Welcome to the world of the Studio

After three long years and technically completing a Bachelor of Arts degree I am finally in my fourth and finally year of the coveted Rhodes University Bachelor of Journalism degree. This not only means that I am in my last year at university for now but it also means that I'm officially allowed in the STUDIO!! Now you have to understand that in the journalism department at Rhodes there is a hierarchy - only third and fourth years are allowed in the specialization labs like photography, design and TV.  And only fourth years are allowed in the TV suites, the new media lab and the photography studio. I hope this helps you to understand my absolute delight in finally reaching the top of the student hierarchy and gaining access to the (drum roll......) studio.

Ok, so I am in the studio now what? Well let me just say that the studio is a totally different kind of monster than the world outside. It is in the words of David Campany in the book Art and Photography

"... a space to explore the interrelationship of control and experimentation. It stands apart from the social world but is indirectly connected to it.”

It is this strange blend between being part of the world but also not being a part of it. The isolation of the studio does in fact not isolate at all but allows the photographer a space where creativity can flow and almost have no bounds. I have found that since working in the studio my ideas for photo shoots are getting bigger and more out there as I realise that in the studio these ideas actually stand a chance of working out. This is because the studio is a space that can been seen as a mixture of a stage and a confessional as it is an area where you can feel protected and free to express and act our desires and fantasies. 


 Lighting in the studio is controlled you as the photographer are the director and this opens up more possibilities as you can setup situations instead of just stumbling upon them or waiting for them to naturally occur as you have to do outside. But this is also one of the hardest parts of the studio .... getting the lighting just right.

Well I have been working in our studio at the journalism department for about three weeks now and last week Wednesday I finally felt ready to more on from shooting just one person sitting in studio. So I arranged my first photo shoot with more than one person. As one of our assignments for this term is to shoot studio portraits I decided to invite three dancers into the studio to photograph 'a dancers portrait'. The dancers varied from ballet to tap and contemporary.

I would actually like to take a moment to thank the lovely Shameez Joubert, Meg Ross and Claire Martin for their time, patience with my lack of dancing knowledge and constant light changing and asking you to move a little this way and that and for your just being fabulous in general! These ladies put up with me in studio for three hours, which says so much in it's own so thank you so much. Last but definitely not least I must say a huge thank you to Stephane Meintjes, Jane van Doorene and Marcelle Liron for being my assistants and helping with the lighting and stage directing. All of you made my first BIG shoot an absolute blast that I would repeat with you anytime.

So I am sure that you are all dying to see the results of the shoot so here we go.........are you ready?

Claire Martin stretches and warms up for the photo shoot in the Africa Media Matrix studio at the Rhodes University Journalism Department, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Claire Martin stretches and warms up for the photo shoot in the Africa Media Matrix studio at the Rhodes University Journalism Department, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Meg Ross is both a ballet and tap dancer. Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Shameez Joubert extends her legs and arms outwards while balancing on her neck and shoulders, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Shameez Joubert is caught mid-jump in studio, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Meg Ross acts surprised, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Meg Ross stands on point in her tap shoes and strikes a pose in studio, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Claire Martin lies on the studio floor to pose for a photo from above, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Meg Ross and Claire Martin practice some physical theatre moves in studio, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

Marcelle Liron, one of my helpful hands on deck during the shoot, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 9 March 2011. © Tarryn Liddell 2010

As you can see I still have a fair bit to learn in the studio but so far I am quite happy with how the shoot turned out and look forward to having another one soon - This time with a HIGH FASHION theme - so watch this space! Also I will be putting more photos from this shoot up as I have plenty more where these came from!