I think this is the appropriate time and the appropriate place to talk about dreams dreamed and dreams captured, but it seems too trite and cheesy. And, I’ve seen and read one too many of those “reach for the stars” greeting cards to find any real meaning in them anyway.
I remember for my high school graduation my mom bought me a book that was like many of the books she had bought me in the past. It explained how the world was mine, all I had to do was step out and explore. Reach out. Reach up. Don’t fear your potential. Reach for the stars. Blah, blah, blah.
But, somewhere along the way even though I found it all a bit cliche and overused it stuck. And, as I’ve grown older I’ve found that reaching for the stars is more true than those little books even know.
I remember trying to decide if I should go to photography school. It was going to cost me $30,000 for the 2-years, but I just knew that it was what I wanted to do. Somewhere in the midst of sorting it all out we decided it would be best if I just achieved an education in photography on my own. And, so I did. 2007 was solely dedicated to classes and workshops, books and DVDs, countless hours on the web and countless hours shooting just hoping to learn something else important. Our first 11 months in Cincinnati I think I made about $2000.
Nonetheless, I will never forget when it really all started to click with me – the math and science and art behind the camera. It was exhilarating. And addictive.
Fast forward 12 more months and close to 75 shoots done in a year and I started to wonder what it would look like if I recycled the years worth of information I learned, but in a more concise and affordable way. Hmmmm ….
Today I drove to Whiz Kids (remember my 2nd job) and thanked God for his kindness. For allowing me to have seen the stars and had the courage to reach for them. I’m not saying I have reached them, but I do feel their warmth.
I also thanked God that although we have been unable to have kids right now my heart is being so fulfilled with people all over the world hungry to learn photography and hungry to learn photography from … me. (ME?!) Truly, I feel so humbled and so happy to be doing something I love so much.
Today, my workshop registration opened up for this November and was full by dinner time. As the emails popped in I saw individuals from all over the country (and world). I know I only know their names and cities of residence, but I feel like I know so much more.
We have so much in common and I cannot wait to dive in to the math and science and art of photography together. They are all getting ready to be changed for the better. There’s something that photography does to individuals that cannot be replaced by anything else.
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Registration for January’s workshop is still open. If you’re up for reaching for the stars then join us!
Notes left by students on the forum currently taking the workshop …
WOW! Thank you all so much for the awesome feedback! And Jessica, thank YOU for the enormous amount of time you’re taking to guide us, encourage us, and turn us into better photographers! Your dedication to this incredible transformation you’re fostering in us is a gift. Even when we’re frustrated, we are also feeling empowered! Thank you!
~ Kerry
Sorry this is kinda long….I have had my camera for a year now and I have tried to find every resource possible to learn about the ins and outs of exposure, composition and basically anything I can get my hands and eyes on to help me to create the “magic” that I ultimately want in my images.
This class blows any resource I have found out of the water when it comes to talking about exposure. And we are only on lesson two. Jessica, if you ever doubt that holding these classes isn’t the right thing to do and you aren’t helping anyone…please, don’t think that!
I have been looking, searching and asking other photographers about the exposure triangle for months and have only reached a dead end! I feel like I have an understanding about the cheese, bread and the grill but I don’t know how to make the best Grilled Cheese Sandwich ever!!!!
Thanks Jessica. Thanks for all of your hard work to make this class happen. I don’t regret my decision at all.
~ Julia
You are seriously the BEST. I cannot BELIEVE how much I’m learning from an online class. BEST money I’ve ever spent! thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, and critique EACH section of homework the way you do. It’s almost as if you’re not thousands of miles away, but right next to me. Thank you!
~ Lyndee
A big thank you for all the kind words on my shots, it real makes me feel good and keeps me motivated. I am LOVING this class and having such a fun time getting creative! Thanks again for everything!
~ Andrea
I haven’t read the whole lesson for today yet.. I’ve been gone most of the day.. but it’s so great to finally understand all of this. Before last week the only thing I knew how to adjust was aperture, and I really didn’t know what I was doing with it. I had no idea that the three things went together.. and that you could use a wide aperture but that you had to adjust the other two things, or whatever.. Like I’ve said, I’m a SUPER beginner, and have read some “tutorial” info.. but this class so far has been a HUGE eye opener. I’m so glad I’m no longer going to be just a point-and-shoot photographer! I can’t wait to take my camera with me to the coast this weekend and try out my new “skills”!!
~Erica
BTW, I am sooooo glad I got in on this class, there is no way I could have been tackling this if it were not online w/ a newborn, even with my ‘super girl’ cape on….life just gets crazier & crazier. So, THANK YOU JESSICA!!! I am loving this class and even though my homework has been one of the lasts turned in…printing the lesson is one of the first things I do on Wednesday mornings (then I carry it with me all day for any opportunity to read it!!)
~Erica
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Don’t fear to reach!
jc
