OCA The Art of Photography Course Discussion Including Assignments and Submissions

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Happy New Year to you all

@Byker - New Camera eh, always fun with a new toy but I follow the Nikon path :) Out of interest how did you find DPP and how much did you learn / already know? I plan on DPP after TAOP

@Alfy - I think for whatever reasons it can be easy to get out of practice of doing the course but do remember its also a hobby so look at the excercises as fun learning rather than a chore maybe? I agree with Byker and a spark does return. What I have found so far is that though its easy to lose creativity at times doing the excercises shows how much opportunity of images are there before your very eyes

All - I've just submitted TAOP Assigngment 2 so will also be starting colour. My assignment submission can be found here if anyone is interested:
http://warrenjonesphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/taop-part-2-assignment-2-elements-of.html

Cheers,

Warren
 
FrattonFreak said:
Happy New Year to you all

All - I've just submitted TAOP Assigngment 2 so will also be starting colour. My assignment submission can be found here if anyone is interested:
http://warrenjonesphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/taop-part-2-assignment-2-elements-of.html

Cheers,

Warren
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Hi Warren just had a look at your blog. Some good images there.

My tutors report on assignment was overall quite good. BUT, he did say he felt I had placed some of my images in the wrong category, down to personal interpretation I guess but can see his point though.

Been working on the colour exercises, just about to start the assignment. Given it is winter, the light is generally dull, and it is nearly always raining, am struggling for suitable subjects at the moment. Still it does make you think harder about the subject.

Rob
 
Hi Rob,

Thanks for your feedback. Ahhh I'm a bit behind you then. I hadn't looked at your assignment 2 before, I think curves is my favourite of yours, I really like how you captured the colours.

Intepretation - I think that goes for all photography and art in general :) I guess the feedback is there to help us improve and perhaps that also includes interpretation of our images. I guess though if you justify each image this could help. Afterall many images may have "multiple elements of design" in them.

I'll be starting colour very soon and I feel the same as you regarding colours outside this timke of year but I guess we can do plenty inside in terms of still life etc but we have spring to look forward to. At least at this time of year we may havebetter opportunity of capturing sunsets maybe as they arrive earlier and sunrises a bit later
 
FrattonFreak said:
Hi Rob,

Thanks for your feedback. Ahhh I'm a bit behind you then. I hadn't looked at your assignment 2 before, I think curves is my favourite of yours, I really like how you captured the colours.

Intepretation - I think that goes for all photography and art in general :) I guess the feedback is there to help us improve and perhaps that also includes interpretation of our images. I guess though if you justify each image this could help. Afterall many images may have "multiple elements of design" in them.

I'll be starting colour very soon and I feel the same as you regarding colours outside this timke of year but I guess we can do plenty inside in terms of still life etc but we have spring to look forward to. At least at this time of year we may havebetter opportunity of capturing sunsets maybe as they arrive earlier and sunrises a bit later
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Thank you, my tutor also liked curves. Must admit. Arrived a bit too early at the motorway junction, after standing about for about 1hr waiting for the light to fall, it was also rather cold. I gave in and added a ND filter and dropped the ISO to 50, this gave me the length do exposure I was after, then went for a warm in the car.

Got a few ideas for colour still life so have ordered a softbox for my flash and a few other bits of eBay today :). Can never have to much gear.
 
Great trick with the ND filter - It pays to have alternatives like that with you. I've no doubt the pro's perform tricks like that all the time. Anyway its the great images like that which will get you going out again.

I'm saving up for a softbox - I agree on the gear...always options then for Xmas and Birthdays :)
 
Thanks for the encouragement :) I got my tutors feedback last night which was fairly positive. I think a few of the images may need retaking before the final submission but nothing to major.

Once I've got the feedback added to the blog I'll share the link.
 
Reidy36 said:
Hi Carol,

Just had a quick look at your blog, very nice and you will find that i am following your blog, and also liked you on Flickr.

Thank you for the comment on the animals, i have seen a dramatic improvement since starting the course, even if i am not always able to do the outdoors stuff.
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Mark, thank you for your nice comments. I had a look at your blog and see that you are a couple of assignments ahead of me - good to see what's in store :eek: So I'm now following you as well. Nice blog btw; the dark background shows your photos off nicely.
 
