hands on workshops ?

[meredith]

i dont know if anyone else is from sydney autralia. im from the campbelltown area and im having real troubles trying to find a workshop or course i can do in my area (for beginers )does anyone have any suggeations ?

[jerryph]

This site offers a hands on online course for beginners. Maybe you can look into that as a start?

Many here are either currently participating or like myself, have completed the course.

[meredith]

i am already enrolled in the online course ! up to lesson 5 !! and loving it. but id also like to do some hands on workshops in my local area.

[dkippen]

Meredith - in the states, some of our community colleges will have hands-on classes/workshops. Or what about a local photo club?

[meredith]

yeah , thanks... my community colege does offer some. i enrolled in two and they both got cancelled because there were not enough people enrolled !!! (sooooo , not happy) and the camera club closest to me ? it runs on a thursday night. and unfortunately thats the one and only night of the week i cant make it ! (unless they wanted me to bring along a crazy 4 yr old and and a screaming 7 month old , lol )so i guess thats it. hopefully when the community colege is running them again (in 2009) we will have enough participants. fingers crossed !

[jerryph]

Well... clubs are made up of people... so here is a trick:

Certainly one time in there you may find the chance to go to that meet, so go... with the goal of introducing yourself and meeting a few nice people. The next week, send out an email to those nice people that you are planning a small outing in a nice location to take pictures at for practice reasons, invite them (of course you plan it at a time convenient to YOU this time!).

When they come, guess what... you have just made a meeting for a couple of enthusiasts!

The local camera club here is a bit farther away from me and they charge a yearly due and meet on a week day evening which I find stupid becuase people work. Not for me.

I just joined a local strobist club for free (a bunch of people that love to take pictures using off camera flash), and these people are fantastic. Our last 2 meetings were done at a couple's house. Imagine 12 photographers and 10 models just itching and ready to have some fun.

Our next meeting comes on Dec 13 at a place that rents out studio space and lighting. We're going to have access to some equipment that professionals use and have a blast. A suggestion was brought up that I really like, and that was to have lunch on location (catered, and we all chip in a few bucks each for the food), and while eating, there is going to be a professional portrait photographer talk about hints, tips and techniques. It will almost be an impromptu seminar! After that we all get to select a corner, setup our equipment and choose models. I am going to suggest that each model rotates to the next station every 15-30 minutes so that all photographers get to have time with all the models. I know that there even was a pro breakdancer invited! :D

Anyways, all this to simply say... if you build it, they will come. In other words, if there is no local scene that you enjoy, make one, because sure as rain falls, there are people out there with your interests and availability too. :)