Eat. Sleep. Shoot. Repeat.

Eat. Sleep. Shoot. Repeat. My oh my, where to begin?

Well Prairieview School is definitely not what I expected it to be like, I know last spring when we were all be interviewed by Ross or Craig we were warned of how challenging and fast pace this program was, but let me tell yah, it is not all fun and games.

I have always had a passion for photography and last winter when I found out this school existed, I immediately became interested. I applied, had my interview, and in weeks was accepted as a full time Diploma Program Student. Still in shock of how quickly it all came together, I accepted the challenge. Not really knowing what I was getting myself into! I was very excited to take my photography to the next level. 

Before starting the program in the fall, I decided to go backpacking for four months across Europe and The United Kingdom to blow off some steam and have some fun before entering back into the world of School. It was an amazing adventure and a lot of free time. I returned to Canada only ten days before starting the program on September 4th 2012. I quickly moved myself to the city, found a house, and went out and bought all my gear. All the free time I had in those past four months was quickly about to change.I bought myself a Nikon D7000, being my first real DSLR, I instantly fell in love. Have to admit that there were a lot of buttons on that camera that I had no idea what they did.

Here’s a little glance of our classes, what they're all about and what we have been learning.

Starting off in Image Capture with Tristan Fast, we quickly got right into it. We learned F STOPS! (ALWAYS KNOW YOUR F STOPS!!), shutter speeds, keeping your meter happy, histograms, all the functions to our cameras, and the list goes on. The first week was very overwhelming, but once I started getting the hang of my camera and really knowing how to work it, the pictures started to fall into place. We quickly got into shutter speeds, and started shooting a lot outside and learning all the effects of motion. The assignments started rolling in.

Creative Imaging with Sarah Hodges Kolisnyk we learned all about the history of photography, and famous photographers. We learned all about the early stages of photography, how it all started and where it came from. From the first images printed in the dark room, and the old techniques used. We learn how to put emotion into our images, about mood, color, tone. We often have classes where we critique our images from our weekly assignments which I find very helpful to get feedback not only from Sarah but from our fellow photography classmates. Creative Imaging really helps to get out of yourself out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there. A lot of room for creativity, which is extremely important for growing photographers. It’s going to be sad when Sarah leaves us this spring for baby number two!! Good Luck Sarah, you’ll be missed!!

Then we have Industry Studies with Ross Cornish then Aaron Sivertson after our first term. Where we have been learning all about the industry. How to manage our business, stay out of debt, money management, just all the ins and outs you need to know about the world of photography. I have learned that a really important part of being a photographer is having a solid team behind you every step of the way, whether its business related or family and friends, You need support. Marketing is the key ingredient to being successful you need to get your name out there if you want to succeed, it is up to you to do your marketing, the more you do, the more you will be known and the more successful you will become. We have been getting a lot into studio lights and portraits, which is definitely a field I am interested in. We do live in Winnipeg, and as you all know, we don't always have sunshine to light our photographs, so studio lighting is an amazing thing for us. 

Digital Techniques with Bram Singleton is our computer class where we learn all about Lightroom and recently getting into Photoshop, (what an amazing program). You can do anything in Photoshop!! Lightroom is great for optimizing and keeping all of your photos organized, keywording is very important!! I was a microsoft user before this course, so switching to Mac was very different learning all the functions and new shortcuts but it is great!

We have our Analog Techniques with Tristan, which is our Film and Darkroom class. I had never worked in the darkroom nor even with a film camera. Film is a wonderful thing, I love it. We have used several different types of cameras and film. Medium Format cameras were very interesting. We have done double exposures which can turn out pretty cool! Developing in the dark room is a very long process, once you walk into that room don’t expect to come out for several hours. There’s no such thing as a quick visit to the darkroom! We have recently started to develop our own negatives, and loading your film in complete darkness is not an easy task. Scissors are hard to find and sort of dangerous in the dark, or film gets dropped on the floor and you’re on your hands and knees trying to find it in the pitch black. Watching your first print appear on the piece of paper in front of you is so exciting, an amazing experience and feeling!

Then last but not least our video class with Paolo Porquez! Learning the program Premier to make and edit videos is quite tricky, there is a lot to know about the program and many different functions but it can produce some amazing videos! Our current project due is a music video, it will be interesting!

There is a little some up of what we have been learning the first half of the year. I am excited for the next half, now feeling more comfortable with my camera and gear, I feel I am really starting to grow as a photographer. I want to be a travel photographer when we graduate, travel the world to take pictures of different countries, different cultures and people all over the world. Though lately I have really been getting into portraits, I enjoy working with people and eventually would like to be a People & Wedding Photographer. 

NEVER STOP SHOOTING!

It has been an incredible journey so far. The toughest, most hectic five months of my life, but I have no regrets. Times get tough, it’s frustrating, busy, hectic, sometimes you have a little mini breakdown but it’s alright! Because it’s all going to be worth it, it’s only making us stronger photographers, just gotta push through the hard times, we are all in this together!! I can’t express enough how much I appreciate all of my friends and family for their continued love and support. Also to my roommates, for the constant camera gear all over our house, my cameras in their faces and putting up with me when I go a little off the end.. thanks guys!  Every student at Prairieview is amazing and unique in their own way, and I have built some really great friendships this year with some pretty great people. Colleen and I have already been planning where we are going to travel to together after the school year and I cannot wait! The teachers are all the best, it is like one big weird family here!! I am beyond excited for what’s next, the rest of the school year and whatever happens after that! We are halfway done school this month! Crazy!! Where did the last 5 months go?? Much Love To All!!

Here are a few different images I have been working on this year.

Kellie McDonald

PV Diploma Student 

2012-13