Photography Class for Painters, Poets and Dreamers

My current photography class has met once. And my mind has been churning ever since. I’ve actually had a lot to think about over the past few days photography-wise, between this class, some guided meditation and my Week in the Life project. The muses have been working together in the mystic realm to take my photography in new directions. More on all that later, after I finish processing my thoughts.

If you are in the central Texas area, I can’t encourage you enough to take one of Michael Long’s photography classes.   You can see some of his work on Flickr.  I recently finished his Natural Light Portraits class. His mastery of lighting techniques is amazing, but, best of all, your camera will be in your hand with shutter whirring at least 50% of the time.

So I have jumped into Michael’s next photography class, Photography for Painters, Poets and Dreamers. We spent the first part of the first class talking about the creative process. His suggestion on how to approach a group of pictures as you import them from your camera to your computer and begin to review them has made quite an impact on my outlook.

Rather than diving in and labeling each picture as good, bad, or maybe with the help of Photoshop, try first to reflect on your gratitude for what you have just had the opportunity to do. Give thanks to the god of your choice for the creative process you have just participated in, the memories you captured, the skills you have built.

And then,as you review your images, try to keep the creativity flowing. Consider how the creative process might be stifled by looking at a series of pictures and labeling the images as good or bad. Yes, we do need to analyze our photography and learn about different ways to work the next time the camera is in our hands, but don’t let a critical judgment keep you from a photograph that does its job.

This mindset has already made a huge difference in my Week in the Life photos.  The photo’s job is to record a memory.  20 years from now, I want to be reminded about how cute my baby is as she eats cereal with her fingers.  I really won’t care if my exposure or focus isn’t spot on.  And this realization is liberating.  I will take more pictures of a higher quality because of it.

So, we finished the philosophizing in class and we proceeded to the nitty gritty:

We photographed rectangles.

Rectangles that continue outside of the image.

Rectangles that aren’t parallel to the edges of the image.

And we discussed whether focus is actually necessary.

I never would have had the courage to post most of these pictures on my blog a week ago.  Thank you for looking at them!  Next up, I’ll share my Week in the Life progress.

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