I applied to the Bachelor of Applied Arts program this week. That degree is a collaboration between the University of New Brunswick's Fredericton campus and NBCCD: two years at one of the schools and then two years at the other. That means that you only do the first year of the diploma program at NBCCD--though one of my classmates, Anne-Marie, is doing the second year of the diploma because she wanted to.
Monday: I applied to the BAA program. I then emailed NBCCD's registrar, asking her to send a copy of my transcript to UNB's admissions office, though she probably won't check her email until tomorrow. After that, I emailed UNB's registrar, asking whether or not I'd be issued a new student ID number, as I have been living in residence for the last three years, and at the time that I applied the student ID section said that my number was "not yet assigned." I assumed that the number wouldn't change, but I wanted to be sure. The answer: it won't.
Karen emailed my classmates and me the poster and press release for our show that opens this coming week. I emailed it to my parents and a few friends. As I said in my email, "we Photogs are definitely 'Not from Concentrate'."
That evening, I watched about half of a movie that Tom bought recently: The Way, starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez (who also wrote, produced and directed it).
Tuesday: Everyone in the Photography Diploma program has to have a website up and running by the end of the year. I started work on mine that afternoon. Once the site's live, the address will be annapurnamoffattphotography.weebly.com (I'd link to it, but that link wouldn't go anywhere right now). I'm really happy with it, though when I get back to Fredericton, I'll have to get a few people to sign model releases so that I can use portraits that I took of them on the site.
In the evening, I shot a few tests for a personal video project that I plan to do this summer, and watched the second half of The Way.
Wednesday: Mom and I went cross-country skiing that afternoon.
I emailed Larry, one of my classmates, and asked him to do my portrait for the "about me" page on my website. I have one there--a self-portrait that I took last year--but I want a better one. Sometimes handing over the task of taking the photo to someone else is the best thing one can do. I'm familiar with Larry's work, and I know that I'll get a good result.
Once again, I curled up with The Way.
Thursday: Résumé blitz day. Mom and I had dentist appointments (the usual every-six-months check-up) that morning. I took the first appointment, and then left my résumé and cover-letter in as many places as possible. Let's hope I get a job this summer: I really need a new camera (and money for university).
That afternoon, I had an appointment to get my hair cut, and it's now similar to Emma Watson's and Michelle Williams' pixie styles. And it's the shortest it's ever been. And I love it.
I watched The Way for the last time--for a little while, anyway.
Friday: Although I'd done bits and pieces of homework earlier this week, I really dug in and got stuff done. Meaning, I finished the story-boards for my independent-study project.
Yet again, I curled up with a movie that evening. That time, I dug out Amadeus (director's cut), as the Met would be performing Don Giovanni, which was featured in the movie, on Saturday. Besides, I hadn't watched Amadeus in way too long.
Saturday: I spent part of the afternoon writing the gallery show review for Gallery as a Market Place--due on the twenty-eighth--and I'm officially a little more than half-way done (I have to write about eight-hundred words).
Sunday: Today's been a hodge-podge day, as I've been getting little things done. Amadeus: finished, laundry: done, website: critiqued by Tom. I'll pack this evening.
Because a. this piece is nothing more nor less than EPIC, and b. the BSO is playing it today, here's the fourth movement from Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony. I would give just about anything to have Lynn, Trond, and the rest of the BSO's violinists blow my mind with this piece. And to hear them rock those high notes. I think it should go on the list of reasons why the violin is one of my favourite instruments--right next to the Bangor Symphony's violin section itself. Okay, I'll stop gushing. Enjoy.
Showing posts with label March Break. Show all posts
Showing posts with label March Break. Show all posts
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
March Break: we're thisclose to The End
I'm home for March Break--my last as an NBCCD student. For the last few weeks, the fact that the end of my time at the craft college isn't far away has started to become more real, and saying good-bye to the college is like saying good-bye to a good friend that I will never see again.
