One to One?
One to one or group workshops? Two days ago I was out in the forest with friends, absolutely brilliant, and always great to be out with others doing photography. We started very early, and within minutes we'd found our feet and our shared humour. Never underestimate the power of laughter, and how well a day goes when everyone's humour matches. It's like a dance; you don't want to offend, but you want to feel relaxed enough to step out of the safe boundaries. Let's face it, life in general at the moment needs humour and laughter, that's for sure.
The gathering for the fallen
The image above is the first composition we came across, just a little exciting, and always wonderful to experience the twists and turns of the characterful oaks and many other friends: birch, rowan, horse chestnut, even alder and hazel. I was in my element! Now, my post isn't about time with trees and friends, but about the connection we make, either on a one-to-one or a group workshop. Both are completely different experiences, but both rely firmly on humour and laughter throughout the day. It's always great to meet people and see how their differences can connect and lead the day in a new direction. Whilst a one-to-one can be more personal and focused on an individual, which might not be right for everyone, it's good to learn and know what you want from a workshop or photography retreat.
THE ONE-TO-ONE WORKSHOPS: A connection with the client that needs thought, and a good ear to pick up on cues and gain an understanding of a client's frustrations, or their desire to improve, or simply to enjoy the day with me and come away with new ideas on composition, and to invigorate and rekindle their excitement for photography. The latter is usually how the day goes: leaving the client empowered, confident, and ready to go out again and again, without the pressure of needing to get the "bangers," but instead feeling their way around the landscape and nature, watching the light, and understanding that they take the photograph because it's something they love. Not following trends or instructions. Not setting the tripod in pre-worn holes and taking the predefined composition that's all set up for you. On a one-to-one, I like to let people seek out the composition for themselves, to find it through the excitement of seeing and working out the puzzle of aesthetics and natural beauty, waiting for the light, or knowing what to leave in and what to take out. It's so much fun to see the delight in a photographer having that moment of developing a unique photograph, free of boundaries or the pressure of an already known and done photograph. Five images is what I hope for from each workshop. Five, what? Five images of a high standard, unique to you, five images you'd be proud to say, "I took that. I found that. That's my own take on the natural world." It's so wonderful to see, after five hours, the potential each and every client has with their camera, and to see them freed from comparison and empowered to create something they love.
THE GROUP WORKSHOPS: Retreat, one-dayer, four days, mentoring, or a full week, like my Elements Retreat in Scotland: five days of photography in one of the most stunning locations in the world, with not one honeypot shot in sight… well, maybe one, on our way down to Loch Maree. The week is all about discovery, not just of the photography, but sometimes of the attendees too. There's a community feel, or not; the choice is yours. But it's always great to talk about the day we've experienced and the day ahead. This week has become a pilgrimage for me, a repetition that never feels like a repeat of the year before. Now heading into its fourth year, and I love it. The difference with the group workshops and retreats is that they bring together photographers' minds, each with their own vision and ideas of what they want to achieve. What I find most rewarding is watching people let their everyday life and worries melt away, dare I say, becoming younger at heart, rekindling a childlike attitude to photography through investigation, exploration, and boundless opportunity to create. The way I work these is very different from a one-to-one, as you'd expect, but the end result is always the same: empowerment, confidence to create, and the feeling that anything is now possible with their camera. The pressure of rules and the pressure of peers fall away, and together, as a community, we discover the limitless beauty gifted to us by nature: the magic of connection, community, and creativity without boundaries.
There's so much more I could say here, but you'll have to come on a workshop to find out 😁, tongue in cheek, yes, but I'm genuinely proud of what I've created and the wonderful people I've met along the way. It fills my heart with joy, and long may it continue.
Jackson Birch - Birch Pollock
If you enjoy these posts, please drop me a comment below and have a chat with me, the posts are a great way for us to connect. Also if you like what I do please consider joining me over on Patreon, without this community I would not be able to continue. Thank you
