Announcing An Online Photography Course With Yours Truly

Posted on Monday, May 9, 2011 by Amanda

OK, so I’ve been hinting at something I’ve been working on for the last little while and after a lot of planning, I have decided to offer photography courses online for beginning photographers!

I am still in the fun planning stages that includes writing the curriculum and setting up the website. It won’t be a straight up technical class or a straight creativity course. It will combine a bit of both and is aimed at photographers who are just starting out and have come to a point where they want to turn their snaps into art. I will be sharing what I know about photography, how I plan and execute my work and how I have honed my photography style.

It’s called Shoot By Design: Refining Your Photography Style.

I miss teaching so much and this will be the perfect way for me to combine my experience as a teacher with my passion for photography and hopefully help some beginning photographers along the way!

Sharing photography tips, talking about photography and finding your own voice, is what Mocking Bird is all about, so it’s a natural progression for me to take this next step – I’m going to really get into the nitty gritty! Would you like to join me?

I will put more detailed information out in the coming weeks, but I just wanted to get a feel for how many people would be interested in this kind of photography course. If you are interested, please sign up to the brand spanking new email subscription list. I have added a subscribe by email list over on the sidebar (RSS readers, you will need to click over to the blog) – please sign up so you will be updated with all the info and registration dates via email. And if you know any budding photographers who you think may be interested, please let them know.

Year of ‘focus‘, baby!

Happy Mother’s Day Mum!

Posted on Friday, May 6, 2011 by Amanda

Happy Mother’s Day from across the sea to the best mum in the world. I miss you dearly.

Love Amanda xxx

p.s. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there for Sunday!

p.p.s. This beautiful shot of my mumma somewhere out in the Australian bush was taken by my late father when they were both very young.

The Hardest Part of Living Abroad

Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2011 by Amanda

Hello all,

I’m currently working away on new things that I hope to tell you about soon. Of course, instead of just working on one new project, I’ve given myself a second to make things even more complicated. As I work away at these two projects, my mind tends to drift off into daydream land (as it always has) and I’ve been thinking a lot about home lately.

It’s been a year since I was at home in Australia, the longest I’ve ever been away from my family. Even before we moved to Canada, I never thought I would go that long without seeing my Mum and siblings. In a perfect world, I would fly home to see them every few months but that’s just not possible. Thank goodness for Skype! With Skype I get to at least “see” my family once a week. Having those weekly video calls with my mum is the only thing that keeps me afloat. If I didn’t have that contact with her, I don’t know what I’d do.

This weekend especially I will be missing my mum and wishing I could be with her. If you get to see your mum whenever you like, please give her a big hug and know that we aren’t all as lucky. I love you Mum!

What’s the longest you’ve been away from your loved ones?

TWELVE: MAY

Posted on Sunday, May 1, 2011 by Amanda

Hello friends!

May crept up on me so quickly this year and I’m sneaking in here on the weekend to announce the new theme for Twelve. April was bursting with so many beautiful blooms and blossoms. It was truly a beautiful treat to wander through the pool. I need to do a double whammy of photo samplings to share with you from March and April.

This month’s theme may scare some people, but I hope it doesn’t scare you away all together! I encourage you to be brave and to look inside yourselves for this month…

The theme for May is: Self

May Colour Inspiration: Green and all its shades

Self is all about you! Shoot a selfie mirror reflection, a self timer shot with a loved one, your hands, in the reflection of a store window, your feet, your eyes, with a remote, hand held… Be brave and show us beautiful you!

Do selfies scare you? Or are you an old hat like me? But more importantly, did you watch the Royal wedding?