Unfortunately I inadvertently messed up my weekly emails when I moved the page on my blog. Luckily, Elizabeth wrote to me and I was able to fix the daily emails, but I forgot to fix the weekly one. Jim asked me last week about why my weekly ones had stopped, and it suddenly dawned on me it needed fixing too. A doh moment.

So if you are subscribed to the weekly Len’s School Newsletter, this email is a very long one, as it will have all of my posts from the past couple of weeks included below. You may want to save it, and take your time reading through all of my adventures, thoughts and the pondering / savouring all the included photographs.

My sincerest apologies for missing this change and creating a break in your reading and visual pleasure.

I have been over in Western Australia for the past three weeks. I ran a weekend workshop at Hopetoun, and another at Albany. We were blessed with lovely weather, wonderful students and a stunning display of flowers. I am currently at Eagle Bay near Dunsburough, researching a trip here, and doing a bit of relaxing. Oh and fighting poor reception and even worse internet connections.

Wildflowers and orchids in particular have been a fascination for me during this trip. I have managed to add a significant number of flowers to my collection, and now feel ready to start collating them into a book. My goal is to create a beautiful collection of monochrome Australian Natives photographed in situ, in their natural environments. I have been working on this for the past ten years. Slowly adding to the collection. On this trip I have photographed over twenty different types of native orchids. And another twenty or so wildflowers.

My concurrent book projects are progressing well. Nina has delved into all of my writing to collate a gorgeous collection of my writing so that I can produce a coffee table book with my work. This will be available as a a large limited edition coffee table book and probably a lighter paperback version as well. Jodi Rose and I are in the final shoots of our dancers and trees, while Shirley and I are nearly finished our first draft of our book on Abstract Photography. 2020 will see some beautiful books being available to you.

I am currently working up next years program. Figuring out what to offer and how to find that delicate balance with time with my family, my son in particular. It is always such a juggling act. It is a fine line between sorting out a manageable business and a healthy lifestyle. I don’t think I got it right this year and not enough quality time was spent with Cyan.

I will be offering a number of Short Lens Workshops next year. All inclusive sojourns full of learning, inspiration, positive energy, encouragement and learning. Sharing time together in a stunning location is consistently proving to be the most rewarding of my workshops. Four nights, and three full days. Dates and locations will be announced shortly. A few have made special requests for locations, which I will endeavour to include. By the way, it is not too late to make a request.

I will be running two Focused Lens programs next year, one on Wednesday evenings and one on the weekends.

I am also taking the brave step of offering short courses, in cohorts, online. Despite having a Diploma in Online and Distance Learning, this is something I have not braved before. The key final step has been my Weekly Photography Exercises where I learnt the value of having a cohort. A group all working on the same thing at the same time. Something often lacking in online courses. They can often be solitary affairs as you wade your way through the prescribed work. When you work with others a learning community develops. Support and encouragement grows. Feedback is ensured. These courses will usually be ten weeks long, around each of my Master Class Units. They will align with the school terms, with breaks in between. At the moment I am thinking of starting with Composition as the first online course to start in February 2020. Each course will only be offered once every couple of years. Not something you can just sign up and do at your leisure. To gain the most benefit from the course and to be awarded certification homework and assignments would need to be completed and submitted.

Just to be clear, these won’t just be written exercises, but structured online learning that is personally facilitated by me. Each student will get personalised feedback and support.

Complete all of the On Line Courses over a couple of years and can gain the Len’s Master Class Award. I am not sure how many will be interested in this type of intense and long term course. So many of you will probably choose to start by completing one of the first units.

To facilitate this I will be creating an online community here at Len’s School. A members only area.

Well, that is probably enough for the time being.

I hope you are well… enjoying time…

Oh… and a big thank you to all those who striked for the planet. Lets’ keep up the pressure for change.

Orchids, Albany, Western Australia. Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2019