Being Patient

Having new material and fresh clips to take into iMovie is great. Even though nothing is stopping me from using older clips, I feel much more in touch with my imagination when working with untouched material. Plus I sometimes struggle editing together previously used footage as I can't shake the ideas I had first time around.

Filming the Hawick Harlequins rugby team play the Welsh side Bargoed RFC was an interesting experience. I had fun and was able to capture some shots that I was planning on attempting, and even some that presented themselves for the first time on the day. 

It's a little daunting finding yourself in a situation that you knew was coming and had prepared so much for, then suddenly feeling an immense pressure to achieve the things you set out to do. 

This is how I felt the Saturday before last.

Sitting in the changing rooms with the squad felt natural. As a member of the Quins and having played and socialised weekend after weekend over 3 years with the team, there was a relaxed atmosphere as the lads were pulling their boots on and donning the strip. During bouts of recording I would ensure some players that the final work will be without sound, but this only encouraged their enthusiastically explicit language. It soon became apparent that I would need to produce a blooper reel purely for the team's appreciation!

Once we were down at the riverside and onto the pitch, I began recording movement around me. My first few clips were of our committee members pushing the touchline flags into the grass and various shots of legs leaping across the pitch step by step. 

As I looked through the viewfinder whilst recording I couldn't help but think;

"Ooh! That'll look good if I do this..."    or    "This bit will work better if I crop the..."

The editing stage was constantly on my mind and it was affecting the work! I had to focus on the moment and concentrate on capturing the best footage possible. Once the game kicked off I went into a zone of complete paranoia. 

I hope I got that bit!

Shit - was that in focus??

Where's the ball went??

How long until half time? 

I haven't got enough footage...

The first half was traumatic. For both me and the team. The second half went better and I was able to relax and get some images of the supporters on the touchline. There is once clip where I decided to focus the camera on the lower half of one player, and it just so happened he was passed the ball soon after I began filming. Little occasions like that empowered me and made me realise how important being patient was.

I have looked over most of the footage from my day of filming. Most of it is good, and I am confident that I will be able to produce a final work that is as close to my brief as possible. 

Toby Paterson

Today we had a visit from artist Toby Paterson. He talked of the various types of mediums he has worked with over his career along with explaining the basis of his work and interests in architecture and the reality it occupies. 

We took a trip to see his exhibition over in Peebles last week. I very much enjoyed the selection of art on display and was eager to get the chance to hear him speak to us and maybe ask some questions. I remember thinking I wasn't too keen on the sculptures dotted around the room, they didn't grab my attention as much as his 3-D work and aluminium paintings. I noticed there were no titles accompanying each piece of work  - this startled me at first, but soon I felt as if a sort of pressure was lifted off me. If I had a title in my face before I had even looked at the painting, I feel that would have distracted me slightly or pushed my mind to come up with an opinion too soon. 

Whenever I've attended an exhibit I've always had in mind whether or not the title of a particular piece is accompanying said piece. I usually spend an initial 5+ minutes analysing and just taking in the work, and then if there is an area for information regarding the work or the artist responsible, I will give that a read before going back to analysing the work in detail. 

What I especially took away from Paterson's visit was how he told us of his intentions and ultimate aim within his work. He explained at first how he can go very long walks and document what he sees with his camera. I remember understanding what he meant when he talked about being able to feel a certain areas identity, inhabitants and atmosphere. I was interested for example, that a building next to a patch of grass with a crooked rusty fence might affect him and inspire him in a way he has never felt before, and that he understands that these things won't be around forever. I understand why he believes the feelings he has about encountering such areas needs to be captured. He talked of a specific building that grabbed his attention whilst out walking, here is his rendition of that building:

After about 5 minutes of explanation,  he talked of the feeling he had when he found this area and that he could only describe it as a "completely aesthetic experience of light, colour and space". This gave me the impression that he felt strongly about this particular building.

Paterson also spoke of when he was in France, and he organised a bus load of locals from the town to accompany him a little tour of their hometown. I admire how he had such an interest in these peoples opinions and views, and that he himself invested time in order to gain information to further his work.

Overall, his talk was filled with interesting projects he's taken part in and created since the beginning of his career in art. I found he spoke very clearly and honestly about how he creates his work and the influences that drive him and keep him going.