Last year we stayed at a Lighthouse for a week with my Master Class. Being able to photograph minutes from our front door was just wonderful. In fact we didn’t touch our vehicles all week. Now that is special in this day and age where everything we do is linked to transporting ourselves around. The week was marked with lashings of good food and wine, friends and photography. It became an unofficial week of abstracts, as the real reason we gathered was to learn about colour.

Each Master Class I have ever run has been very special. Very very special. The first one was in Katoomba in an art gallery. A very fitting place to start. Six started and we met weekly for a year. I taught, we critiqued, and the students worked so hard. Each of the four terms students worked on finishing a project. Much in the same way I learnt when I went to art school. At the end of the year we had an exhibition.

It was a wonderful year. The start of my full time career in teaching photography. That was ten years ago. Shirley Steel from that first class now teaches with me on the Abstract Workshops. I hear from Paul every so often, bump in to Ann at her camera club, and see what Dot is up to on facebook.

The next year it went viral, and I was able to leave TAFE NSW, as I had enough students in the Master Class to for a wage. It is fascinating as I always seem to struggle in marketing it despite its unbelievably consistent success in helping photographers grow.

Last years Master Class was a case in point, nine of the ten were previous clients and each knew what I could offer with my teaching and facilitation. The other one heard me speak at a camera club.

I must improve my marketing and presence. Hopefully you will notice changes as Clair starts to help me sort it all out.

Anyway, I am missing last years class, as I equally miss the ones before. The lovely times we have had together and the huge amount of stunning work that graces my presence. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have taught you.

You know, there is nothing better than experiencing photographic joy together.

There was this one time…..

Will leave that for another day.

A lighthouse on the coast somewhere…. Photograph and Text Copyright © Len Metcalf 2020