I have an unrelenting passion for capturing the soul of us Mortals. Cuba which is where most of my work is shot partly because it is the only time and place I have time out with my camera, and partly this is a place I have total empathy with the people. “The eyes are the mirror of the soul” and the camera has the power to empathise or to abuse the portrayal of these inner moments. The Art of my photography is, hopefully to capture that moment without damaging the purity of the microsecond; hence most of my work is on the Street up close and personal. 50mm lens and politely in your face.

Number one would just being able to access a darkroom.
Having knowledgeable people on hand makes it a very useful and creates an encouraging atmosphere.

The darkroom has made me much more critical of my work, the subtlety of detail and the never-ending problems with light, especially at the time of execution of the shot.

It has confirmed my belief that film is a very different medium to digital and film will always be here because it capture the image in such a different way due to it being a chemical reaction and process, the crispness of the image, the blackest of black and the purest of white, this all held within the one image, this without using a dark room one would find it hard to fully understand the potential depth of a composition that goes in to that image, “the oh so simple thing called taking a Photograph”. From this I have had a much greater appreciation of the stunning images one sees taken by some ore inspiring documentary photographers.

To sum up the Media Workshop, I have eventually learnt how to take a better photograph, even if I went over to, I dare say it! Digital!

www.cubaporcuba.com

I have an unrelenting passion for capturing the soul of us Mortals. Cuba which is where most of my work is shot partly because it is the only time and place I have time out with my camera, and partly this is a place I have total empathy with the people. “The eyes are the mirror of the soul” and the camera has the power to empathise or to abuse the portrayal of these inner moments. The Art of my photography is, hopefully to capture that moment without damaging the purity of the microsecond; hence most of my work is on the Street up close and personal. 50mm lens and politely in your face.

Number one would just being able to access a darkroom.
Having knowledgeable people on hand makes it a very useful and creates an encouraging atmosphere.

The darkroom has made me much more critical of my work, the subtlety of detail and the never-ending problems with light, especially at the time of execution of the shot.

It has confirmed my belief that film is a very different medium to digital and film will always be here because it capture the image in such a different way due to it being a chemical reaction and process, the crispness of the image, the blackest of black and the purest of white, this all held within the one image, this without using a dark room one would find it hard to fully understand the potential depth of a composition that goes in to that image, “the oh so simple thing called taking a Photograph”. From this I have had a much greater appreciation of the stunning images one sees taken by some ore inspiring documentary photographers.

To sum up the Media Workshop, I have eventually learnt how to take a better photograph, even if I went over to, I dare say it! Digital!

www.cubaporcuba.com

Sam Baxter is our Future Jobs trainee and will be working with us for the next six months.

A Craft in Transition was Southampton’s contribution to a National Festival Of Learning. The Learning Revolution Festival was designed to value informal learning and give all adults an opportunity to learn.The Media Workshop organized events across the area and would like to thank the following for their special contribution: Black Heritage, Weston Court, The Wednesday Women’s group at the WEA and The Clovelly Centre.

The Media Workshop has been working alongside the Challenge and Support Team at Southampton City Council and drama practitioner Annie Sanger-Davies to deliver a series of workshops which aim to help young people use body language in positive ways.

Using drama based exercises and a photo studio set up we’ve been helping young people investigate how to use body language to their positive advantage in different situations. For instance: if they’re being bullied; going for an interview; dealing with conflict or aggression; meeting new friends. etc. Each young person takes away a personalised booklet at the end of the programme, which serves as a body language ‘tool kit’ that they can refer to whenever they need it in the future.

Commissioned by the Central Housing office The Media Workshop helped Northam Residents Association and Northam Youth Centre to produce two photo murals for the entrance wall of Northam Estate.

The two tiled murals represent the rich history of the Northam Chapel area and the vibrant hopes for the future as expressed in the Youth Centre’s mural.

The Media Workshop works with community groups, schools and youth groups, teaching basic screen printing techniques. We’ve helped various groups to produce screen printed banners, posters and t-shirts.

In the summer months the Media Workshop works with various groups who are organising outdoor events across the city. We support the group in designing pre-printed t-shirts which are decorated to completion on the day of the event using fabric pens.

Pictured is Cathy O Leary, Community Development Worker, sporting a t-shirt at Harefield Environment Day celebrating the environment, the outdoors, and nature.

Do you have a project coming up that you think we might be able to help with?
As a close partner of the Southampton City Council, and a charity that delivers work in the heart of Southampton’s communities, please remember our name and pass our details on to your colleagues.

To find out more about The Media Workshop, please visit www.mpmw.co.uk, call us on telephone: 023 8023 1977

Our new course and events programme for Spring & Summer 2010 is out now go to our Courses page for more details.

There are lots of ways to keep up-to-date with developments at The Media Workshop; subscribe to our email list; if you are a Facebook member search for The Media Workshop then become a fan and of course there is this site; give us a ring on 023 8023 1977 or drop in on a Thursday 1pm -9pm (school term only).

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