FrattonFreak said:
Happy New Year to you all

@Byker - New Camera eh, always fun with a new toy but I follow the Nikon path :) Out of interest how did you find DPP and how much did you learn / already know? I plan on DPP after TAOP
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I think DPP is a natural progression from TAOP. It covers some of the same ground, in a slightly different way and introduces additional topics to some stuff studied under TAOP. It's also got a lot less exercises, 25/26 plus some projects, then the 5 assignments, so you can do it quicker.

I wanted to do people and places so thought this a good intermediate before I do P&P next.
 
As for colours - I think I hit this around Jan/Feb also and struggled.

Hint: garden centres are a riot of colour even in the winter months and with their diversification, not just flowers
 
AlfyB said:
Here is the feedback from my tutor for my second assignment - http://bushtography.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/assignment-2-elements-of-design-tutor-feedback/

I think my tutor has made some interesting and valid points. I'd be interested to get know what others think.
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Your tutor makes a very good point around the difficulty around making interesting images and fullfilling the requirements of the exercise or assignment. I do at times struggle with this and find I have, in my opinion stronger and weaker images that fullfill the requirements to varying degrees.

What i have started to learn / appreciate is not to get myself overly restricted by the excercise / assignment requirment but to attempt to become more creative around my intepretation, and probablys as importly, document my thinking around this. Is this something you share simalarities with? It would be good also to get some feedback from others along these lines because of course I could be going of course myself :)
 
Byker28i said:
I think DPP is a natural progression from TAOP. It covers some of the same ground, in a slightly different way and introduces additional topics to some stuff studied under TAOP. It's also got a lot less exercises, 25/26 plus some projects, then the 5 assignments, so you can do it quicker.

I wanted to do people and places so thought this a good intermediate before I do P&P next.
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Thanks for that overview. After DPP then I think P&P will be the next obvious choice.

That said I need to focus on TAOP...running before walking :)
 
FrattonFreak said:
What i have started to learn / appreciate is not to get myself overly restricted by the excercise / assignment requirment but to attempt to become more creative around my intepretation, and probablys as importly, document my thinking around this. Is this something you share simalarities with? It would be good also to get some feedback from others along these lines because of course I could be going of course myself :)
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I can see what you mean but in general, I quite often mentally struggle with how vague and open the exercises and assignments are. I think it's because of the type of study I have done before was more scientific/mathematical.

I had a friend at university that used to envy the fact that on my course, you had a degree of certainty around how well you were doing because you could tell if things worked or not (I studied computer science). He was doing an arts based subject so didn't have anything like that. I'm now appreciating what he meant.
 
Alfy - With maths and science there is often a specific answer as to what is correct and what is not. I can see your point clearly though

With art, and in our case photography, there are elements that contribute to making a good photograph but often the final result can be open to inpretation..e.g. I think its a good image and someone else thinks it less so.

I think perhaps the key then is that if you at times find it vague and so intepret it in a specific or just different way to some then is to document in your log or assignment your thoughts behind your interpretation. In effect justify why you've taken a specific path. In fairness I think we all intepret things different. If you do a search of learning logs say for Assignment 1 or 2 etc you may see how students intepret the assignments differently

I think the overall course confirms its about us as individuals developing our own voice so this suggests we develop our own individual ways of producing images which will also include our own indivivual way of interpretation and we would not really want to have results where we all produce the same images (or in maths the exact same anser :) ).

I think at this stage all that is expected is that we document our learning from the results we produce and the exercise assignments when reviewed by our tutors and that we continue to experiment so increase knowledge and learning and demonstrate this in our images / in our description of the images we produce.

PS - This is just my interpretation :)

I would consider dropping your tutor an email describing your thoughts on this and see what he replies as I'm sure you are in a better place than you might think.

Perhaps one of the other students here more progressed could add their thoughts?
 
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Have been reading this with great interest, got about 10 pages into the thread and saw mention of the fees etc. So went and checked out the costs on the OCA site and its says £975 per course! Really gutted as this puts it way out of price range sadly.
That said this thread has been really motivational with regards to looking up some further training/qualifications and well done to you guys still progressing with the units and levels, especially byker!
 
FrattonFreak said:
Alfy - With maths and science there is often a specific answer as to what is correct and what is not. I can see your point clearly though

With art, and in our case photography, there are elements that contribute to making a good photograph but often the final result can be open to inpretation..e.g. I think its a good image and someone else thinks it less so.

