Tutor comms

Hi Mike

Thanks very much for the profile. This is just a short note to say hello and welcome to the programme.

I presume you have all of the course documents you need now and are willing to make a start. It's a strange feeling to be back in an educational context after so long so it is natural to feel that the "unknowns" can dominate even at the earliest of stages. If you have any general questions please let me know. This is perfectly natural. It would be good to have a skype chat some time soon, so if you can let me know what time and day suits you best we can set something up. It would be good if you could provide some choices so that I can fit this into a schedule.

In the meantime I would make a start on some reading; Charlotte Cottons book on the reading list is a good start.

I look forward to seeing some of your imagery soon.

regards

dave

Background and aspirations

I am 55 years old, an engineer by training, and I have worked in the Electronics Manufacturing, Automotive, Petrochemical and Telecoms industries for more years that I care to remember. I have three grown up sons, only one of whom still lives in the UK. The others live in Melbourne and Nashville. I have travelled a fair amount for both business and pleasure; my most challenging being a 6,500 mile motorcycle tour of the USA (mikekharris.blogspot.com). I live with my partner in Leeds.

I have enjoyed photography for many years using it as a record of places visited and events. Whilst I think I can compose a reasonable photograph I have much to learn to about the art form. I started photography using a Russian Zenith E camera which required the manual setting of all parameters so I have a fair grasp of the workings of a film SLR and the its creative controls. Understanding them however doesn’t mean they have been mastered in any way. For a short time many years ago I printed my own B/W images in a home darkroom, but because I could afford only the most basic equipment the results were uninspiring to say the least.

Being an engineer I view the world in a logical, methodical and perhaps superficial way, and I think this is reflected in my photography. I’m hoping to gain an understanding of the art form as well as extending my technical capabilities. I plan at this time to work towards a degree.