Ellie Hetebrij, The Photographer: Session 2; New and more organized Beginnings

With the end of first session leaving us with only three working cameras, the two day intersession proved a perfect time to get to grips with our three new Ebay purchased cameras ( a Minolta XGI, Minolta X300 and a Vivitar XV-3, adding to our Canon AE-1, Nikon FM10 and three Vivitar XV-3).

In Fernwood Cove we love a challenge and second hand cameras do love to provide one.

Just like any second hand camera purchase, bearing in mind that most of these cameras are twenty plus years old, a lot of them come with a nearly broken this and a faulty that, and two of the new additions were no exception. Unfortunately both Minolta's came with broken winds , the X300 a semi automatic and slightly newer Minolta came with a common fault in the form of a broken capacitor, where according to the big wide web the only cure is to replace the electronics- which i'm sure is a more costly process than buying the camera itself. The XG-1 also had a broken wind as well as acid leak from the batteries (perhaps hinting that it probably wasn't in the good working condition that was implied in the purchase details). Although teaching a class of seven mixed aged and ability campers with only four working cameras isn't ideal (as it means on average one person per class has to share a camera) four is better than three, and to be honest we don't have a choice about it so the show or rather focuses must go on.

The Department itself is working incredibly well perhaps even faultlessly , the weather is behaving, the cameras that still work (touch wood) are all fully understandable and teachable to all ages (even if the Canon AE-1 with its pendant based light meter and the Vivitar XV-3 with its sensitive shutter release work better in the hands of the older campers) The kids are producing well exposed and composed images, that are unique - remember Fernwood Cove believes in Eagles not Ducks- and so far the printing is working well. Its a great compliment when a Photographer or person who works in a very similar industry compliments their childs printing skills which you've set up and approved yourself. Processing the films has also come on a lot, film loading has become a painless and quick process - even in those annoying, sweaty and cramped bags- and the films are coming out both constantly and successfully and even with a shine, with thanks to the PhotoFlo wetting agent.

The department is a lot more organized, with thanks to the new ring binder, envelope and name tag system, In which each film once developed is hung on a named peg, then cut up and placed in plastic wallets inside the negative holder, prints are also hung up on said named pegs then placed in named wallets ready for collection and display on parents day, meaning we haven't lost a negative yet.