Monday: This week's class was almost completely devoted to critiquing the last assignment. Linda also handed out a reworked version of the course outline, and talked about what's next after March Break.
Tuesday: Photoshop was also devoted to critiques, as our independent-study projects were due. By that point, my card was looking really good, though there were still some improvements to be made, which I took care of. Drew also suggested (as an idea) that I make the card a vertical one, rather than a horizontal one. I'm seriously thinking of printing it at some point--maybe at Moo, as they produce gorgeous results (beautiful colour, their card-stock is about twice the thickness of normal card-stock, and it has a really smooth surface).
I totally failed to get Rod's assignment done, as the mic that we were to use was signed out again almost as soon as it was returned to the school on Monday. However, Rod was fully aware of the situation (the photo studio only has one of those mics), and he knew that I'd been trying to get the assignment done since Thursday. I plan to get 'er done ASAP when I get back from March Break. He'd originally planned to do assessments that afternoon, but because so few of us got that assignment done, he decided not to--which meant an unexpected free afternoon. I used it to get started on the first show review for Gallery as a Market Place. It's not due for several weeks, but I don't want to have to panic about it. I'm reviewing the college gallery's current show (which is coming down over break, so I made sure to take photos so that I could refer back to them).
Wednesday: That day, morning classes were cancelled for us diploma students, as we had PANEL ASSESSMENTS. Although the students did most of the critiquing, two of the teachers were there to facilitate and critique. Michael Côté and Karen Burk were in charge of my group. While mine was a good critique, it was one of those times where I got the feeling that I should have everything figured out by now. However, I realize that we all learn and figure things out at different points in our lives. I may know what I'm passionate about (photography, dance, music, politics), but until this past year, I didn't know what I wanted to do within the medium of photography. Now, I'm seriously considering dance photography: I'm passionate about dance, and so are a lot of other people (i.e., there's money in it). After we'd gone around the table, Karen asked us to "critique the critique." This is the second year that the college has done panel assessments for diploma students, so it's still rather new. My main issues were a. that my studio didn't get much info about the assessments--and therefore I didn't feel as prepared as I might have otherwise, even though I was as prepared as I could be given the circumstances, and b. that because everyone can benefit from a critique, I didn't like the fact that the first-year diploma students just had to show up: they weren't to actually bring anything and be critiqued like the first-years were last year.
Although most of us had presented our latest research projects, a couple hadn't, so they did their presentations this week. Drew asked us what else we wanted to research. For me, that's things like trying out the studio's new Einstein flashes, finding places in Maine and NB that do high-quality photo printing (I'm so done with Kodak kiosks) and researching Nikon and Canon cameras.
Thursday: All I had that day was a meeting with Peter in the afternoon. As he's done periodically this year, he asked me about my plans post-NBCCD. My answer this time around: apply for gallery shows, possibly teach at Sunbury Shores and eventually go into dance photography. He also asked if I'd heard back from NSCAD: nope. We then talked about my projects: a critique of the one that I just finished (he also asked if I plan to use it in real life. My answer: possibly.), and strategizing for my next project (two words: story-boards).
When I was done, I checked to see if Mom was there yet. I went out to the hall outside the studio--and there she was. As usual, I greeted her with a big hug. We then grabbed my stuff at the college (I showed her my photos for the show), grabbed my stuff at the residence, and drove home. There had been an accident on the highway that we usually take, so we had to take another route, which meant that we got home a little later than usual. I drove part-way. I don't know why, but we seem to discuss fairly heavy stuff (e.g., politics) on the way home. This time, I gave her the low-down on why I've never dated--and have no intentions of changing that. The answer: although I've had a few exceptions here and there, I've never been sexually or romantically attracted to other people, male or female. And I'm fine with that--I've got my family, friends (some of whom are extremely important to me) and cats, and that satisfies me. When I explained it to her on the way home, I thought it'd take me a long time to do so, but it didn't. I think I had it better figured out than I thought.
