David Oldham (Distilled Records Manager) Emails

Emails to David Oldham of Distilled Records about work experience, following the shoot with Mano.

From: Jonathan Eccles 
To: "info@distilledrecords.com" 
Sent: Friday, 7 March 2014, 8:06
Subject: Photography

Hi David

I was just wondering if it'd be possible to get any work experience with you, or if you could put me on to anyone who I could do some work with? I'm really keen on getting a load of experience and building up a portfolio, and would love to do some more work like the stuff with Mano

Anything you could arrange would be really appreciated, thanks a lot,

Jonathan

David Oldham

09:05

To: Jonathan Eccles

Hiya Jonathon - good to hear from you - the shots of Mano are great,  though I'm from Greater Manchester myself, the label and me are based in South West Scotland...  Our next release will be from a trio of teenagers from Dumfries called Sticks And Stones...  I'll see if we can sort something out as i'd love to use more of your work...  Distilled Records is owned by Steve Dowling and we are very much hand to mouth - we rely on Steve's business selling stoves (Dowling Stoves) to fund the musical projects that we take on - the label makes no money at all - though, i of course, hope it will one day...

We have another Mancunian on the label called Spider Mike King (worth looking up he has quite a history) and he's gigging in Stockport at the end of this month and then he's doing a special Martin Hannett concert in Manchester in April that i think might be worth a trip for you if your interested?  a lot of underground old skool Manc music types on the bill -  details for both can be found here http://distilledrecords.com/live-dates/ Mano i see has a gig in Manchester for March also...

We also have a group in Hebden Bridge called Pepperjam that i would love a decent press shot off if only they could keep the line up the same for long enough...  i could drop them a line if you like...?

Hope some of that is of help - let me know if any of the above might be workable for you and i'll see what i can sort

cheers

David

Unit 6

University Choices

I researched all of the universities before applying, and visited all of them at least once before making my choices

I had considered Blackburn University mainly because it was close to home, and I was certain I'd get a place, it was essentially a backup.

http://www.blackburn.ac.uk/course/photographic-media-fda/

University of Cumbria is my first choice, I'd visited the campus a few times to look round and talk to the tutors, and firmly accepted my place last year, which I'll still be taking in September

http://www.cumbria.ac.uk/Courses/Subjects/CreativeArts/Undergraduate/Photography.aspx

Nottingham Trent was originally my first choice, but I had a really bad interview and didn't get a place

https://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/course_finder/60689-1/39/ba_(hons)_photography__photography_in_europe.aspx?yoe=7&st=1&s=1&sv=photography

 I applied for the University of Huddersfield mainly because my sister went there previously, but decided not to accept the place because of the working environment, everyone seemed really uncomfortable when I went to visit, and they seemed to focus entirely on digital, commercial work.

http://www.hud.ac.uk/courses/full-time/undergraduate/photography-ba-hons/

I applied for Leeds Metropolitan University because it was a top university, but when I visited, the tutors didn't seem to care and didn't seem enthusiastic about photography in the slightest which really put me off

https://courses.leedsmet.ac.uk/photojournalism

Personal Statement

Education has been a strong point for many years, which I have shown by receiving 12 GCSEs A*-C grade, including English Language and Mathematics, both of which I received a year early. Being a person enthusiastic about learning, I believe university would be the place best suited for me. Coming from an environment that can be described as enclosed and smothering has encouraged me to want to move out. Photography has enabled me to move away and experience life in a greater depth. On my present course, my studies have allowed me to experience many ways of making a photograph, from working in the studio, darkroom and on location using numerous different processes and methods to produce high quality photographs. Sirkka Liisa Konttinen is a photographer who I feel has influenced me, as the high contrast scenery in her black and white photographs is a similar style to some of the work I have recently produced. Her 'Byker' series is a main example of this, the series shows a lot of residential areas and locations that have been affected man's presence. Throughout the course, I have worked on units based around location, studio and darkroom photography. Personally, I feel I have excelled in all three, especially studio photography, to produce high quality photographs. The ability to work in these different environments is something that will be useful to me in later life, including university work and a career. Studying a degree in photography is something I believe would benefit me, as gaining as much knowledge in the field of photography will work in my favour in later life. Continuing in education is a path I wish to pursue to prepare me for a future career in photography; I want to learn as much as possible about the subject before working independently in the field. This course is most suited to me, as the facilities and equipment provided allow me to continue working in the studio, which is where I most like to produce photographs. Also, the style of teaching appears to allow students to work independently as well as receiving help when appropriate, which I feel is the best way, as a photography student, to excel in the subject and practice in the field of photography.

Cumbria Emails

From: Jonathan Eccles [mailto:jonathan.eccles@hotmail.co.uk]
Sent: 19 April 2013 10:47
To: Outreach Team, Recruitment And
Subject: RE: University of Cumbria Carlisle - Brampton Road on 31 October 2012

Hello

I have recently replied to study photography with the university, and received an interview date. I then requested an alternative date via the ucas track, and did not receive any information on a new date. Shortly afterwards on the ucas track my application had been withdrawn, so I am emailing to request some information on the situation. 

I would hope that if this is the case, and my application has been withdrawn then you could provide me with an explanation, or preferably take my application back into account and arrange another interview, as I fully intended to study with the university. 

Any reply would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you

From: Janice.Suniga@Cumbria.ac.uk
To: jonathan.eccles@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:19:41 +0100
Subject: RE: University of Cumbria Carlisle - Brampton Road on 31 October 2012

Hi Jonathan

I have had a look at your record and can see that we have emailed you on numerous occasions asking if you would like alternative dates.  We did not receive a reply, therefore we withdrew your application.

