A photography education

Here is the beginning of an old fashioned online journal written just for me — a place to document my photography education. No more procrastinating, or waiting around for the right course at the right price to materialise. No need for travelling far, or for forking out tuition fees that make me break out into a sweat. No one to blame but me. I am letting go of the excuses, letting go of the fear and ready to take my photography education into my own hands. 

But first the fun part, I got to spend the first two weeks of 2020 brainstorming. It is an exciting feeling considering what do I want to learn in photography in the next twelve months. Firstly I want to fill in holes in my photography education - I am looking at you artificial light, but I also want to go deep on topics I already love like composition. I want to get to know my new camera intimately and feel confident I can tackle any photography inspiration that comes my way.

With my goals listed, it was time to make a plan. Enter the excel spreadsheet. 

I am a Gretchen Rubin Obliger with a hint of upholder, so I know I need clear goals as well as accountability to keep me on track. I've expanded my goals into the units below, as well as creating daily and weekly tasks to complete. I will use this blog to document as the assignments I have given myself assignments, which I am actually excited to complete. I have also begun to brainstorm a list of mentors I can study or reach out to for each unit.  

Kristin's Photography Academy

• Colour Management 

• Back to Basics Exposure and getting to know my camera

• Advanced Composition

• Editing 

• Colour Theory

• Studying the masters 

• Lighting 

  • Natural

  • Flash 

  • Off-camera lighting

I've also decided to include in my personalised curriculum, studying other photographers and their work, a daily habit of shooting as well as taking time each week to print and analyse my own photos. 

But where to find all the information? That is where the internet comes in!

I have signed up for a Creative Live creators pass, signed up for interactive online classes at Illuminated Classes and Click Photo School, and have started an ever-growing library of photography books.  

As to a time line, I initially wanted to organise my personalised curriculum a month at a time, but realistically that is too restrictive. The great thing about DIYing my photography education is I can be flexible. If a topic takes longer than a month, so be it, I don't want to rush; I want to follow my curiosity.  

Like the geek I am, I've collated all of this info into my master excel spreadsheet. I've also added in tabs to track expenses, (photography is not cheap), collect equipment suggestions as well as a section to reflect at the end of each unit. Reflection will be crucial to know that I am moving forward and noting what I am still yet to grasp. I am not naive to think I will master photography in an entire year. This is just the start of a life long journey. 

I am letting go of the belief that the only way I will feel validated as a "real" photographer is to have a university or art school degree in my hand. What I do need in my hand is a portfolio of my very best work and a tool kit of knowledge that I am very capable of acquiring. 

I am excited and ready to learn