OCA The Art of Photography Course Discussion Including Assignments and Submissions

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Welcome rob. You have to keep a learning log and it's strongly suggested as a blog online so your tutor can read and comment. Also worth a google to see what other students have done. I started by trying not to copy other students.

When your learning material comes, it's worth reading through the lot before starting any exercises, just so you know what's coming. Then I found it useful to read each module as you start on it, plus sometimes read ahead of the exercises/lessons. If the weather was lousy I sometimes just put a pacemaker in my blog and moved on to something I could do then returned to the missed exercises.
Cheers
 
Thanks for the welcome Byker :). My pack has now arrived and it is my intention to have a read through this weekend. Will report back.
 
I finally got my first assignment submitted and promptly had feed back from my tutor - I submitted the assignment on Saturday morning and had the response by Monday afternoon.

It's taking me longer to get through everything than I was expecting but that's because work has been really busy lately so it took me about 5-6 weeks to finish the first assignment and I've still not written up some of the initial exercises (although I have taken the images for them). I found it quite challenging trying to get shots that represented a particular subject. I'm more used to shooting anything that takes my interest.

I'm fairly pleased with the comments and think they're all fair and valid. Here is the link to the assignment which includes the tutor feedback as well - http://bushtography.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/assignment-1-contrasts/

How's everyone else getting on that's started TAOP in the last few months?
 
im just coming up to my first assignment now, ive 2 more exercises to do then its the big one. Im just a bit worried about what i have to say in it. Ive been filling in my learning log / blog for each exercise so far but you get zero feedback from that. I did email my tutor a few weeks back to try and get some input, after all its been 20 years since i did any study so i want to make sure im saying the right things. I got a reply back from him but it was very fluffy to say the least. I know im not being as arty farty with the presentation as i should be when compared to others, but if the only time you get feedback is when you submit an assignment then thats a bit late. Im just a bit thankful that assignment 1 doesnt go towards the final mark so i might be able to pick some pointers from that.

I guess i was just expecting a bit more tutor involvment that ive been getting, which is next to nothing tbh.

http://www.ashleycottle.co.uk/MyBlog

I just noticed that on IE 8 the pics on my blog are all squashed horizontally! firefox seems fine. Not chuffed. Its wordpress so i would of thought it would be ok.
 
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essexash said:
im just coming up to my first assignment now, ive 2 more exercises to do then its the big one. Im just a bit worried about what i have to say in it. Ive been filling in my learning log / blog for each exercise so far but you get zero feedback from that. I did email my tutor a few weeks back to try and get some input, after all its been 20 years since i did any study so i want to make sure im saying the right things. I got a reply back from him but it was very fluffy to say the least. I know im not being as arty farty with the presentation as i should be when compared to others, but if the only time you get feedback is when you submit an assignment then thats a bit late. Im just a bit thankful that assignment 1 doesnt go towards the final mark so i might be able to pick some pointers from that.

I guess i was just expecting a bit more tutor involvment that ive been getting, which is next to nothing tbh.

http://www.ashleycottle.co.uk/MyBlog

I just noticed that on IE 8 the pics on my blog are all squashed horizontally! firefox seems fine. Not chuffed. Its wordpress so i would of thought it would be ok.
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My tutor said not to worry to much about the exercise write ups when I said that they seemed to take most of the time. However, she did say that notes from my reading deserved some time.

Have you read "The Photograph" book that came with course notes? I found that seriously hard work and dry. I've also read The Photographers Eye which was very good.
 
I found parts of "the photograph" interesting but havnt got too far into it. The lighting book is worth its weight in gold though , very happy with that one.

I didnt realise that the photographers eye and the course module were written by the same bloke! Using that as the course text book actually has it making some sense. We've got a day trip to the saatchi gallery on saturday, not sure how many people signed up for it but it could be interesting. But i might have a yap with the tutors who turn up for that regarding the sort of commentary you should be putting with your work.
 
AlfyB said:
I'm fairly pleased with the comments and think they're all fair and valid. Here is the link to the assignment which includes the tutor feedback as well - http://bushtography.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/assignment-1-contrasts/
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very interesting shots and the comments seem spot on.
On the small images, there's a crease in the sheet that's distracting and I agree about your comments for Black. I think leaving it in colour may have had more effect.

I really like diagonal, great shapes.
 
AlfyB said:
Have you read "The Photograph" book that came with course notes? I found that seriously hard work and dry. I've also read The Photographers Eye which was very good.
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essexash said:
I found parts of "the photograph" interesting but havnt got too far into it. The lighting book is worth its weight in gold though , very happy with that one.
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I stuggled with that one, but then it is an art course. How some of those famous photo's are considered good escapes me but the artistic write up that goes with it is interesting - but yes, a little deep for the first return to studying.


essexash said:
I didnt realise that the photographers eye and the course module were written by the same bloke! Using that as the course text book actually has it making some sense. We've got a day trip to the saatchi gallery on saturday, not sure how many people signed up for it but it could be interesting. But i might have a yap with the tutors who turn up for that regarding the sort of commentary you should be putting with your work.
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You'll find that he's written many books and they appear on the recommended reading list frequently.

I didn't get on the Saatchi visit as they've started reserving places for students who haven't been on a study trip before. You'll enjoy it as the tutors will give you a new insight into the work.
 
