If you have ever wondered, yes, I did take on photography classes before. Many would think it's totally a waste of money as photography isn't something that's necessarily be taught formally. I do agree that the practical side of it is what matters most, but the short periods I spent in classes have me gained many valuable insights.
Many people would say the feel a picture yields is what's most important, regardless of its composition, lighting, etc while I think otherwise. Maybe I have some perfectionist elements built-in, I find it very difficult to accept pictures with low resolutions, bad lighting, wrong compositions. For me, objects have to be on the left or the right (occasionally center to achieve a particular effect) and never have extras like cut leaves, half a person, etc. I generally call them dirty. I do understand photography is about capturing your mood, your perceptions, and all. But the fundamental principle is still... get the theories right, or you can't go far.
The most precious thing I gained from my classes is the boost. Without having attended, I doubt if I still used my DSLR today. It helped opening a wide interesting world of photography. It helped to see the beauty of capturing. And through careful learning and active interactions without feeling embarrassed, I gained so much, and understand that everyone has their firsts, and so never be reluctant to share the knowledge you hold. I thank my teacher for the constant encouragements, for the constructive critiques and sincere compliments.
I am not saying that I am a professional or something along that line, I'm just trying to convey my perceptions. For now, I would want to venture into portraiture, maybe when I get back to Malaysia!
Hope you had an enjoying read x
love, M
