I recently took a short, part-time course during the summer session of the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa. I did this for two reasons:
To improve my printmaking skills: if a photographic print is to be the output of all or most of the work I produce, I would like to be sure that I am creating prints of high quality. This is all the more important if I am hoping to exhibit or sell printed work at some point. I realise that a lot of what I produce is only ever seen on a screen and that I would like to change this.
To help me build my network in the photographic arts community in Canada: one of the clear benefits of studying with the Open College of the Arts is that it can all be done on my schedule without having to relocate. This was particularly important to me because I still had a busy full-time job when I began my studies. And the exposure to UK-based photographers and fellow students has been wonderful. The downside, of course, is that I probably have more connections outside of the country I live and work in than I have within it. It has also been an occasionally isolated road, especially during the last two COVID years. I prefer to work on my own, but even I have my limits.
One of my images I worked on and printed during Printmaking I.
Although Printmaking I only lasted for five three-hour sessions, I found it a real tonic:
I learned new techniques and processes to improve the quality of my prints.
I was exposed to and impressed by the power of Adobe Photoshop (although I am much more comfortable with Capture One and will continue to use it to edit and print my images. I also own Affinity Photo and will use it to perform any edits that Capture One cannot handle.)
I made a connection with SPAO, a small but well-respected school of photography that is the centre of a vibrant community of students and practitioners.
I met an excellent instructor and two enthusiastic students who are on their own artistic journeys.
All told, an excellent investment in time and money!