I'm stuck on assignment 2 on DPP, mainly due to the weather at the moment. It's always raining hard on my spare time and I need to shoot in various stages of bright sunlight. The only odds we get seems to be at inappropriate times.

Finally got assignment 1 back, it's taken a long time since I sent it off as my tutors been away and is playing catch up.
 
Help...... Well it looks like i will be joining you all soon and enrolling on the course. I emailed them yesterday asking if there would be a problem paying now but due to work, deferring starting properly after the Olympics (as know some have had their start deferred like this.

Having looked at some of the blogs, part of me is thinking i will be way out of my depth and as i currently don't do any PP at all on my images, the learning curve will be steep.

Hope i get a reply soon.

Just checked and had the reply. Looks like i will be enrolling this weekend....what am i doing?????
 
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Reidy36 said:
Help...... Well it looks like i will be joining you all soon and enrolling on the course. I emailed them yesterday asking if there would be a problem paying now but due to work, deferring starting properly after the Olympics (as know some have had their start deferred like this.

Having looked at some of the blogs, part of me is thinking i will be way out of my depth and as i currently don't do any PP at all on my images, the learning curve will be steep.

Hope i get a reply soon.

Just checked and had the reply. Looks like i will be enrolling this weekend....what am i doing?????
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The OCA is very flexible with time - you have up to 2 years to finish each course. I am just about to submit my first Assignment for the Advanced course after starting in February.

You will want to crack on with the projects when you get the materials though just to get some momentum.

Mike
 
Thanks all.

Now what would you class as essentials, both equipment and reading material wise?

I know they give you a list but as you are doing the course, is there anything they haven't put down.

It's my birthday in a week, so wish list time :-)
 
Reidy36 said:
I know they give you a list but as you are doing the course, is there anything they haven't put down.
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A stranglehold on mother nature. I'm sick of the rain :p
 
faddius said:
A stranglehold on mother nature. I'm sick of the rain :p
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I'll agree with that. My current assignment needs bright sunshine, not a giant cloudy light box.
 
hello to you all....

thinking of enrolling before prices go up again... :S.. got a house move in 8 weeks.. am i crazy to start now???! :cuckoo:


also... when you have pics of your subject.. and the background is all black or white... how do you do that??? or is it all photoshop/editing ?!...

thanks & I look forward to chatting to you all soon

Lou
 
ohhh and can I just sign up for the art of photography and go from there.. is there discount to do more than 1 module.. and would they all be due to end at the same time if i did that??!

thanks
L
 
:) thanks.... mmm so do i start now... or wait until i move!!! end of sept :/ ages.....
 
NurseLou said:
:) thanks.... mmm so do i start now... or wait until i move!!! end of sept :/ ages.....
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Why not read through it all, you never know that you may get an opportunity arise for one of the assignments, however moving is quite stressful.

I have got start date of 1st Sept now, need to sort out doing a blog and then learning stuff.
 
mmm well i haven't signed up yet... :S.. so thats the dilemma... now or later.. but i know the price is going up :S..

mm yeah ... thinking of taking camera out tomorrow see if i can catch any of the road races
 
ok didn't get up in time... so will see womens race tomorrow.. batteries on charge :)
 
Where are you going to go? I did Richmond Park earlier, still debating whether to go tomorrow.
 
Anyway, back on track.
I received the essential reading and suggested reading book list yesterday. Is there any particular order you would look at reading them?
Presuming they don't all need to be read before you start.
 
No no particular order but they do like to to make mention, even if it's just in a bibliography.
 
Taop results are in....


62% which gives me a 2-1 and puts me in the top third of those that were appraised. Be interesting to get the feedback later.

Slightly disappointed, but apparently that's good for the first time.
 
No idea how the marking system works as my best quals are c & g but well done.
Being in top 3rd is better than the bottom one, so look at it that way.
 
My first time at degree level too - thanks

Scoring, I was surprised at how low the scoring was:
First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above)
Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2.i) (60-70%)
Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2, 2.ii) (50-60%)
Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) (40-50%)
 
Byker28i said:
Taop results are in....

62% which gives me a 2-1 and puts me in the top third of those that were appraised. Be interesting to get the feedback later.

Slightly disappointed, but apparently that's good for the first time.
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That sounds good to me. Well done :)

I reckon 99% of students would take a 2.1 if they were offered one.

I imagine that it'll be an eye opener when you get your feedback. I find everything kinda vague but just thought that's cause it's an art subject.
 
FrattonFreak said:
I've now completed the 5 introductory excercises for TAOP and I must admit I surprised how much is involved with write-ups!
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Yup, taking the photos is the easiest bit. How's everyone else getting on?
 
Byker28i said:
Yup, taking the photos is the easiest bit. How's everyone else getting on?
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I've been struggling since getting my first assignment done. Doing the assignment got me out the swing of working through the exercises. Really need to get going again.
 
FrattonFreak said:
am I right in thinking that its not until the final "3rd" year (2 modules) that the assessment us used to give the final degree qualification e.g. 1st, 2:1, 2:2 etc
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Yes that's right. It took me the duration of my "2nd" year to sort out the standard and presentation of my work so I was glad it didn't count. I've upped my game for the last courses!

Mike
 
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