Darren Smith

The Foundations in Photography course aims to equip you with fundamental creative, visual and technical skills in photography. It is a practical, task oriented course filled with creative approaches to making photographs that will help you develop your photography as a means of imaginative self-expression and experimentation. It is rooted in the main genres of photography and will therefore provide you with a solid intellectual foundation in plain language to pursue photography at Degree level.
I asked Darren Smith, a student on Foundations in Photography about his experience of the course – his expectations before enrolling and experiences having embarked on it. His thoughts now on the difference between the photographer and the artist photographer and finding that balance between developing technique and developing the narrative.
‘I started to become interested in photographs that I saw on Facebook, in particular macro Flowers. I decided to invest in an entry level Canon DSLR and a couple of lenses and threw myself into the deep end. I really did not know how to use it and enrolled on a cheap online Course, but in all honesty it was very very basic and I really didnt learn much.
I really wanted to take myself to the next level and possibly work within the industry one day in some capacity, with the knowledge and qualifications to back me up. I have joined a couple of forums and really enjoy being able to share my experiences with those who have literally just bought DSLR’s, and would also love to be able to teach one day. Learning the various setting on manual has been a slow slog but I am now slowly getting there.
I wanted to learn how to take a decent photograph technically and artistically, but not knowing how to ‘properly’ how to operate my camera was very frustrating. I initially signed up for the Degree Course, but my Tutor told me about the Foundation Course and suggested I may well benefit from it at my stage, he could not have been correct if he had tried!
Since enrolling on the Foundation in Photography my studies have gone in two directions, but hopefully are meeting in the middle. I am following the course and reading up on renowned artists and photographers and am hoping to broaden the artistic side of my photography and tell my story within the work. Secondly I have been working on separate projects, learning techniques that intrigue me, such as fast and slow shutter speeds, macro photography and freezing frames. I have a long bucket list of ideas that I want to achieve, even if they have been done countless times before.
I can highly recommend the Foundations in Photography course to raise your game ready for the Degree and to know what to expect academically. How to learn simple things such as composition and lighting. All very important. Self Development is a very important part of the Course, and one i love exploring in my Blog.
Darren submitted the shot below as his favourite image, I asked him why he chose it?

The portrait shot I have enclosed was taken at a wedding I was a guest at. It was a lovely if lucky shot as was taken with a 300mm zoom lens. I had no flash gun so the lighting was very poor, meaning I had to use a high iso setting. She stood up to speak about the Groom who she had known since he was a teenager and had worked for her years ago. She spoke about the Groom with such love and compassion, but you could tell she had an air of authority too, which made for a lovely mix. The shot, I think, really captured this, and even though she may not appreciate the shot showing her wrinkles, I think this makes her even more beautiful.’
Check out Darren’s blog here.
Students wanting their work featured on WeAreOCA should email blog@oca-uk.com
All submissions will be acknowledged and reviewed but we cannot promise all work submitted will be featured on the blog.