I think perhaps the key then is that if you at times find it vague and so intepret it in a specific or just different way to some then is to document in your log or assignment your thoughts behind your interpretation. In effect justify why you've taken a specific path. In fairness I think we all intepret things different. If you do a search of learning logs say for Assignment 1 or 2 etc you may see how students intepret the assignments differently

I think the overall course confirms its about us as individuals developing our own voice so this suggests we develop our own individual ways of producing images which will also include our own indivivual way of interpretation and we would not really want to have results where we all produce the same images (or in maths the exact same anser :) ).

I think at this stage all that is expected is that we document our learning from the results we produce and the exercise assignments when reviewed by our tutors and that we continue to experiment so increase knowledge and learning and demonstrate this in our images / in our description of the images we produce.

PS - This is just my interpretation :)

I would consider dropping your tutor an email describing your thoughts on this and see what he replies as I'm sure you are in a better place than you might think.

Perhaps one of the other students here more progressed could add their thoughts?
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I think we're saying the same thing just about - I agree with what you're saying anyway.

It's not a problem, or something I'm unhappy about, when I say I find the assignments vague its just not what I've been used to in the past. I find it quite refreshing actually being able to try and put my spin on things.
 
19ninety said:
Have been reading this with great interest, got about 10 pages into the thread and saw mention of the fees etc. So went and checked out the costs on the OCA site and its says £975 per course! Really gutted as this puts it way out of price range sadly.
That said this thread has been really motivational with regards to looking up some further training/qualifications and well done to you guys still progressing with the units and levels, especially byker!
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Unfortunately fees went up significantly this year, but luckily were frozen for current students. You can pay by installments now, see http://www.oca-uk.com/about-oca/faqs/fees-and-enrolment.html

I believe the open university have put their fees up even more. It still works out a cheap way to do a degree, in a timescale that suits you (well within two years per module). But I'll admit, finding the money for the next course is daunting.

But, having done almost two modules now, I'd say it's well worth the money if you take advantage of all that's on offer. The study trips have opened my eyes, my first tutor was so informative, helpful. Above and beyond really. His knowledge was outstanding and his hints on additional directions for study were brilliant. Same for the tutors I've met on study trips.

I thought taop would be easy and what I knew but it's amazing how much I learnt. Same for dpp. There's quite a few exercises where thinks click and you go...ooh now I see why that does that and...

It is a struggle though. I'm currently just finishing and trying to get the last assignment down, hence I've got home, quick bite to eat then worked until 10. About 8 hours a week would see taop done in a year, dpp in about 9 months. It's not just the exercises but research and blogging about other photographers, etc. I think it's a 6-7 year journey for my degree, if I make it. The good news is its full university/ recognised points so aft level 4 that's hnc, level 5 is hnd. I've no doubt it's a journey, I've no idea what I'm going to do with it but I'm enjoying it.
 
Byker28i said:
Unfortunately fees went up significantly this year, but luckily were frozen for current students. You can pay by installments now, see http://www.oca-uk.com/about-oca/faqs/fees-and-enrolment.html

...................
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Thanks for the excellent reply!
Its def the best course to do by the sounds of it, if you can commit the time and costs. Looks like a very long road though ... but a Ba Hons at the end of it is a great incentive on top of that of learning.
The more I look at it the more I want it but also the more I'm accepting its currently going to be too much of a time and financial commitment. Looking at possibly doing the inst.org course as its a little less intense, then seeing about doing OCA in a couple of years once daughter starts school and my missus is working again.

Good luck with your OCA though, will check back every now and then as its been an interesting read!
 
Well, that's it, Assignment 5 is written up. I wasn't happy with a couple of the prints so I've redone them, so as soon as they come back Assignment 5 will be in the post to my tutor and thats DPP finished. I've got everything already put together, PDF'd most of my course, so just a couple of bits to do and that'll be ready to go as well.

Again I'll be submitting my scrapbook as a digital copy as that's how I work.

I'm cutting it fine as the material has to be in between 15th Jan and 15th Feb.

For those that don't know, The assessment critera changed last March. The up-to-date marking criteria can be found on the student site within your profile (click on your username in the top-left corner of the screen and select 'Profile') under 'Core Resources'.
 
I am having a celebratory cup of tea.

I have just sent assignment 2 off to my tutor, relieved in a way, as it was the 3rd photo shoot for the assignment that i chose due to the prior two not being within the "criteria" enough, maybe i was just being harsh on myself, but in the end chose street design and used Putney high street.

No rest for the wicked though, will hopefully start on part 3 as got a week off doing some fishing etc up at the family house, so doubt i will have quality pc time, i do hope that the fishing gives me chance to utilise the colours of the birds that frequent the lake though.

