Photography: plans and favourite styles

One of my main goals currently is to build up my portfolio of photography. I've been extremely busy recently with the campaign for Bella Diem and working on my investigations, however I have a few projects planned or ideas that I'm hoping to get started in the next few weeks and months.

One of my particular favourite styles, alongside studio work, is landscape photography. I have done numerous landscape projects and will be adding more examples to my portfolio soon. Additionally, I will be returning home to South Wales in a week so I shall be taking advantage of the wonderful areas surrounding my home town to add to my collection of work. I simply love taking my camera out with me on a walk and getting lost somewhere taking photos to my heart's content. 

I also have plans to do some more work on my music photography, including live and promotional shots. Working on the promotional shots with FTW (for their debut single release) was great fun and hopefully I will be gaining some more work with them in the near future. However I certainly want to get to grips with live photography and also to try location shoots with bands so that's my next target!  

Following that, I'm planning on setting up some studio shoots with female models to test out some concepts and ideas I have, particularly with lighting and styling so I look forward to pursuing that.

Here's a few of my personal favourite landscape images from one of my more recent projects:

Please feel free to take a further look at my photography portfolio which includes more of my landscape work and various studio projects. I welcome any feedback on my work. I will also be updating my portfolio in the following days and weeks with a variety of new and old work so keep checking the site! 

[Note: Interview piece: written and performed for a radio news project in 2011] 

[Intro] - 

That was Riot City Saints hitting us with some rock and roll this morning! Today our week long Unsigned Stars hunt is targeting the South of Wales! If you guys have missed this item all week, then what have you been doing!? We’ve been scouring the U.K for those hidden gems of talent and bringing them to you for some new, fresh entertainment! So listen up.

In the studio today we have guitarist Ryan Williams to tell us a little more about Welsh rockers, Riot City Saints and their musical influences, style and achievements!

Ryan: Hey guys!

Hannah: Hey Ryan, so you guys describe yourself as ‘hard rock and southern metal’ - This is a sound a lot of our listeners may not have heard of before, who would you say you sound like and what’re the bands musical influences?

Ryan: Riot City Saints -laugh- but seriously, through playing shows we’ve realised that there’s few bands that sound like us. We’ve played alongside really heavy bands, really poppy bands, really punk bands… it’s great because we get to play to a wide range of people, but we’re definitely a lone wolf sort of band in terms of sound. I could count bands from South Wales at least who sound similar to us, on one hand. I guess it has a lot to do with the current scene not matching our many, many influences. We‘ve got loads: a lot of modern day rock n’ roll like Bullets & Octane, Backyard Babies… the southern edge comes from Skynyrd and Maylene & The Sons of Disaster. Then the classics of course: the Stones, Motley Crüe, GN’R…

Hannah: Those are some big names, should we expect big things of you guys? What’ve you been up to this past year? I heard you guys played Birmingham at the beginning of the year, how was that?

Ryan: Always expect the unexpected with RCS - for better or worse, no show is exactly the same. Over the past year we’ve done a whole load of stuff - played shows across the UK, recorded a bunch of songs and met some great people. Almost all of it is down to our fan base - as small as it is, these people are the ones who’ve made it all happen. Without them, we’d not have been up to Glasgow, played the Millennium Stadium or a whole bunch of other stuff. We owe a hell of a lot to them. And yeah, Birmingham was a blast - it was a pretty intimate show so we had some fun with it.

Hannah: Sounds like you guys have been busy! So, what’s next for Riot City Saints?

Ryan: Writing, recording and playing as many shows as possible! We love writing and being in the studio, but when we get to tear up the stage, it brings all that to life and we absolutely love it!

Hannah: Well thanks, Ryan! It’s been great having you on the show and guys get listening to Riot City Saints. You can find more of their music and live videos on Myspace, Youtube and Facebook - We’ll tweet you the links and you’ll find them on our website!

2 mins 4 secs (including music)

Sorry, could you repeat that?

[Note: Opinion piece originally written for a news project in December 2011]

Walking down any high street you can guarantee the air will be illuminated with hundreds of sparkling phone screens as people eagerly text back their friends, ‘BBM’ (straight out of Blackberry’s own dictionary) their mates or quickly send an email to so and so. Isn’t technology great? Just over ten years ago it would have seemed alien to us that such a small device could do so many wonderful things; how long until a mobile can make us a cup of tea? (I can tell you now, I am impatiently awaiting that day - it‘s only a matter of time!)

My gripe is not with technology. No, technology can be marvellous and mind-boggling, producing information creations that I could never understand. Technology is awesome. But this isn’t an ode to technology; this is a warning to you. Yeah you, the one with their head so engrossed in their phone that you’re almost a part of the little electrical currents running through it. Oh hello, so you can hear me!

That’s right; my problem is with those people who appear so attached to their gadgets and gizmos that they’re part robot, so lost without technology that they may as well glue their hand to it and eliminate all risk of ever being apart from their beloved.

It’s one thing to be in touch with people via mobile, I do it myself, but when technology takes over and you no longer communicate with the people you’re with in reality (that strange place that many people seem to have lost touch with), there’s definitely something wrong.

