Tomorrow is the 2nd Walkabout of 2011.... an event which has grown and grown over the past 18 months, has evolved into an intense day with a very loyal group of photographers attending, a challenge for me to make things different every time, to stretch the delegates, to make them think about what they are doing...... to learn
Learning.... this is a topic very close to my heart - I have always loved to teach and was very very lucky to have been able to spend the last 5 years teaching before I jumped into photography. I love to see people being able to learn in a 'safe' environment...where they never feel stupid, overwhelmed or that they have to stay at the back of the group because everyone is better than they are - I know exactly what that feels like and I also know what its like when someone nurtures your skill and allows you to work toward your potential. Tomorrow evening I will sit with a glass ( I mean bottle) of wine, laptop on my knee and watch for the first images from the day appear on Facebook - that's when I know the day has been a success - when everyone feels able to share their images
I will have a stupid smile on my face all day tomorrow, watching for the excitement that builds as the day progresses, sharing of kit, ideas and experiences, but I do have something to ask of you all....... I want you to start thinking about the way in which you learn new skills, do you read the instruction booklet first or are you like me and dive straight in and look at the book later when something does not go right? Are you an activist - wanting to get straight in and have a go or are you more of a reflector, wanting to take everything in first - weigh up all the options and only then will you make a decision? So why I am I asking you to do this? Well, if you truly understand how you learn.... then the acquisition of new skills will be faster and more rewarding, don't be put off by the people who will be like Tigger on drugs tomorrow , that's the way they work best..... and don't be put off by people who sit back and are quiet - they may just be assessing the situation.
So when you are thinking about tomorrow, try and set yourself a goal for the day, and at the end of the day sit for a while and reflect on whether you have achieved the goal....if you have - fantastic, if you haven't...well you will just need to book on the next Walkabout and do it all again!
Have fun tomorrow, because that's what its all about.... oh and cake....there is always cake
3 comments:
I would have to say I am half and half if that is possible :-) I skimmed my instruction book and then decided to just play with the camera.
I love just getting out there and trying new things but I also buy allot of books and magazines for tips and inspiration. (bought two mags today - they were screaming out to me)
Reading these books and magazines makes me want to try everything and hopefully I will get round to it :-)
Your walkabouts ignited my interest in Portrait photography, and for that I am truly grateful as it has opened a new chapter of my life and pushed my dreams further :-)
Vicky Sudbury
I think I am a dive right in kinda gal. I press buttons until it looks right and then it all sort of clicks into place. I try new techniques all the time - like on the Victorian Bath Shoot when I decided to have a go at back focusing for the first time and didn't nail the technique 100%! But I learnt that I needed to practice more and practice I have! So tomorrow when I come along I will be more confident with my back focusing but of course a whole bunch of other nerves will kick in!
I'm going to try to take my time more on this walkabout and get the shots nailed like I want them - nothing to do with oogling the models for long periods of time - noooo not at all ;)
And where's there is cake that's where I will be :)
T xx
Great blog Jo :-) ....... I too have found that passing on the skills I know to other people is a very rewarding experience. The people who come to my studio sessions are very much like the people who come to your walkabouts, they are there because they want to be there and have a love of photography,this makes it easy to teach. When someone says to you "Well I didnt know that, I now know something new" ........ well thats a great feeling :-)
Warren XX
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