November started off in great style with a course in Cumbria lasting three days. It was run by the Annabel Willams Studio CPT. Great course and fantastic trainers. Made new friends with like minded people whom I will keep in touch with. It is great when we all share the same enthusiasm. I recall going on courses in my Corporate days when it was an order to go. Maybe the guy despatching us then was also under orders but the motivation is not the same for the delegates. I will definitely be returning to the Studio - it is just a matter of when. We were lucky to have escaped the bad flooding which the county is still suffering from so badly.
Next on the list for November was a portrait session which went well. The main reason for the session was a framed picture for a Christmas present. What a good idea ! There were three people to be photographed but not all together. I had thought to shoot outdoors as I love ambient light but the light was going and the weather uncertain so I opted to play safe.
Finally I assisted at a lovely wedding in Essex of Katie and James. I suppose I could have been called the lighting gaffer and used a really useful video light. I learnt a lot from Jeff who incidentally I met on the course in Cumbria and that experience will stand me well for when I do my own shoots probably january onwards. I do need Santa to be good to me as never feel I have enough equipment. Maybe he will read my Blog or maybe I am turning into an equipment junkie !
At this time of the year I usually look back and think what sort of year I have had. 2009 for me will take some beating. Last January I was in a job in Industry dutifully collecting my paycheck at the end of every month with that big Corporate umbrella over my head. All very nice and it felt safe. Now I am out in the world I have come to realise that I was not really in control of my life and the words 'Get a life' now have a new ring of truth. Along came the accountants and like a flash flood all the security which I had taken for granted was swept away. Initially a numb feeling of disbelief set in closely followed by a great opportunity to panic. You tell your family as you reach for the calculator working out how long your financial survival rate can be. Some are obviously more lucky than others in their financial circumstances and I place myself in that fortunate category. I came to realise that this could be the opportunity I needed to do the thing I have always wanted to do and that is my photography. Why didnt I take that chance earlier ? My year is like a hammock - July and August in the middle but we are now almost in December !! Would I go back to the former job now in the unlikely event of it being offered it to me - thanks but no thanks. There is always a silver lining to be found somewhere but often we are too close to see it. Yes 2009 has been a watershed year in my life but that life only seems to get better. I am following my dream, I have additional friends and am thriving on new challenges. That cant be bad. For anyone in similar circumstances I can only say that once the emotional turmoil has gone there is usually a silver lining to be found somewhere even if it is just having more time to be with the family. For me it was the opportunity to start my own photographic business and the determination that I will succeed however hard I am told it will be. I expect to be able to once again look back at the end of 2010 and I believe I will still feel satisfied with the decision I made in 2009.
November started off in great style with a course in Cumbria lasting three days. It was run by the Annabel Willams Studio CPT. Great course and fantastic trainers. Made new friends with like minded people whom I will keep in touch with. It is great when we all share the same enthusiasm. I recall going on courses in my Corporate days when it was an order to go. Maybe the guy despatching us then was also under orders but the motivation is not the same for the delegates. I will definitely be returning to the Studio - it is just a matter of when. We were lucky to have escaped the bad flooding which the county is still suffering from so badly. 
Next on the list for November was a portrait session which went well. The main reason for the session was a framed picture for a Christmas present. What a good idea ! There were three people to be photographed but not all together. I had thought to shoot outdoors as I love ambient light but the light was going and the weather uncertain so I opted to play safe. 
Finally I assisted at a lovely wedding in Essex of Katie and James. I suppose I could have been called the lighting gaffer and used a really useful video light. I learnt a lot from Jeff who incidentally I met on the course in Cumbria and that experience will stand me well for when I do my own shoots probably january onwards. I do need Santa to be good to me as never feel I have enough equipment. Maybe he will read my Blog or maybe I am turning into an equipment junkie !