I can of course reinstate this and invite you to attend for an interview.

Please can you confirm if you can attend next Wednesday – 24^th April at 1.00pm.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

Janice

From: Jonathan Eccles [mailto:jonathan.eccles@hotmail.co.uk]
Sent: 19 April 2013 12:31
To: Suniga, Janice
Subject: RE: University of Cumbria Carlisle - Brampton Road on 31 October 2012

I apologise for the complications, I must be having technical difficulties as I have not received any information. I would like to confirm that I will be attending on the 24th.

Thank you for your time and help. 

From: Janice.Suniga@Cumbria.ac.uk
To: jonathan.eccles@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:10:29 +0100
Subject: RE: University of Cumbria Carlisle - Brampton Road on 31 October 2012

Hi

No problem at all.

I look forward to meeting you next week.

Kind Regards

Janice

From: Jonathan Eccles [mailto:jonathan.eccles@hotmail.co.uk]
Sent: 30 April 2013 16:39
To: Suniga, Janice
Subject: RE: University of Cumbria Carlisle - Brampton Road on 31 October 2012

Hello

I came for an interview for the photography course last week, but haven't heard anything back yet. I was hoping you could send me some information regarding my application, as the deadline for choosing a university on ucas is next week. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

Suniga, Janice (Janice.Suniga@Cumbria.ac.uk)

Add to contacts

30/04/2013

To: Jonathan Eccles

Hi Jonathan

Apologies for the delay.  We have had a problem with our database talking to UCAS which was rectified this afternoon.  You should now have received your offer of a place.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

Janice

Portfolio Start

Studio Musicians

I took some photographs in the studio of musicians performing following my shoot with Mano Mclaughlin. I wanted to get a range of shots, mainly close ups like the ones below. I really like the contrast between the instrument and the musician's hands, and the shadows made on the skin. 

I started photographing someone playing a guitar instead of a ukelele, the ukelele was too small, so the musician's hands covered up a lot of the instrument, unlike the guitar which a lot of it can be seen.   I found it a lot easier working with a bigger instrument, it felt like there was a lot more to work with and more to do. 

This is my favourite photograph from the guitar set, mainly because of the composition, the only part that is completely in focus is the hand and a small area around it, instantly drawing focus to it. I think if I reshot it I would move the model 90 degrees to have the black background at the side, instead of having a bit of white in the back.

I found it a lot harder to photograph the singer, mainly because she looked uncomfortable singing in front of a small audience. I think the photographs would of turned out a lot better if it was only me and the model in the room, making her feel more relaxed. 

I think telling the model not to look in the camera has made the photographs turn out a lot better, photographing the model when she didn't expect it made it look a lot more natural, despite her being uncomfortable.

These are all the photographs from the shoot. I didn't use some for being out of focus, lights being in the wrong place or bad composition mainly.

FAD Magazine

This is the start of an magazine piece in which I've done the photography, and a classmate has done the journalism

Mano Email

Mano 18:21

To: Jonathan Eccles

They're ace shots, cheers Jonathan. I'll make sure your credited and if I find anyone in need of photos I'll point them in your direction. Thanks for sending me the links. Mano

On 5 Mar 2014, at 13:49, Jonathan Eccles <jonathan.eccles@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

Hey Mano

The photographs from last night are all on here, there was way too many to attach 

https://www.facebook.com/jecclesphotography (if you use Facebook, please could you like and share my page) or

http://jonnyecclesfad.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/mano-mclaughlin.html

Feel free to use any of them, but please could you credit me in any you do?

Also, would you be interested in having any more photos taken, or know anybody who would? I'd love to get a load more experience, so if there's anything you can think of I'd be more than happy to take part

Thanks, hope to hear from you soon!

This is an email I sent to the artist Mano after the shoot with him, and his reply

Mano Mclaughlin

These are the shots taken when Mano Mclaughlin came into the studio. This is one of the pieces of equipment used for changing the cameras when filming. I love the low key effect of the light shining in a small area, and the buttons lighting bits around.

These ones are from the interview with Mano, a student interviewed Mano on his music and lifestyle to get a better insight to the musician's life. I like that both the journalist and Mano are in a natural state, they didn't change at all whilst I was photographing, just carried on with the interview.

This is one of my favourite photographs from the interview set, I like that Mano is relaxing, and  not expecting the photograph to be taken.

After the interview, I photographed Mano setting up before his performance, he played songs whilst people worked around him to set up cameras and sound equipment. I like the really wide range of grey tones in the photographs (mainly the black and white ones). The more contrasty photographs are the ones I prefer, especially after the blue light was added to the set, it subtly lights the microphone and the stand, making it more distinctive from the black background. Although if I reshot the photographs, I would give Mano a stool instead of a bright white chair, in some of the photographs it really stands out and draws focus from the artist.

I like the shots from this angle the most, it captures everything in the frame without having to use a wide focal length, I was able to get close up and compose the frame so that there was little room around the edges of the model.

I like the ones were the artist is in the middle of doing something, he looks really unaware that the photographs are being taken, even more so than the others.

These photographs were taken in the studio, in a similar style to previous portraits I've shot. Unlike the others, I was talking to Mano whilst he was being photographed, making him look a lot more natural.

These are all the photographs from the shoot. I didn't use a lot because of people's expressions, bad composition and being out of focus. It's difficult to work around people, so I ended up doing a lot of shooting to assure I got the right photographs.