My first photography teacher was my father. My second was at high school. The next were at art school…. I am eternally grateful for each one. That was all before I was 21.

Just before I turned thirty I returned to photography, after a seven year hiatus. There were no teachers to turn too, so I turned to books, online articles and a couple of online photography forums.

One, eventually stood out, the Large Format Photography Forum. I was in with my kin. People who loved film and the same cameras I did. Whenever I’d hit a block I’d ask a question, twenty answers usually unfolded, and I could figure out the answer that suited me.

I participated in print swaps. We’d all send twenty prints to a lovely lady who ran a mail order business. She’d repackage our work and send us back the other peoples prints. I have photographs of my friends work in my collection that started there. What beautiful memories of dear friends I never really met.

What was missing from the forum was the skills of critique. As I joined the founder was seen less and less. It was left to its own devices. A few fantastic moderators kept the peace. It was a treasure trove of experience. I owe so much to those people who answered my questions there. Helped me solve my problems and find workable solutions.

There is one thing I hate, when it comes to learning, and that is being alone. Nothing more fearful for me than doing it myself. The other thing I hate is negativity.

For me. The best thing is positive support, encouragement, and ideas. It works so well for me. It works so well for my students. I put so much effort into creating it in my classrooms.

This morning I was reading about humans negatively bias. It was what kept us alive during our evolution. Fear. We were always on the lookout for danger. It is still hard wired into us. That’s why negativity is so ingrained in the human race.

Negativity destroys creativity.

Now I understand why we so easily fall towards the negative critique.

It takes a special person to be brave enough to be positive. It is incredibly hard work maintaining a positive space. I know as it exausts me.

I dream of creating an online community that is grounded in positive and supportive behaviours. A place where I want to hang out, ask questions and seek critiques.

My fear, my negative thoughts, are that I won’t find enough people to join.

I hope you will want to join, I can only ask can’t I.

A closed, gated community. A safe place. A supportive family. Growth facilitating. A place of encouragement and inspiration….

Coming soon….

Grasses, The Western Arthur’s, South West Tasmania. Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2020