AV News 186 - November 2011
We visited a weaver in her
small cottage; and spent a
day
doing
close-up
photography.
It was a chance remark
by Joy that gave me the
idea for the sequence. I’d
already noticed how the
texture of the thread on the
loom looked like the moss
I’d
photographed
the
previous
day
and
wondered how I could
develop this comparison.
I continued taking photographs of anything and everything while bearing in
mind colours and textures. Whenever I’m photographing, I’m always thinking
in terms of AV rather than single images, so I take plenty of close ups as well
as wide angle images.
After returning home, I went through the many images I had taken. I wanted
to make a sequence that portrayed different aspects of Harris as well as the
links between the landscape and the weaving. I had fallen in love with the
Island and hoped to show why.
I started on the first version of a script so that I knew what I was aiming at.
I knew I would probably change it several times, but it’s important to write
down something. When I had the basic plan I started sorting out images and
working on them in photoshop. I very rarely use an image straight from the
camera. I had great fun playing with different combinations of images to find
ones that illustrated the melding of cloth and landscape.
At the same time, I was considering what music would fit the mood of the
sequence. I wanted to use different music for each section. I played through
extracts from several CDs and decided on the appropriate music for the first
three sections.
I wanted some flute music for the final part but hadn’t anything suitable. I
went on the internet and listened to some extracts of James Galway playing
until I heard one that was just right. I prefer to buy a full CD rather than just
the one track so that I have other possible music for another sequence. I
ordered a copy from Forsyths in Manchester.
At this point I put together the first draft of the sequence. I always try to use
the music when timing fades. A few small changes and it was ready to take to
Wilmslow Guild AV Group for comments. Keith Brown made several
suggestions, most of which I followed.
One of these was to have a picture of the church which was illustrated on
a woven mat. Unfortunately, I hadn’t taken a photo of the whole church, only
part of it, as it was on a steep slope and I couldn’t find anywhere to stand.
Fortunately, Howard had taken a photo of each part separately.
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