There have been many times when what started out as a conversation turns into an awkward laugh when I realise the attention of a friend has been diverted to a phone rather than their company. I’m sure many of you have faced the uncomfortable silence when a phone has taken priority over your charming and witty analysis of the meaning of life. (Well, you can always pretend; after all, they didn’t hear you anyway).

Take this as a warning, all you part-mobile iPeople: you and your phone can be disconnected. Life will go on! Look around and you’ll realise the real world is just as interesting, if not more! Take notice before all your real friends get fed up of talking to the human equivalent of a brick wall. Oh, and just in case you missed what the meaning of life was during an ignored conversation, I can tell you now…

Oh wait, you’re replying to a text. 

One Direction making music history!

The power of the internet has really been proven in the case of One Direction.

Reading in the Media Guardian today I came across the story of how One Direction have made transatlantic pop history with their US No.1 album. They are the first act to top the American chart with their debut album.

Now, topping the chart in America is incredible and a highly sought after spot in any instance but to be able to say you got there with your very first album is another thing altogether! Although One Direction don't exactly cater to my personal taste in music, I am amazed by their whirlwind career. Who knew that this collection of boys thrown together by the X Factor would turn out to be a winning combination!

Personally, from a media and PR perspective, this story is so interesting as it highlights how, when used effectively, the internet can be an incredible tool of promotion. As you may remember, I am currently working on a campaign for artist Bella Diem and one of our core objectives is to utilise the internet and the online fan-base in creating a focal point for the band but also to create a community through the fans and to get them involved. When talking about music promotion on the internet, the issue of over-saturation often crops up. When every man (and woman!) and his dog can use social networking site as a form of promotion, this tool is hardly 'groundbreaking' any more. However, One Direction have proved that the internet still has a firm place in promotion and when used effectively it can have great outcomes. As Irish member, Niall Horan, pointed out

"[Social media] is the main thing that we're about."

"If you ask our fans where they found out about us it's always Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Facebook: it's the most powerful thing we have."

This is a promising revival of the power of internet promotion.

Update on Investigations

The final piece for our investigation into the worth of a degree was recently posted and you can read it here! Throughout our research we uncovered some interesting and shocking information regarding the current state of student internships and the truth about how little of the student loans will actually be repaid. We believe this is a very important subject so please read our findings and let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Moving on, we have now started on our next project: an investigation into student prostitution. We are on the path to uncovering the extent of students prostitution. Is it truth or myth? Expect to see interesting interviews with those at the very core of the investigation and we will be highlighting the real problems of student in the sex trade.

We are very eager to hear your thoughts so please check out our investigation and let us know your opinions and views.

Critical Reflection and My Future Goals and Plans

As the end of my second year at university draws near, it is time to reflect and consider where the skills I have developed and experiences I've had so far can take me in the future.

In my time at University I have studied the industry and its needs closely and worked hard to produce professional media texts. I feel through doing this I have learnt so much about the industry but also the extent of my own abilities. Attending university has not only extended and developed my skills but has given me greater confidence in what I can achieve and do. Through studying Music, Photography, Journalism and Public Relations I have developed  and improved skills in creativity, team-working, communication, various styles of writing, promotion, leadership, organisation, camera/lighting/Photoshop, events management,  time-keeping, organisation and many more. I hope to continue to build on these not only through university but also in my career. I believe through securing various work experiences, internships and employment I have put my skills and knowledge to the test and proved that I am capable, enthusiastic and hardworking - skills and qualities that are so important in this industry!

Although I have already learnt so much, I am continually working to improve myself and enjoy learning new things so I have set myself goals to help me achieve as much as I can to prepare myself for my future within the industry.

My short term goals for the next six months are to, of course, pass the second year with at least a 2:1 and I am paving the way to achieve that goal already! I aim to work hard for the rest of the year and take advantage of any opportunities that are available.

My specific short terms goals include:

• Build up my photography portfolio with more studio work and a variety of other fields of photography - particularly live music photography.
• Apply for and secure more work experience
• Conclude the important research within my role in the student academic partnership and to help in the improvement of the School of Media at Birmingham City Uni
• Continue to build on my skills and confidence in my abilities through my studies and experiences
• Build up my professional portfolio ready to enter the working world
• To work hard on my dissertation and to have a successful media production project

These short term goals will hopefully prove to be a helpful motivator and guide for the rest of my time at university. As I only have a full academic year left I aim to make the most out of it!

Looking to the future, I am not completely certain on what career path I would like to take as I enjoy a variety of areas of the media and would love to try as much as possible. However I am certain that a career in the media is for me. My ideal job would include all four of the areas I am interested in and have been building up a skills base within - Music, Photography and Journalism. I am passionate about each of these aspects of the media and will continue to pursue them. In order to achieve my desired career (and to improve my personal and professional skills and attributes) my 3 year goals include:

• Get involved with as many media related experience as possible, the more the better! 
• Take advantage of the access to a photography studio while I can and do more work with models and music artists
• Continue to build up a portfolio of a variety of work within the field
• Develop and maintain more media contacts
• Graduate from Birmingham City University with at least a 2:1 but ideally a first
• Secure a job within the media industry! 
• Travel and do some travel photography

I'm sure I will be continually adding to my goals as the weeks, months and years go on but I highly recommend you take note of your personal and professional goals to motivate and encourage you to succeed!