Friday: As usual, I wasn't fully unpacked until that day. I spent most of the afternoon in town, going to a massage appointment and then grocery-shopping afterward (with a stop at my favourite chocolatier). I'd hoped to skype with Helen that evening. She was feeling a bit under the weather, so she emailed me shortly before our usual chat time (6:30) saying that she couldn't skype that evening.
Saturday: I spent the day hanging out with Mom and Tom, and listening to opera (Aïda).
Sunday: Mom and I went skiing through the fields that afternoon, and then I spent the evening writing this post.
Monday: This week's class was almost completely devoted to critiquing the last assignment. Linda also handed out a reworked version of the course outline, and talked about what's next after March Break.
Tuesday: Photoshop was also devoted to critiques, as our independent-study projects were due. By that point, my card was looking really good, though there were still some improvements to be made, which I took care of. Drew also suggested (as an idea) that I make the card a vertical one, rather than a horizontal one. I'm seriously thinking of printing it at some point--maybe at Moo, as they produce gorgeous results (beautiful colour, their card-stock is about twice the thickness of normal card-stock, and it has a really smooth surface).
I totally failed to get Rod's assignment done, as the mic that we were to use was signed out again almost as soon as it was returned to the school on Monday. However, Rod was fully aware of the situation (the photo studio only has one of those mics), and he knew that I'd been trying to get the assignment done since Thursday. I plan to get 'er done ASAP when I get back from March Break. He'd originally planned to do assessments that afternoon, but because so few of us got that assignment done, he decided not to--which meant an unexpected free afternoon. I used it to get started on the first show review for Gallery as a Market Place. It's not due for several weeks, but I don't want to have to panic about it. I'm reviewing the college gallery's current show (which is coming down over break, so I made sure to take photos so that I could refer back to them).
Wednesday: That day, morning classes were cancelled for us diploma students, as we had PANEL ASSESSMENTS. Although the students did most of the critiquing, two of the teachers were there to facilitate and critique. Michael Côté and Karen Burk were in charge of my group. While mine was a good critique, it was one of those times where I got the feeling that I should have everything figured out by now. However, I realize that we all learn and figure things out at different points in our lives. I may know what I'm passionate about (photography, dance, music, politics), but until this past year, I didn't know what I wanted to do within the medium of photography. Now, I'm seriously considering dance photography: I'm passionate about dance, and so are a lot of other people (i.e., there's money in it). After we'd gone around the table, Karen asked us to "critique the critique." This is the second year that the college has done panel assessments for diploma students, so it's still rather new. My main issues were a. that my studio didn't get much info about the assessments--and therefore I didn't feel as prepared as I might have otherwise, even though I was as prepared as I could be given the circumstances, and b. that because everyone can benefit from a critique, I didn't like the fact that the first-year diploma students just had to show up: they weren't to actually bring anything and be critiqued like the first-years were last year.
Although most of us had presented our latest research projects, a couple hadn't, so they did their presentations this week. Drew asked us what else we wanted to research. For me, that's things like trying out the studio's new Einstein flashes, finding places in Maine and NB that do high-quality photo printing (I'm so done with Kodak kiosks) and researching Nikon and Canon cameras.
Thursday: All I had that day was a meeting with Peter in the afternoon. As he's done periodically this year, he asked me about my plans post-NBCCD. My answer this time around: apply for gallery shows, possibly teach at Sunbury Shores and eventually go into dance photography. He also asked if I'd heard back from NSCAD: nope. We then talked about my projects: a critique of the one that I just finished (he also asked if I plan to use it in real life. My answer: possibly.), and strategizing for my next project (two words: story-boards).
