After this regretful realisation, I started using my smartphone more to capture my family and reluctantly myself. Photos of you are not for you or about you. They are a gift for your loved ones. Mums passing actually hit me quite hard. Photography was and is my escape. It forces me to slow down and study the intricate details and beauty of our immediate world around us.
My photo subjects started to include flowers and nature before exploring other genres. This new passion for taking photos was due to the simplicity and limitations of the smartphone.
I was never a creative type
I can't play an instrument. My drawing is not even recognisable as stick figures! My previous photography and teaching of photography were very technical. The great news is there are rules and guidelines for creating those beautiful and impactful images. You know the ones that stop you in your tracks and think WOW that is an awesome image. These are not hard and fast, black and white rules. You can learn these proven concepts on how to prepare and set up a photo, how to capture the emotion and photography intent. You start to then become inspired to bend the rules, follow other photographers and aspire to emulate their results.
My learning
My obsessive personality had me researching everything smartphone photography related. I did every course, downloaded every book. I attended numerous 'big' camera workshops. Even though I often knew far more about the camera than the instructors, I wanted to get inside their head about the art of photography.
No one was exclusively running smartphone photography workshops or training. I needed to share this passion and help other photo enthusiasts enjoy their smartphone more. I began running local weekend workshops and started to present and judge at camera clubs.
My teaching
Smartphone Photography Training started shortly after. The concept was proven. There were people out there like you. After running DSLR workshops for a number of years, I found working with photo enthusiasts using their smartphones so much more enjoyable to work with.
It soon reached a point where I could not run any more workshops and people outside my geographical area could not attend. Knowing the positive impact of smartphone photography on people's lives, I knew I had to serve you online.