Friday, I saw an email from my photography professor in my inbox. He was very encouraging and complimentary for the work I’d done for his online class since January. He liked how I followed assignments and learned techniques. But he said that even with my hard work, if my photography hadn’t improved, he wouldn’t be giving me the following opportunity:
A workshop for advanced students which is by permission only.
Yikes. I had a zoom call with him Saturday to find out more details. It sounds intense, but I’m going for it. It starts in the fall. We have individual projects, a group final project, zoom calls and visits to galleries and art museums.
I’m the only student invited to the class from Intro to Photography. He said there are five other students in the workshop including one who has taken it one time and a person who has taken it for seven years. He said everyone is very encouraging and regardless what level they are at, everyone is learning and wanting to improve.
We will be sharing our work through zoom calls as well as making presentations. I will need to learn to use Adobe Photoshop — photo editing is allowed. The professor gave me a few more tips on Saturday including turning VR on my lenses (vibration reduction) for hand held photos.
I told him I was somewhat intimidated because I came into this class without knowing much. I was a clean slate. He said that was good, because I didn’t have preconceived ideas and was open to learning. As an adult returning student, he said I have more knowledge and the ability to manage my time perhaps better than a young student would.
I have to say I was not expecting this! I think it will be exciting to learn and improve my photography skills some more. It will also be interesting to see what others are working on. That was one thing in having a strictly online class I missed. I never talked to another student or saw their work. I’m looking forward to learning from the other five students.
I hope the photography community will be as welcoming as my blogging one.
Any thoughts on my choice to go forward with this new adventure?
Oh a huge congratulations EA! What amazing news and I am so excited for you. I think you are spot on in accepting this invite and clearly just the mature and interested student he was looking for. So much new to learn from not just your professor but others as well. I hope you love all of it 🙂
Thank you so much! I was intimidated but excited by the challenge too!
Oh my goodness! You’re so brave. I guess it was the right call to redo your final project 😊.
I had a similar thing happen- I was “introduced” (online) to someone who worked for the company I work for, and whose team was laid off a year ago. I set a meeting with her to learn how she approached the lay off, how her team fared in the aftermath, and get some tips for what I could be doing as my team’s layoff develops. She has started a podcast and a new company and invited me to be a guest on her podcast in light of the work I’ve been doing to prepare my team for change. I didn’t expect that! I’m inspired by your courage!
Thank you! Yes, I was frightened. I didn’t even want to do the zoom call. That sounds like a good opportunity for you to do the podcast. You’ll make more connections and I’m sure something positive will happen because of it. I am thankful I have a few months off before I jump back in. Yes, you are correct that redoing my final project led to this. The professor liked my work ethic and the fact that I followed directions!
Oh I think that your talent has been recognized Elizabeth. Congratulations my friend. A great opportunity to enhance your skills.
Thank you! Yes, I see it as an opportunity to continue with improving my knowledge and skills. I’ll spend the summer working on Photoshop. I’ve been told it’s a hard program to learn and not intuitive.
I think you’ll manage to get a handle on it. My teenage grandson uses it though it’s an expensive program to buy.
Thanks! I hope so. I do have a professional photographer friend who said he’d help me. We aren’t allowed to buy the program here. It’s a yearly subscription. The professor said they offer a discount through the college.
That’s cool. You’re very welcome
👍🏼
Congrats! I think that is great news and good for you in taking on the challenge! I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing about it in your posts. I hope your group can be encouraging of each other and that you enjoy getting to know them.
Jason, whose photographs I have used in my stories before usually explains the different photography techniques that he uses, in his blog posts, which you may find helpful. I am sure he would answer questions that you have as you continue this journey. Photography is definitely a passion of his.
Here is a link http://jasonfrels.com/2025/04/29/blooming-cactus/
Wow. Thank you so much for introducing me to your photographer friend. Plus, for your encouraging words. In my zoom call, the professor said everyone was very positive and loved to give feedback and encourage each other. That sounds like a good place for me to be!
You are very welcome! I meant to post the link before but forgot. He is a great guy and a wonderful photographer. I hope you can find some helpful info in his posts.
Yes, it truly sounds like a perfect place for you to be. I like how the group is small, too.
I like how small the group is too. I went to your friend’s website and love his cacti bloom photos! Also, I have a photographer friend who I worked with in the 1980s when I was a PR and advertising account executive. He’s offered to help me, too. Especially learning photoshop.
Wonderful!
Yes, that pink cacti is stunning!
👍🏼
Fabulous news, Elizabeth! I have no tips — it will be great because of your zeal and interest in learning. Woohoo! I’m really happy for you. 🥰💕🥰
Thank you! It came as a total surprise. I was going to ask the professor if I could take the intro class again, when he sent me the invitation to join his advanced workshop. He said there are a couple other wildlife photographers plus a woman who takes photos of her cat! 😊
Oh my goodness…classmates that you will have so much fun with. I just know it! Yay! 🥰
I especially want to get to know the cat photographer! I probably would have focused on Olive this semester if she was still with me! 💕
Yes…but we know she’s with you in spirit! 🥰❤️🥰
Definitely! 💕
Awesome!! So excited for you!!!!
Thank you! It’s going to be busy, but will be a priority for me.
Fabulous! What a wonderful, well-deserved opportunity. I am so glad that you will be taking advantage of this challenge.
Thank you! I was so surprised with the offer due to my being so new to photography. But it will be a good way for me to continue.
That is wonderful and exciting news. Photographers tend to be very welcoming and love to talk about their photos.
Thank you! It sounds like a nice and welcoming group. The professor said our work doesn’t need to be finished but works in progress when we share them with the class.
Great news. I have a feeling Red helped here. He didn’t want to give up his day job serving as your favorite model. Ha, ha. Congratulations on all your hard work, paying off.
Ha! Guess who just made his appearance while I read your comment. Thanks for your encouraging words!
Cool beans! I bet you’ll have a great time learning more about photography. Well done.
Thanks! All the photographers have more experience than me. But the professor said we all show interest and we’re just at different places on the learning curve. I’m excited to see other people’s work.
The Universe at work… offering you an opportunity to continue your photography. This is GREAT! Love RED, it’s nice to see him “close up.”
Thanks! I’m all registered and waiting for Fall Semester to start. In the meantime, I’ve signed up for Adobe Photoshop and will start learning that today!
That’s a good plan.
Thanks!
Wow! How exciting to be invited to this exclusive class. I can understand you would not want to pass it up if you feel you’ve gotten a lot from his instruction.
Absolutely! I can’t believe the difference and what I’ve learned. Tomorrow I have before and after photos posted of my hawks on my blog. I’m thankful he asked me to have a zoom call so we could both ask questions and I could learn more about each other and the workshop. At first I was so intimidated I wasn’t going to say yes.
Oh my goodness. This has been a ‘tougher than Suz thought’ class. HA. I honestly thought it was just going to be a fun, light class for you to Up your photography skills. Congratulations on doing so well and moving forward!
Thanks! I signed up with your exact intentions. Then I was surprised with the reading, research and time the class took to complete weekly assignments. I waffled on this next class, but couldn’t pass on the opportunity.