When I was done, I checked to see if Mom was there yet. I went out to the hall outside the studio--and there she was. As usual, I greeted her with a big hug. We then grabbed my stuff at the college (I showed her my photos for the show), grabbed my stuff at the residence, and drove home. There had been an accident on the highway that we usually take, so we had to take another route, which meant that we got home a little later than usual. I drove part-way. I don't know why, but we seem to discuss fairly heavy stuff (e.g., politics) on the way home. This time, I gave her the low-down on why I've never dated--and have no intentions of changing that. The answer: although I've had a few exceptions here and there, I've never been sexually or romantically attracted to other people, male or female. And I'm fine with that--I've got my family, friends (some of whom are extremely important to me) and cats, and that satisfies me. When I explained it to her on the way home, I thought it'd take me a long time to do so, but it didn't. I think I had it better figured out than I thought.
Friday: As usual, I wasn't fully unpacked until that day. I spent most of the afternoon in town, going to a massage appointment and then grocery-shopping afterward (with a stop at my favourite chocolatier). I'd hoped to skype with Helen that evening. She was feeling a bit under the weather, so she emailed me shortly before our usual chat time (6:30) saying that she couldn't skype that evening.
Saturday: I spent the day hanging out with Mom and Tom, and listening to opera (Aïda).
Sunday: Mom and I went skiing through the fields that afternoon, and then I spent the evening writing this post.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
March Break
I spent March Break as I'd planned: being lazy (I spent most of last Saturday and Sunday in bed), doing homework (I just finished off a roll of film this afternoon and will drop it off at Harvey Studios before going to class on Monday afternoon), hanging out my parents, cooking, listening to opera (Rossini's Armida last weekend, with Renée Fleming in the title role--brava!--and Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov today), grocery shopping, reworking the week-by-week plan for my independent study project (originally I hadn't planned to shoot photos for it, and I'd forgotten that the first week of the project was the week before March Break), finishing my Photoshop homework, doing a résumé blitz in St. Andrews, and writing. I also won the lottery (I won twenty bucks today--not much, but it's the first time I've won anything. I bought the ticket in F'ton before going to class the Friday before March Break.).
Today was the encore simulcast of Nixon in China at the Empire Theatre in F'ton. I thought about getting tickets for it, but I'm glad I didn't, since I'm an hour-and-a-half away right now.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning I made the serious mistake of checking my Blogger Reading List before going to bed: since there was a "new" (written last Sunday, but I hadn't read it yet) blog post by WhiteFeather, I just had to read it. She's moving closer to ditching the music in Fantasmagorie. While I think that the movie is strong enough to stand on it's own and doesn't need the music, if she does get rid of the music, the music should either be used for something else or released as a separate work, because except for the breathing the piece is too beautiful to scrap.
One of my friends who's currently in FVA posted a Facebook status a few days ago saying that she's submitted her portfolio and application for the diploma program (she hopes to get into photography). In light of that, I want to take the opportunity to once again cheer on the FVA Class of '11: I want to wish those who are applying for the diploma program the very best, and I hope that you get into the studio you've been eyeing for the last few months. Applying is unbelievably nerve-wracking, and I will never forget it: choosing what to submit (I still have the list that I made of everything that I wanted to submit and where those things were), finding those things (if your room isn't as messy as mine was, congratulations--FVA year and small bedrooms do not mix), prepping said things (taking photos of stuff from Design and Creative Process for example--thanks for the help, Drew), filling out the submission form, putting it all together--and then taking it to the registrar. And then taking a deep breath--and fidgeting with nervousness about whether or not I got into my first choice--or whether or not I got into the diploma program at all (I was rather concerned about that--my GPA at the end of FVA was around 2.25, and my marks were really dismal in 2D and 3D Design and Creative Process).
But in May I finally got a letter from the community college (not from NBCCD) congratulating me on getting into the diploma program. As soon as I read it I started laughing and crying because I was so indescribably happy. Just over two weeks later I got my FVA certificate (I didn't go to the graduation ceremony--I fully intend to go to the one in 2012, though), my transcript, and a note from Peter--who, along with talking about what would be needed for the coming year (like a laptop--Mac preferably--with as much RAM as possible), wasted no time in acquainting his future students with his sense of humour (which is awesome).
