Filling in the online application was as easy as gliding down an oiled slide. I was applying for a place, at a College of Further Education, to do a year’s full-time course in photography: the college’s website said that selection was by interview and I knew that was going to be the difficult bit.
I received a call a few days after I submitted my application inviting me to an interview and asking me to bring along my portfolio. Now that was a problem as I didn’t have anything quite as grand as a portfolio so I was relieved when it transpired during the course of the call that I could bring along my laptop to show a selection of my best images.
I deleted shedloads of photos from my computer back in January but the total stored had once again crept up to a mind-boggling number touching close to ten thousand. I opened a new folder in iPhoto which I optimistically titled Portfolio and then spend multitudinous hours scrolling up and down trying to figure out which images were my best. It is a measure of how much I still have to learn about photography that I struggled to decided which out of the many thousands had the most merit. In the end I had to make some snap decisions other wise I could still be gazing glassy-eyed at my computer screen in 2027.
I selected approximately eighty image for my portfolio and I suspect that many I included were all shades of wrong photographically speaking because I made my choices simply by picking those I liked the most. The best I was hoping for at the interview was for some kindly constructive criticism and a few pointers on how I could improve my photography so I was totally thrilled when I was offered a place.
The course starts in September and as I have some projects to do before then I am reading Henry Carroll’s excellent ‘Read This If You Want To Take Great Photographs’ but please don’t expect to see any great improvements in my photography until I am some way into my course!
And lastly apologies that it has been a while since my last blog post – I hope you had a good week.
Just Add Attitude 
Congratulations, how wonderful. Look forward to hearing more as you take the course and to see samples of your work.
Thank you very much. I am a bit apprehensive about but also looking forward to the course.
Good luck! how wonderful.. c
On Sat, Jun 7, 2014 at 2:49 PM, Just Add Attitude wrote:
> Just Add Attitude posted: ” Filling in the online application was as > easy as gliding down an oiled slide. I was applying for a place, at a > College of Further Education, to do a year’s full-time course in > photography: the college’s website said that selection was by interview and > “
Thank you so much c
Yay! Wonderful news. Congratulations.
Thank you. 😉
Wonderful news B!! As I have mentioned before, I love the photographs in your blog, which (to my untutored eye) have gone from strength to strength. G XXXX
Thank you so much G, will email you …. B xxx
Congratulations! It sounds like a wonderful opportunity – have fun too!
Thank Meg.
Oh fantastic, how exciting! How is it going to work – is it distance learning or do you have to go somewhere? xx
Ooops. Where did my comment go? Anyway, massive congratulations. How exciting! xx
Thank you so much. xx
Congratulations! Enjoy to be a student again. Looking forward to your photos.
Thank you. It’s going to be strange being a student again but I am looking forward to it.
What wonderful news!! This sounds like an absolutely fantastic opportunity. I can’t wait to hear more about it once you get started. Not to mention some more wonderful photographs!!
You have hit the nail on the head, it is a fantastic opportunity. I am a bit apprehensive as we go back to basics and will start with an analog camera – that’s going to be very different.
Huge congratulations, B.! You must be very proud of yourself and I’m sure you are going to enjoy this experience immensely. After all, there is nothing better than learning about things we are passionate about …
I wish you the best if luck for this new adventure! Looking forward to hearing more! 🙂
F. Xx
Thank you very much Francesca. I am looking forward to the course. I know I am at the bottom of a steep learning curve so I have a lot to learn but I shall enjoy doing so.
Your good luck wishes are much appreciated. 😉
B xx
Good for you, B! Have always admired your photos — whether food, fashion or scenery. Have fun and enjoy your new venture. Still haven’t gotten around to adding pix to “The Perils.” Need a course for that — and too busy hanging on…
Thank you Eileen for your compliment and good wishes. Bxx
Congratulations, I’m pleased for you. Your course should be interesting as well as rewarding.
Thank you so much Karen. I am looking forward to starting the course in September.
Congratulations (belated) on your exciting news. I’m looking forward to related blog posts already!
This is wonderful news, B! Congratulations – I am sure you will love taking the course. 🙂
As to the process of editing, I know what you mean 🙂 You will see that the more you “grow” photographically, the more rigorous and demanding you will become in your choices of your own images. Someone once told me (back in the film days) that one of the main differences between a pro and an amateur photographer was the much bigger size of the waste basket of the pro (meaning, how much more “ruthlessly” would the pro comb through her archives and throw out images that are not up to the level she wants them to be). 😉
Looking forward to reading about how you like it once you get started!
Be well, dear B 🙂
Thank you very much Stefano,
I am looking forward to the course. And to being able to analyze my images and know what are their good points and more importantly what needs to be improved.
I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a helpful and encouraging comment. 😉
Take care.
Wow. I am so jealous! But can’t wait to hear more about what you’ve learned and see some of your pix! Wouldn’t mind seeing some of the ones you chose for your portfolio either!
Oh, the irony of replying late to a comment from a fellow blogger whose blog’s name is A Prompt Reply. My apologies being so tardy and thank you very much for your comment. When I start my photography course I hope to write a bit more about it. 😉
How funny this comment is. No worries…..yes, the name of my blog is a double entendre of sorts, but the prompt reply I mostly meant it was for the club prompts and not my quickness of answering! So you’re just fine. I’m thrilled to hear from you at all!
Thank you. 😉