If you read my post yesterday you know that I missed a great photo opportunity but luckily for you a light bulb went off in my head. I decided this would be a great opportunity for a petite Souvenir Foto School session. We wrapped up class in November or December of last year (it's all a blur) and the teacher, moi, did not finish her final assignment. I effectively failed my own class. I can sit here and beat myself up or I can brush myself off and get back on the proverbial horse. So, if you would like to join me for six weeks in this mini session I would be honored to have you in my class. The assignment will be a little different from the normal sessions where we have a weekly creative assignment and on the sixth week we do a final (cringe).
For those that are new to the Souvenir Foto School concept, basically it's a free (for now) six week photography class that focuses on creative captures and getting you out and shooting. My goal is for the students to start to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. No longer will you walk by a wall oblivious, you will turn around shoot and have a great texture. A glass of water will become a 'model', everything in your house will become a prop. You get the idea. What about a camera? No, you do not need a big, fancy schmancy camera to join in. No one ever has had a great meal and asks the chef what kind of oven he/she has, that same philosophy needs to be applied to your photography.
What Souvenir Foto isn't-We are NOT a
photo 101 course. We do have many links on our discussion board that
will take you to some great resources. If you have questions about
how to do anything we have some pretty amazing photographers in class
and everyone is usually eager to help. I highly recommend Nicole's classes
(both the live + books) and Andie Smith's downloadable Photo 101. Both are great. I happen to
be totally IN LOVE with Nicole Gerulat's style of shooting and if you
are going to take a class (and neither of my suggestions above float
your boat), may I suggest finding a teacher that you admire their
portfolio? I think it makes a huge difference learning from someone
you admire versus a teacher that you think has a horrible eye. That's
no fun.
So, finally the assignment...I noticed the first bloom of a cherry blossom tree the other day, not the white ones, but the pretty pink blooms. I have walked by this barren tree for months and I did shoot it when it was just naked branches and again the other day when I saw the first peek of pink. For the next six weeks the assignment will be to find a plant, tree, flower (or let me know of something you want to shoot, preferably something that will be changing from now to the end of class) and shoot the same object each week for the next six weeks. You need only turn in one capture a week but if you are motivated and want to shoot more during the week by all means go ahead. This assignment may seem premature for those in snow storm weather but I think you will be surprised how much things change in such a short amount of time. For my Australian, New Zealand and South American students summer is a great time to capture sweet, sweet light so please join in! Take your camera out at different times of the day for variation in light, learn to add a texture or use a Photoshop action. Get creative and have fun.
The class is free, but there are some rules to get that price. If you sign up you MUST commit to the six weeks. This is not a drop in when you feel like it course, there are plenty of Flickr groups that you can join if that's what you can commit to. For Souvenir Foto School I request active participation, remember the whole point is to get you out shooting! If you won't be in the same place for six weeks then you will have to opt out of this session, so sorry, I promise we will have more. Class will start this Sunday 02.14.10 and assignments will be due the following Sunday 02.21.10. Our school is 'private' but just let me know your Flickr name in the comments and I can send you an invite. If you don't have a Flickr account sign up, it's free.If you have any questions for me leave them in the comments below and I will answer away.
xo,
Miss B.
P.S. I am going to the mini art weekend in L.A. put on by Nicole's Classes. I guess I am into mini right now? I miraculously was able to get Friday 2.19 off so I am going to get my class on (and go to DMV, I am so wild). Nicole of Nicole's Classes has offered our Bright Side Project readers 10% off already great pricing so jaunt on over there and get your checkout code!
