This week I have done something a bit impulsive (this is not unusual..). I may, in the coming weeks, regret this possibly rash decision.. or it may be the start of something fantastic and fulfilling. I have enrolled for a City & Guilds course in Photography with the local Adult Education college, CALAT. Why?!
In some ways, this move has had a long build-up. For months I had been thinking of starting up my own craft business. Running scrapbooking classes was my main idea, although there were many other schemes along the way. I went so far as to book the boys into a nursery three days a week and open a business bank account. Then I had a serious go at writing my business plan and had a long hard look at the figures - and it just didn't add up. I had to admit, we would be in dire financial straits within a month! So I had to shelve my grand plans.. at least for the time being. I then considered working as a tutor for CALAT and looked into the craft courses they are currently offering. I was a little surprised to see they are running one scrapbooking class and several card-making classes starting this September. Clearly I'm too late to offer my services for this academic year but there seems to be potential for more classes of this type. So maybe next year. This would give me more time to get my act together anyway. But what to do in the meantime?
Browsing through the CALAT website, I spotted a few courses on digital photography that grasped my interest. I am always striving to take better photos and get the best out of my camera (a Panasonic DMC-FZ8), but I will readily admit I have a steep learning curve ahead of me. Now I could have opted for a five-week course on 'Making the most of your digital camera'. But then I noticed the City & Guilds course also on offer, the Level 1 Award in Basic Digital Photo Imaging. There was a free induction session on Monday 15th September so I booked myself on to that - just to find out more about the course and the commitment involved.
I duly went along to the induction session on Monday and found out that the course is Hard Work, but ultimately Very Rewarding. The classes are from 6.30 to 9.30pm on Thursday evenings, from next week. There will be photographic assignments to do each week. The course lasts for the whole academic year, a total of thirty weeks of classes. Students will have to prepare a portfolio of work as well as a class workbook to show understanding of the theory. Did I run a mile? No, I signed up!
It was looking through some of the current students' beautiful portfolios that swung it for me. I would LOVE to be able to take pictures as good as those! One person had clearly used his/her baby and other children as subjects - one photograph in particular brought tears to my eyes, and that was it. I handed in the paperwork yesterday.. so I'll be a student again!
I am excited about the challenge that awaits me, but also a little nervous. Will it be enriching, stimulating, will I stay motivated? I certainly hope so. I guess I'll have some idea about that after the first class next Thursday.
