My Latest Photography Skills –

Update on my Matador U Photography Course

I’m currently halfway through my first photography course at Matador U Travel Media School: Fundamentals of Travel Photography. All I have to say is:

OMG! I am learning soooo much!

Thus far, the course has taught me improved photographic skills, several new techniques (including some really fun ones, as you’ll see below) and a much better knowledge of digital camera functions.

I have greatly improved my close-up (macro) photo skills. Have finally learned how to really nail focus. Have learned to shoot at zany angles and use intentional camera movement. Have discovered new creative choices with color schemes (like using filters on film cameras).

Just halfway through the course, I am already able to create a huge range of images that I never have before. Even better, it’s all tremendously fun.

, As testament to my progress, I’m proud to quote a comment by one of my professional photographer friends, Grahame Massicks. He said of my latest photo essay:

“Your course seems to have brought out your inner photographer! Transformation. Progression. Growth. From the obvious frame, to the subtle shift in point of view. It is the difference between the snapshot shooting and the photographer seeing.”

So, come check out a few of the images I’ve been creating lately:

So there you have it. My photographic progress to date.

I have to admit I’m surprised to be learning so very, very much in a (beginners) Fundamental Photography Course…

After all, I did not start this course as a newbie photographer. In fact, I’ve been diligently taking photos since 1991, when I moved to Japan. Of course, for many years I was just taking unskilled snapshots, often with throw away film cameras. Pity, considering all the amazing temples, festivals and places I experienced living in Kyoto for six years, followed by many years of solo world travels.

It wasn’t until 2008, when I bought my first digital camera in Shanghai, China, that I’ve been working on creating skillful photographs. Since then I’ve had years to develop my photographic eye, look for great scenes and objects to capture, improve my composition skills and use photo editors.

In 2012 I seriously upped my game by reading and applying Beth Salvon’s eBook Getting Out of Auto. That book did exactly what it claims – it got me shooting in manual mode, all in a very easy and quick manner.

Thanks to Beth’s great explanations and practice exercises, literally within 1 hour of reading the first chapter I could already take much better images than I’d ever been able to before.

(Read my review of Getting Out of Auto here, if you need to take this important step to shooting in manual mode).

I’ve been shooting in manual mode ever since. To date, that has entailed 3 ½ years of extensive travels through 10 countries, during which time I’ve been diligently capturing life around me. Nature, culture, people, animals, food, boutique hotels, everything entailed in a nomadic travel life. My photos have improved by leaps and bounds.

So when I started Matador U’s Fundamentals of Travel Photography Course this June, I already had a very solid foundation in making compositions; choosing shutter speeds, aperture and ISO settings; creating correct exposures and editing photos.

But even with all that foundation and practice, I have still learned an enormous amount in this ‘basic’ course. It has allowed me to seriously up my game for the second time.

Needless to say, I eagerly encourage anyone wanting to improve their photography skills to enroll in Matador U Photography Courses.

Whether you’re just getting started or have been shooting only in Auto mode or even have a solid foundation of skills and techniques, like I did, this course really will take your photography to a new level. It will move you, as the pros say, “from taking snapshots to creating images”.

Incidentally, Matador U also has courses in travel writing, video and an Advanced Travel Photography Course too. I have already signed up and paid for Fundamentals of Travel Writing and the Advanced Photo Courses.

I can only imagine how much my photography will improve by the time I finish that course!

Heck, I’m only halfway through the first course! Let’s see what else I’m going to learn during the next month.

I’ll be giving more updates and displaying my latest photos here on LashWorldTour. So come back to check them out!

cheers, Lash

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You might also enjoy my recent photo essays:

Morning at a Florida beach

Evenings at Sunset Beach

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PHOTO GALLERY: 12 Views of Volcan Agua – Guatemala PHOTO GALLERY: Photos of Caye Caulker – Belize PHOTO GALLERY: Photos of Tulum Beach – Mexico PHOTO GALLERY: Stunning Yucatan Peninsula– Mexico