Year 12 Photography students from De Aston School enjoyed a packed day out in London yesterday.
The first stop on their whirlwind tour of the capital was the newly opened Fujifilm House of Photography concept store, based between Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Students took a guided tour of the facility, allowing them to experience different studio set-ups and printing techniques, and get their hands on a variety of kit applicable for different areas of photography.
A dark room studio allowed the students to experiment with increasing the ISO, a useful technique for shooting in low light conditions, to show the benefit of using a digital SLR over a smart phone camera.
Also at the concept store was a gallery showcasing the work of David Bailey, and a wall of stack prints. Photography teacher Mr Taylor used the wall of photos to inspire the students to create their own. He challenged them to take photos during the trip focusing on the themes ‘Typically British’ and ‘Daily Lives’, which they will use during class to create their own A3 stacks.
Next on the agenda was a visit to London’s Sky Garden, offering students the opportunity to photograph tropical plants and flowers, along with panoramic views of the city from the garden’s balcony.
For student Adam Dewapriya, the Sky Garden provided a unique opportunity:
“The trip to London allowed me to use a new zoom lens on my camera for the first time. The Sky Garden meant I could take landscape shots of London’s skyline, then zoom in on specific buildings to capture the details.”
Amber Bakin also enjoyed the visit:
“The Sky Garden allowed me to shoot a variety of different views and interesting angles.”
After returning to ground level, the group enjoyed walking to various sights, stopping off to take photos along the way.
Their route took them past St Paul’s Cathedral to the South Bank, where they shot photos of some graffiti and sand art, past Trafalgar Square and across Millennium Bridge, where they spotted some unique art using bubble-gum stuck to the bridge.
Finally the group headed back to St. Pancras International station to catch their train home and reflect upon on excellent day in the capital.
De Aston School offers Sixth Form students the opportunity to study A Level Photography. Students regularly undertake work outside of the classroom to allow them to capture images and experience all aspects of the art form. Find out more about Photography at De Aston.
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