First Times for Everything

Hi!

It has been about a month since I started attending the Diploma Program here at PrairieView, and so far I could not be happier with my decision. Sure there has been some stress, and there will definitely be more to come; but it's certainly enjoyable to love coming to school in the morning, and wanting to do your homework at night. I have definitely enjoyed learning all the new techniques in class, and getting to practice them with assignments. There has been challenges, but once you grasp the concept it definitely puts some new confidence and inspiration in you! 

Here are a couple of new things I've tried to far:

Motion blur in traffic

My sort of successful first star trail photo (still want to try this one again)

Painting with light

Surrealism for creative imaging

My very first darkroom test strip

Cheryl in action at Assiniboine Park

My classmates enjoying our trip to Grand Prix

I'm also really liking meeting new people who are interested in photography. It's great to be in an environment where everyone shares the same general goal, and everyone is eager to help one another. Everyone understands your frustrations with learning how to do things like reverse panning (a motion photography technique where you are moving with your subject), and it's nice to be able to talk it out with your peers. Those people are also there to cheer you on when you take a really awesome shot!

To give everyone a better idea of our life at school, I've asked a fellow future professional photographer Mikey Pauls to answer some questions for me:

What made you decide to attend PV?

I knew I wanted to take pictures since I was 15 years old. It was only until my last year of high school that I decided I wanted to do it for a living. I looked all over for a place to pursue my post secondary education in photography and PrairieView really stuck out.  As soon as I had my tour and interview, I knew it was the place for me.

What assignment have you enjoyed the most so far?

My favourite assignment so far has got to be the Grand Prix field trip. Go karts and mini-golf is in the top 10 of my favourite thing to do, ever. Being able to do it for free, and get marks for it, was awesome.

Is there anything you are looking forward to learning, or hoping to learn this year?

I'm really looking forward to learning studio lighting and using flashes. It's something I've tried but never really had any success with. Once I've learned how to do it properly I can see myself using it a lot.

What is your number one goal this year, or something you would really love to shoot?

My number one goal this year is to become a more creative photographer. If anything needs work it would be that. If I can learn more creative techniques, and be able to work them into my photography, that would be stellar.

What is something you would really love to shoot?

My dream come true photo shoot would most definitely be the Winter X-Games. I absolutely love winter action sports, and to be able to work on the site of the biggest action sport event in the world would be insane. 

Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about attending PV Diploma Program for 2013/14?

My advice would be to just go for it and give it everything you've got. It's a great opportunity and you wont believe how much you'll learn even in the first month.

We are all having a great time here at PrairieView, and we are all excited to see where the year takes us. I can already tell it's going to be an amazing, challenging, and most importantly FUN year. 

That's all for now, 

Kelsey Matsko

PrairieView Diploma Student

2012-2013