Need to put my errors etc up on my blog, so you can all laugh...i mean see how i am progressing.
 
Reidy36 said:
I am having a celebratory cup of tea.

I have just sent assignment 2 off to my tutor, relieved in a way, as it was the 3rd photo shoot for the assignment that i chose due to the prior two not being within the "criteria" enough, maybe i was just being harsh on myself, but in the end chose street design and used Putney high street.

No rest for the wicked though, will hopefully start on part 3 as got a week off doing some fishing etc up at the family house, so doubt i will have quality pc time, i do hope that the fishing gives me chance to utilise the colours of the birds that frequent the lake though.

Need to put my errors etc up on my blog, so you can all laugh...i mean see how i am progressing.
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I'm only slightly ahead and you may be happy to know part 3 is really short. I've only been working on it a few weeks and I'm close to being ready to start thinking about the next assignment (once I've properly written up the exercises that is :) )
 
Welcome Alet - don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand stuff. Sometimes it's obvious, often you need pointers (especially to the student website and resources) ;)
 
Byker28i said:
Welcome Alet - don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand stuff. Sometimes it's obvious, often you need pointers (especially to the student website and resources) ;)
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:plusone:

I know I need to get back into it desperately. I've done next to nothing for a while now as I completely lost my mojo after my slipped disc incident a few months back. I'm still active with the camera but getting back into the routine of reading exercises, taking the photos and completing them has been a struggle. :(
 
faddius said:
:plusone:

I know I need to get back into it desperately. I've done next to nothing for a while now as I completely lost my mojo after my slipped disc incident a few months back. I'm still active with the camera but getting back into the routine of reading exercises, taking the photos and completing them has been a struggle. :(
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How far into the course have you got? As I mentioned a little while ago, I was falling well behind but it's not taken long to get back into it again.
 
It may be worth looking to see if any of the exercises can be done indoors if mobility is an issue. Another technique I have used has been to drive along a country lane and then look for opportunities, assuming you have an idea of what you want to capture. Its surprising how many opportunities there are and looking at something different makes for a bit more spontaneity.

Which element are you on, perhaps people here can give some suggestions / pointers that may help stimulate you. Also look at other people's blogs as this may help get you thinking around possible problems

Rather than worrying about what time you have lost, just set a new plan and set a new date. perhaps 1 / 2 exercises a week with blog write-ups etc. Something that is possible. This may hlp you get back on track.

If you haven't go here yet Colour (3) is much smaller smaller than other sections so when yu get here you may find you can appear to speed up
 
I'm actually on colour, just severely lacking inspiration. I have a handful of props I've acquired that should be useful for most of the exercises. I'm mobile again and I'm still getting out with the camera, it's just the habit of reading exercises and bearing them in mind when I go out. Also your other idea Warren, of driving and looking for opportunities - this is something I like to do, but with the weather we have had recently and the fact that I only have 2 wheels, it perhaps isn't the wisest of choices.

I'm going to try heading to Wollaton Park tomorrow with the props and get the third exercise done and perhaps tie it in with stalking some deer.

Perhaps I just need to get away for a weekend, go to somewhere I don't know and just focus on photography for the whole weekend and let the new environment stimulate me.
 
I found some inspiration in Digital SLR Photography magazine for one part of the colour exercises. I tried out injecting food dye into water. I'm not massively impressed with the results I got but I was really struggling to control the reflections on the curved glass I was using.

I think the technique has potential for some interesting images although I'd need a bit more practise to get it just right.

Here are the best three I got:


Playing with colour by Bushtography, on Flickr


Playing with colour by Bushtography, on Flickr


Playing with colour by Bushtography, on Flickr
 
Try garden centres for colour this time of year. Don't just think flowers, I shot rows of Welles, books, food etc.

Fruit displays at supermarkets, car showroom forecourts. Use a long lens and compress the depth of field
 
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Colour is the one I am about to start.
I have read the extra info from the OCA on it, but will need a few more goes to digest it and understand it all fully.

Thankfully off to see family next week and there is a festival of japan on in lincoln, going there to assist with a martial arts demo, but thoughts already with the sushi and kimonos that will obviously be there.

Love the playing with food dye, I would never have thought of anything like that.

Expecting feedback from assignment 2 tomorrow so fingers crossed.
 
Alfy - Thats clever. I think with practice and experimentation you will be able to refine it I'm sure.

I've never tried what you've done but it looks good fun and worth experimenting so well done. I'm wondering if the glass vase could say be placed on a glass table and lit from underneath.

