Start at the start

So.......here we go then. It seems for the last few months I've tried to do anything but start my University blog.
"I'll just make a brew and I'll get started", "just a few more games on Call of Duty", "Just nip to pick the kids up from school first", "May as well start it in March, April, May"........so on, so forth. Wish I'd started it earlier so here we go.........just make a quick brew though........!

Photography and Film

Last year I undertook a night class in photography. Once a week, on a Tuesday evening,  I'd drag my sorry ass to college to learn how to use this alien device D-SLR thingy that cost me a small fortune (mortgage, cars, wife and kids produce a severe dent in my ever thinning wallet) and learn to use it properly. I've always enjoyed photography but only to the extent of using small digital cameras or mobile phones to capture moments, such as birthdays, holidays and the occasional drunken night out........hang on, drunken night in to state the truth. The health and well-being of my two beautiful kiddies, Jack and Evie, come miles before the need to get drunk and the talk complete waffle to an overpriced taxi driver with no regard for any of the road laws.......mmm sweet sweet drunk talk.

The camera i bought was a Cannon 300D, one of the first digital slr's I think. Nothing special, nothing flash, just a tool I needed to earn myself some qualifications after leaving school in 1995 with 10 barely pass G.C.S.E's. So for the last 16 years I've been working, doing everything from Lab Assistant to baker and from Car salesman to Postman. I didn't have a flash of inspiration, no need for a higher calling, one day just thought to myself "F**k doing this sh*te for the next 35 years!"


Anyway I passed with a B grade, which I think is my highest mark in all of my schooling years so far. The AS level course gave me a good understanding of the camera, lenses and compositional skills and I ended up with a whole half an A level.....fantastic I thought at the time, but what do I do from here? Go to Uni I suppose! 

So I did, got through on clearance with my portfolio work from my year at Yale College in Wrexham. Thanks Stewart for having the heart and time to give someone willing and determined a chance.


Below are some pics from my year at college.