Since the Bangor Symphony Orchestra will play Beethoven's second symphony tomorrow, I thought I'd include a movement from that work. It's not my favourite symphony--I prefer the sound that Beethoven started to develop with the third symphony (the Eroica), and which continued to grow and change until his death. Even though Beethoven was always thinking a few steps ahead of his time, the second symphony still feels very tame--especially when compared with something like the third, which right from the first movement (allegro con brio--fast with vigor) is very Beethoven in terms of how he constructs the melody. But it's not surprising: he studied with Joseph Haydn, and for the first few years of Beethoven's composing career Haydn's style clearly influenced Beethoven's (he didn't start to go off on his own until the Eroica).
The second symphony was written largely in 1802, which was a very dark time in his life: he was going deaf (he wrote the Heiligenstadt Testament that year--BTW, it's a very good read: yes, it's long, all one paragraph, and, as I recall, is made up of only three sentences--which makes it feel even longer--but it gives the reader a glimpse into what Beethoven's life was like and what it was like to be him at that time), and when I did some research into what else went on that year, the Testament and his deafness are pretty much all that come up. However, he also wrote three piano sonatas (nos. 16-18, op. 31), the Seven Bagatelles for Piano, op. 33, Six Variations on an Original Theme (piano), op. 34 and Fifteen Variations and a Fugue for Piano on an Original Theme ("Eroica" Variations), op. 35.
Where I got all this info (a.k.a. the bibliography):
Article about Beethoven's second symphony on Wikipedia (dissects the different movements, as well as talking about the history behind it)
Article about Beethoven's second symphony on All About Beethoven
Life of Beethoven PowerPoint Presentation
List of compositions
You've been waiting long enough: here's the video I promised earlier. The fourth (and final) movement (allegro) of Beethoven's second symphony. Dedicated to the BSO, and the musicians that make up the orchestra--especially the violinists. Now, BSO, go be awesome--especially you guys in the violin section.
Today was the encore simulcast of Nixon in China at the Empire Theatre in F'ton. I thought about getting tickets for it, but I'm glad I didn't, since I'm an hour-and-a-half away right now.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning I made the serious mistake of checking my Blogger Reading List before going to bed: since there was a "new" (written last Sunday, but I hadn't read it yet) blog post by WhiteFeather, I just had to read it. She's moving closer to ditching the music in Fantasmagorie. While I think that the movie is strong enough to stand on it's own and doesn't need the music, if she does get rid of the music, the music should either be used for something else or released as a separate work, because except for the breathing the piece is too beautiful to scrap.
One of my friends who's currently in FVA posted a Facebook status a few days ago saying that she's submitted her portfolio and application for the diploma program (she hopes to get into photography). In light of that, I want to take the opportunity to once again cheer on the FVA Class of '11: I want to wish those who are applying for the diploma program the very best, and I hope that you get into the studio you've been eyeing for the last few months. Applying is unbelievably nerve-wracking, and I will never forget it: choosing what to submit (I still have the list that I made of everything that I wanted to submit and where those things were), finding those things (if your room isn't as messy as mine was, congratulations--FVA year and small bedrooms do not mix), prepping said things (taking photos of stuff from Design and Creative Process for example--thanks for the help, Drew), filling out the submission form, putting it all together--and then taking it to the registrar. And then taking a deep breath--and fidgeting with nervousness about whether or not I got into my first choice--or whether or not I got into the diploma program at all (I was rather concerned about that--my GPA at the end of FVA was around 2.25, and my marks were really dismal in 2D and 3D Design and Creative Process).