I just got my feedback on Assignment 2. My tutor suggested I use a WACOM tablem for my post processing. Does anyone have any experience / war stories / suggestions etc. Not minted :)
 
FrattonFreak said:
Alfy - Thats clever. I think with practice and experimentation you will be able to refine it I'm sure.

I've never tried what you've done but it looks good fun and worth experimenting so well done. I'm wondering if the glass vase could say be placed on a glass table and lit from underneath.

I just got my feedback on Assignment 2. My tutor suggested I use a WACOM tablem for my post processing. Does anyone have any experience / war stories / suggestions etc. Not minted :)
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It certainly was fun, Warren. It's a good idea trying to light from underneath but I don't own a glass table to try. The magazine suggested so studio lighting from above if I remember rightly. More things I don't own.

I'm saving for a more serious flash ATM so once I get that I might try again. I've only got an sb400 which isn't very flexible.

What does he think the WACOM would help you with? Looks an interesting toy but can't imagine using one myself at the moment.
 
Doing some google reasearch it seems the tablet is used for a lot of post processing / retouching. He says my current PP is good but suggests I try using one.

I think there is Wacom Bamboo on Amazon for 39.99. Maybe I'll save for one

Always money to be spent on Photography :)
 
Hi - Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the first exercise. Its exciting starting and if you get stuck, need inspiration then take a look at other people's blog or just ask questions here

Well done on the Word Press log, I'm either lazy or too stupid so set mine up on blogger.

I've just completed and received my feedback for Assignment 2 and am working on Colour, which seems to be a much smaller section. Here's my blog:
http://warrenjonesphotography.blogspot.co.uk/

Looking at your photo's for your exercise, and you are better than me putting all the image information down. I wonder if you my be using too small an aperture at f/18. This may result in images a bit soft for lansdcapes. Perhaps next time also try f/8 or f/11 with what you normally do and see if you notice any difference.

Anyway dont worry as you will have lots of exercises on aperure and shutter speed so you will quickly get up to speed.

So far I have found I've learnt an awful lot - the learning never stops, If you keep good habits on progressing through the exercises then you wil do well

Cheers,

Warren
 
Wacoms are brilliant, Super for masking, cutting out, adjusting. Really accurate way of using a pointing device. I use mine a lot.
However, don't be fooled by getting a small one, as the resolution is tiny. I like the a4 ones. I may have an old serial port one in the loft, I'll have a look later.
 
alet said:
Hi guys, quick update, I now have a blog at http://alettaop.wordpress.com .

Am well excited because I've just finished the first exercise! Can't believe how cold it was outside; I'll have to restrict myself to indoor projects for the time being.
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Nice, clean, easy to read blog. Looks good
 
Byker - Thanks for the feedback. I think the 30cm are about the right size which I guess probably is about A4

Thanks for the offer of a serial port Wacom but I dont think my PC even has a serial port on the motherboard
 
I had my feedback from assignment 2 and my tutor commented that he has seen a change in my images from being literal and starting to turn more arty.

He has suggested that i take the same images again when its a cloudy day to see what the difference is (they were taken on a bright day).

Was advised to try and do things away from the norm to stand out, so hopefully i will get some inspiration as on a holiday for a week now.
 
Byker28i said:
Nice, clean, easy to read blog. Looks good
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FrattonFreak said:
Well done on the Word Press log...

I've just completed and received my feedback for Assignment 2 and am working on Colour, which seems to be a much smaller section. Here's my blog:
http://warrenjonesphotography.blogspot.co.uk/
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Thanks guys for the feedback on the blog. I was a bit nervous (have never done this sort of thing before) but followed the instructions at http://ocalearninglogsample.wordpress.com/ to the letter and all was well. I was particularly unsure about the white background (most of the learning logs I have seen have a dark background) but having uploaded the first pictures, I think the white background flatters them - which always helps:) - so I'll stick with that for now.

I have subscribed to both your blogs, by the way, and expect I shall be visiting them regularly for inspiration on how to develop my photography.

FrattonFreak said:
Looking at your photo's for your exercise, and you are better than me putting all the image information down. I wonder if you my be using too small an aperture at f/18. This may result in images a bit soft for lansdcapes. Perhaps next time also try f/8 or f/11 with what you normally do and see if you notice any difference.
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Thanks, good advice. The choice of f/18 was deliberate as it was freezing and I knew it would give enough depth of field so that I could take all the images quickly. But you're right - I am going to be a bit more brave with different apertures from now on.
 
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