127
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." (Anais Nin)
(polaroid spectra, image 1200 film ~ taken during a beautiful summer like day in may)
Pssst. I have been keeping a secret.
I have been madly working on creating an e-course on photography that mixes technique and exercises while teaching how to achieve the results you want without all the technical professional jargon. The beautiful basics of photography from an intuitive easy to follow perspective.
I have been blessed with beautifully talented friends who have watered this seed as they have watched me with my cameras and taken my little tips and used them to create their own magic. They have encouraged me and supported me to move forward with this dream of teaching again in this way, using this online medium and I love the idea of being able to provide this course to those who may not otherwise have access to a class like this.
I had such a hard time grasping the concepts of f-stop, aperture, depth of field, long exposure when all I really wanted to know was … how do I get all that beautiful blur in the background? How do I shoot successfully in the full on harsh light of midday? How can I create a studio look in the middle of a busy street? How do you shoot in low lighting? At night? How do I know what kinds of lenses are good for the things I want to shoot? How can I use the light to my advantage?
I know that I am not alone in this and so I want to teach practical empowering techniques (yes you can shoot successfully in manual with your SLR camera!) and ways to use your camera that doesn't feel intimidating or super technical in that way that makes your eyes glaze over (or is that just me?). I really want to empower women to take the photos that they see in their mind without having to shoot off 50 or so photos because sometimes you only have one chance to capture that moment. I will share that I always shoot in manual. Always. I cut my teeth on photography using film cameras and experimented with all kinds of different film and film speeds and I believe that learning the basics made it easier for me to get creative with my photography. I also know that it doesn’t have to be intimidating or scary or confusing like a chalkboard filled with equations (sorry to all the math geeks out there!)
I have been getting all geeky over here writing up lesson plans and making story boards for video tutorials which I hope to shoot in August. I forgot how much fun it was to create lesson plans and how much I miss teaching. I am also feeling incredibly grateful to have purchased the 5D Mark II back when I was shooting weddings because it shoots video and I have figured out how to use it as a visual tool and am really excited because I think it will be a great learning tool for anyone who takes my class.
I will share with you that I am feeling some fear as I share this with you. I am unsure what it is that scares me. I already know that I love teaching and feel fairly secure in that regard as my second degree was an education degree and I also have experience teaching in a classroom setting. I really believe in what I am teaching and really want to empower other women* to shoot with confidence and learn how to create the photos that they see in their hearts. Perhaps the fear comes from taking the chance to blossom in this way, of allowing myself to feel intimidated as I attempt something new … beginning down a new path can be scary but I am going to smile and lean into this fear knowing that it will guide me towards something beautiful.
I am opening up the comments as I would love to hear from you and what you think about all this. Is this something that would appeal to you? Do you have any questions? Is there anything you would like to see in a course like this? I would totally love to hear your thoughts as I move forward.
peace and light
*************
*I say women because most men that I know love to get down into all the tech talk whereas most women I know tend to approach photography from a more emotional place. That said, I think that men would also get something out of the approach I am using so, of course, I am not limiting the class to only women.
Reader Comments (40)
I love this! I can't wait to be one of the first people to sign up :)
The technical stuff has been difficult for me to grasp, I understand it when people explain it and then its like my brain gets overloaded and shuts off. It has taken a loooong time for me to understand what I do and be able to implement that knowledge successfully. I am still shy to call myself a photographer because of this. But I know that I do have talent and am so looking forward to your e-course!
xoxo
I would love to take your photography course sometime. I love pictures and would like to learn more about taking fabulous ones. Keep leaning into the fear and you will suceed. I just love how open you are with your feelings - I feel the same way about so many things. You are truly a kindred spirit!
Love and light!
I would love to take your course - I feel like I've been taking pictures for a long time but so much of it is trial and error because I have difficulty with the technical stuff. This is a fantastic idea and can't wait to hear more about it!
Oooo wonderful! I would LOVE to take the course -once I get my hands on a good dSLR :D
Fab idea, and a definite gap, all courses i've seen are way technical. I was talking to a colleague today who is looking for something like this. I'll definitely point him (and hopefully others) here!
I would definitely not make this sound like a girlie course, plenty of non geeky, want to get decent pictus blokes out ther methinks...
You know I totally want to take this class and I'm so happy to hear you're working on it!! ya you!!!
xoxo
i have every faith in you honey and as a benefactor of your photographic help, (thank you!), i know that this class will be amazing. xoxoxo
Absolutely!!!!
I would love to take a class like this. I just came to visit you after a post on CY. I do not own an SLR camera however, it's just a digital canon powershot....i have a manual feature on my camera and it can do a fair amount however....perhaps this wouldn't work?
oh you guys all make me smile!!
linden ~ i didn't post it here but will ensure to put that in my description (thank you!!). most point and shoots these days allow for all kinds of manual manipulation and you will be able to do most things that i am teaching so it won't be absolutely necessary to have an SLR and if you are ever thinking of getting one, some of the information around lenses and such will be helpful i think.
carlos ~ good point about not making it sound all girlie!! you are so right, not all guys are geeky techies just like some girls are geeky techies.
thank you!!
i think this is a fabulous idea!
hey darlene, i might be interested in joining! depends if i can pull it off in my budget, but i am very interested and will try to make some wiggle room to do this with you!
do it! do it! do it! :) xox
What a brilliant idea, honey! And that quote? Is one of my faves, ever.
Loves to you!
Cxx
This is so exciting! It's the kind of course I've been waiting for but just couldn't find. And with you as the teacher… I know it will be great. I would have had to email you if you didn't open up the comments. Count me in, lady.
I'm definitely in! I've been looking for something just like this in Houston!!
SIGN ME UP, Darlene!!! right now. no matter when it starts. no matter how long it runs. no matter what the cost. I WANT TO BE PART OF THIS!!!! so so much. and I will.
And I just instinctively know that it is going to be wonderful for me. I seriously can't think of a better teacher.
And the way you're approaching this? It's exactly what I need!
This news has totally made my day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
<3
Vx
I would really like to take a course like the one you are designing. It would work best for me if you taught it in person, and I would love to have the online/written materials as supplemental stuff. I take photographs intuitively and I'd love to have the course taught from that angle.
Good for you for acting on your impulses!
Kara
(Charity send me over here...)
P.S. The Anais Nin quote is one of my favourite, and an inspiration of mine right now too...
dar~dar~dar~ i am so happy that you are letting your creative dreams loose - and i am celebrating with you!!
i think your course will be fabulous.
xxoo B
Do it! I'd sign up in a heartbeat! Can't wait, my pics never come out quite like I imagine they will, I'd love to know what to do to make them come out the way I want.
Yes!
I have SO been needing this.
oh. my. GOD. woman!!
you are so totally cool and i am so excited for you - what a gift you are to the world
xxx
You are so gonna rock this Miss Darlene. Like to new galaxies!!!
yes yes yes! i just bought a new dslr that has been on (ahem) AUTO setting because it's so much work to learn this stuff. thanks for creating a new approach for those of us who love photography and want to do it well and still have fun!
I found your blog, today, through Susannah Conway. I'm already inspired! I've taken several online photography classes and I have learned a lot. But a straight forward class about taking pictures? - sign me up!