But in May I finally got a letter from the community college (not from NBCCD) congratulating me on getting into the diploma program. As soon as I read it I started laughing and crying because I was so indescribably happy. Just over two weeks later I got my FVA certificate (I didn't go to the graduation ceremony--I fully intend to go to the one in 2012, though), my transcript, and a note from Peter--who, along with talking about what would be needed for the coming year (like a laptop--Mac preferably--with as much RAM as possible), wasted no time in acquainting his future students with his sense of humour (which is awesome).
Since the Bangor Symphony Orchestra will play Beethoven's second symphony tomorrow, I thought I'd include a movement from that work. It's not my favourite symphony--I prefer the sound that Beethoven started to develop with the third symphony (the Eroica), and which continued to grow and change until his death. Even though Beethoven was always thinking a few steps ahead of his time, the second symphony still feels very tame--especially when compared with something like the third, which right from the first movement (allegro con brio--fast with vigor) is very Beethoven in terms of how he constructs the melody. But it's not surprising: he studied with Joseph Haydn, and for the first few years of Beethoven's composing career Haydn's style clearly influenced Beethoven's (he didn't start to go off on his own until the Eroica).
The second symphony was written largely in 1802, which was a very dark time in his life: he was going deaf (he wrote the Heiligenstadt Testament that year--BTW, it's a very good read: yes, it's long, all one paragraph, and, as I recall, is made up of only three sentences--which makes it feel even longer--but it gives the reader a glimpse into what Beethoven's life was like and what it was like to be him at that time), and when I did some research into what else went on that year, the Testament and his deafness are pretty much all that come up. However, he also wrote three piano sonatas (nos. 16-18, op. 31), the Seven Bagatelles for Piano, op. 33, Six Variations on an Original Theme (piano), op. 34 and Fifteen Variations and a Fugue for Piano on an Original Theme ("Eroica" Variations), op. 35.
Where I got all this info (a.k.a. the bibliography):
Article about Beethoven's second symphony on Wikipedia (dissects the different movements, as well as talking about the history behind it)
Article about Beethoven's second symphony on All About Beethoven
Life of Beethoven PowerPoint Presentation
List of compositions
You've been waiting long enough: here's the video I promised earlier. The fourth (and final) movement (allegro) of Beethoven's second symphony. Dedicated to the BSO, and the musicians that make up the orchestra--especially the violinists. Now, BSO, go be awesome--especially you guys in the violin section.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
March Break: we're almost there!
Things are starting to wind down in preparation for mid-term assessment week next week and MARCH BREAK the week after. Yes, I'm excited--but I'll fill the week not by going to Mexico, but by going home and gorging myself on my favourite music on a good sound system (hello, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra French horn section **swoons**). Maybe a few other things (like hanging out with Mom and Tom), but I intend on keeping it low-key.
This semester my drawing class has been doing life drawing. Yes, that means that we're drawing a nude model (a woman in our case). In the beginning I was a bit nervous, but I've gotten used to it--it's one of those things that all art students have to go through, no matter where you go to school. It also makes for good stories to tell your friends and your kids.
For five or six years I've had an idea for a piece of music going around in my head and a few weeks ago I finally decided that this summer I would commit to writing it. The current concept is that it'll be an autobiographical piece. I also want to push myself to the limit and try to make it as complex and advanced as I can--even if it means doing a few things that I don't quite have a handle on. I figure, I'll either learn, or I'll ditch the idea in question. I also want to make it longer then four lines, which is my current average.
Back in November I really made my views about the Olympics known. Well, guess what--last Friday night I stayed up until three in the morning watching the opening ceremony with about half of MJC. I couldn't believe how emotional I got when Canada entered BC Place: I actually cried on Liz's shoulder. (Though I didn't like how CTV kept tossing in commercial breaks--even if they only contained one ad--every ten minutes or so)
Earlier this month I found out the PBSO will be performing in late-April and early-May--just as I'm coming home from my first year at NBCCD! It's like getting a fanfare to welcome me home. YAY, PBSO! I love that orchestra.
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