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Thursday 3 June 2021

Dane Mellows, second year student studying History at the University of Hull reflects on his volunteering opportunities with the Hull Maritime project so far.

While we were there, we observed the process of conserving historic maritime paintings which I found very interesting. Due to my experience with video editing, I was asked to create a short video of the process. This was very helpful to me as I was able to use my skills in a new environment which forced me to adapt and find new ways of filming.

I am very proud of the video we were able to produce as it captured everything that was going on in the process of conserving these paintings along with an audio description of the paintings/the process of cleaning them on top of the video. This enables the viewer to learn about specific parts of the painting while being able to see the conservation process at the same time.

Conservators work on paintings from the Hull Maritime collection
The harpoon cannon is being prepared for packing

My second, and most recent, volunteering opportunity was at the Maritime Museum itself and was focused on the movement of objects out of the museum. Here I was able to explore the museum for the first time in over a year and, as a student of history, I was fascinated by what it had to offer.

I was able to watch and record the packaging of several eye-catching objects such as the huge polar bear. Much like the other volunteering opportunity, I produced a video of the experience where this time I wanted the focus to be on the movement of the objects rather than a description of them explaining their historic purpose.

Providing written information about the move on top of the video really helped to bring it together as the viewer can learn about what was going on while also being able to see the objects being moved.

Both of these opportunities have not only allowed me to expand my knowledge of filming and editing but also given me the chance to meet some amazing people and learn about their specific jobs, ranging from the team at the museum to professional photographers to journalists.

Anna has been a great help with getting me involved in volunteering for the museum and I am so grateful for the opportunities the team has given me. I am looking forward to further working with them in the future.

Here is the first video I created for the Hull Maritime project.