo, so need to look which we need and which are just advisory, as out of all my books I only have 1 from the reading list x
 
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