NEWS:

I Just Started Matador U Advanced Photography Course

This summer I started my courses at Matador U Travel Media School. In late June I kicked off my training with Fundamentals of Photography.

Wow, did I learn a lot in that course! In fact, I’d go so far as to say it took my photography to the next level. It allowed me to greatly improve my skills in composing and focusing, learn more camera technical info and settings, and seriously up my editing skills by upgrading me to Photoshop Elements.

Throughout the course I got lots of intensive photo critiques, constructive criticism, suggestions, advice and tips from Matador U photo instructors, both talented professional travel photographers. Thanks Michael and Kate!

Morning Raindrops – a photo I shot & editing in Matador U Fundamentals of Photography Course

If you’re interested in hearing more about the Fundamentals Course (and see samples of my resulting photos) check out my update on that course here.

But now I’m getting immersed in the Matador U Advanced Course. I’ll be learning advanced photography techniques and editing skills, how to tell travel stories through photo essays, and the ins & outs of the photography profession.

But hold up a click: I have to admit up front that I haven’t actually completed my Fundamentals course! The last section of the course requires us to create a professional photography portfolio website. I’m all for that and have begun working on it.

Singapore skyline from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park Infinity Pool

However, I know from personal experience that creating a great website takes me several months of hard work. I have to research other photographers’ websites, check out various photography website platforms, select my primary and secondary photograph categories, choose my very best photos for each category, edit them all in Photoshop, make a killer website name & tagline & bio shot & bio page, and then finally assemble the website. That is not an overnight procedure, I can tell you!

So I’m slowly working on my professional photography portfolio website in the background of My Life. In the meantime, I’m forging ahead with the Advanced Course. I’m just too eager to continue learning more shooting techniques, editing skills and story-telling abilities so I can continue taking my photography to higher and higher levels.

Sailing Studies – a photo for my photo essay assignment

Thus far, I’ve been working on Chapter 1 ( for three weeks already!). It delves into story telling via photography essays. I’m nearly done with my first photo essay assignment. The process has been extremely interesting.

I’ve been forced to create an entire story before starting to take any photos, then to really focus in on the most important details for the story, then to try capturing those details from many different shooting angles and with a variety of photo styles, and then finally to assemble the whole photo essay, adding interesting narrative captions. Fun stuff!

After submitting this assignment, I’m super excited to delve into the next section: advanced photo techniques. I’ll keep you updated on my progress!

In the meantime, I tried my hand at a couple photo essays during the Fundamentals Course. Check them out here to see what it’s all about:

Photo Essay: Morning at a Florida Beach
Photo Essay: Evenings at Sunset Beach, Florida

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