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Sunday 17 September 2017

Photography course

Yesterday we started the photography course at Jacaranda, in Blantyre, Malawi. It was lovely, interested participants, and a good room. Jacaranda is nice. We started on the question: what is a good photo? There are some theories around it, and a lot of interesting things to talk about. And of course we did make photos, it is a practical course.
However a few people did not come over, so we have some space for more people. If you are interested, you can call me on 0994 815947.

photo course at Jacaranda, STILL SOME PLACES AVAILABLE!

PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
Facilitator: Arjen Van de Merwe
Place: Jacaranda Cultural Center & Maison de la France, Top Mandala
Times: Ten-week course, starting Saturday 16th September. 2pm-5pm
arjenvdm@dds.nl
0994 815947
Photography is a creative activity. It is fun, it gives pleasure to create beauty, to communicate. Photography is a language, with its own vocabulary and grammar. Learning how to use these is learning how to communicate through images.
In this course photographer and photography educator Arjen van de Merwe addresses the language of photography. How do I use the tools available to the photographer to make a strong image, an image that speaks? An image that tells the story I want to tell. Your grand children, your flowers, your dog, or fully abstract images, any subject is suitable.
-- Light, composition, content, timing, all these attributes can cooperate to make the photo communicate to the viewer. Arjen explains how to use them to create the image that you want to make, the image that says what you have to say. Your facilitator can not tell you which photo to make. But he can explain the language of photography, so you can tell your own story. Technical issues are addressed as and when needed, the emphasis is on the creative side of photography.
The course consists of ten sessions of three hours each. The participants use their own camera.
During the week, the participants make photographs. The photographs are discussed in the course.
By each week completing a cycle of
theory > practice > evaluation > back to theory
the participant grows his/her skills and artistry


Wednesday 6 September 2017

camera angle


I was working for Girls Empowerment Network. The idea was to show the girls as empowered. I am tall, so if I stand up straight I will be looking down on the girls, which does not show them as empowered, quite the opposite: the viewer will be looking down on them. So I kneeled down, aiming upwards. I had my camera set, and waited for Yami to turn her face so the sun would light it nicely. I at the right moment I pushed the shutter.
With demonstrations and such I like to be close with a wide angle (in this case 17mm) so the viewer gets a feeling of being in the middle of it. The wide angle left space for the other girls and some of the banner, giving info on the event.