Suitably inspired my the film school I thought I'd try out the video capabilities of my new camera.  I'm starting a new reduction print for an Exhibition in Leicester, a 10 x 10 cm miniprint, using my drawings of  hares I've previously used in Collagraphs.  As I'd only carved out the whites of their eyes I thought it was the perfect time to show the process from the very beginning.  So I set up my tripod and just started filming.  I was impressed by both the picture quality and the sound and impulsively posted it online, unedited.
Here is the link if you'd like to have a look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tHf_SieQeM
 
A change of pace today as I spotted an advert on Gumtree Edinburgh for " free film making training"  pretty close to where I live, which intrigued me as I would really like to make some "how to" videos.  The bad news was that I saw it at 11.15 pm on Friday night and it started at 10 am on Saturday!  The advert had only been posted at 11 am on Friday morning, so I decided they must be short on numbers. I emailed the company - Diversity Films - without much hope of a reply in time.  I drove along there on Saturday morning anyway and found they did have space for me. Lucky!
It was a great day with lots of useful information and hands on experience.  After showing us a few examples of their work - both documentary and drama - and explanations of how to work the cameras, radio and boom microphones, tripods etc we were thrown in at the deep end.  Split into groups of three we took turns of being interviewed on camera, operating the camera and operating the micrphones.  Next the same thing again,  but with the interviewee walking around outside!   This was a real test of coordination with the microphone operator also guiding the camera operator as they walked backwards filming, looking out for steps, obstacles and other people,  just waiting to be tripped over .
The day ended with a brief introduction to editing the footage we shot.  A very time intensive activity to get anything approaching a smooth edit!  All in all it gave us an indication of just how much work is involved in making even the simplest film.
There are follow up courses and it certainly left me wanting to learn more. I can't wait. 
 
Here are some photos from Saturday at Abbot House.  The first are three of  the people who had a go at printing, using polystyrene sheets to draw into and our little travelling press to print them with waterbased inks.  So nobody got too messy, not even the kids!  Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience, even spurring a few people into wanting to come to our beginners classes and others to get back into printmaking. All in all a good day!
The other photos are of the Exhibition of Members prints, which were well received with lots of positive comments and lively conversation with interested and interesting visitors.
 
A bit late I know, but Fife Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop is having an opening at Abbot House in Dunfermline on Friday 18th June from 6 - 8.30 of  Members Prints. During the day on  Saturday we will be giving people the opportunity to come along and make a print on our "travelling press". Should be lots of fun and of course children are welcome to have a go along with the adults. Do pop in if you're in Dunfermline.

I feel very fortunate today as my birthday is coming up, but my present arrived early - a new digital camera! My aged  trusty little Pentax wasn't quite up to the job of recording my prints without bending the edges. So my new  Panasonic Lumix TZ9 was my choice after much research on the internet - actually I'd decided on a TZ7, but was offered a very good price on the newer, richer in features TZ9. I can't wait to get out taking lots of photographs.