Frequently Asked Questions

What are the differences between a weekend and a residential course?
There are a range of skills required by the contemporary digital artist, both intellectual skills and practical skills. The intellectual skills can be acquired rather quickly, over a weekend for example, but the practical skills take much longer to attain and consolidate. My two day courses are designed  primarily to address the intellectual skills, while my week long residential workshops help to also address the practical skills. Events like my Orpheus Island workshop combine lectures, demonstrations and field trips in the morning with hands on supervised editing and printing all afternoon and into the evening.

What are the differences between a weekend course and a studio workshop?
My studio workshops are small scale, one day intensive events for up to four people that focus on the topics most important to those attending. Being in my own studio they are very hands-on with state of the art equipment and workflows, and direct access to all of my research, archives and library. My studio workshops also offer a more intimate and specialised solution compared to my larger scale weekend or residential courses, but without incurring the cost of a 1:1 consultation. I simply divide my day rate ($1000/day + GST) evenly between those attending. I have rarely advertised my studio workshops as they are usually instigated by small groups of friends or colleagues directly approaching me for assistance. But now that demand for alternative ways of learning and integrating theory and practice is spreading, I will also announce them on my FaceBook page prior to each event.

How are the courses structured?
There are four sessions a day separated by generous breaks for refreshments and extended one-on-one discussion and personal advice. At the start of each course, following my welcome and introduction, everyone has the opportunity to introduce themselves, their interests and reasons for attending. I use this feedback to modify ‘my script’ to best accommodate the needs of the individual and the group. and as an ongoing conversation that continues through out the course. Therefore every time I present a course it invariably ends up being a quite unique experience.

Who attends your courses?
A broad range of people enroll in my courses for all sorts of reasons. Approximately a third are professional photographers seeking inspiration or wanting to up-skill or consolidate their technique, and/or more efficiently integrate digital processes into their daily workflow. Approximately a third are professional artists making the transition to digital processing, or who want to refine their technique, and/or want to know what is available, and what is required to significantly expand their understanding and appreciation. Approximately a third are non-professionals supporting their interests and passion for all things photographic.

What happens at one of your CCP weekend courses?
My courses are conducted along the lines of a University course with detailed presentations, analysis and discussion of the available options, supported by best practice demonstrations and creative solutions. Numerous case studies and examples illustrate the critical distinctions in a real world context. Detailed class notes cover the main concepts and processes presented, and act as comprehensive reference material after the course. I do my best to acknowledge and attend to individual needs and to integrate them into the overall content of the course.

How many people are in the course?
It depends on the course content and venue. In general I aim for a maximum enrolment of 20 people per weekend course to ensure an intimate and personalised learning environment. Some courses have to be capped at 12 people due to the amount of  equipment and ‘hands-on’ interaction taking place. My Studio Workshops are capped at 4 people for the same reason. Some venues can comfortably accommodate larger numbers, but too many attendees equals not enough individual attention, while too small a number reduces the group dynamic and interaction. I value equally the individual attention I can provide, and the support and interaction among those attending. However when a course over enrolls, I do my best to reschedule a repeat course on the first available date to ensure no one misses out.

What order should I take your courses in?
Though many people attend all of my courses in the order in which they are presented, just as many attend my courses on a ‘needs basis’. It is also not unusual for someone to enroll in an ‘introductory’ course (to fill in ‘the gaps’) after they have attended some of my more ‘advanced’ courses, while others repeatedly enroll in the same courses over a number of years in order to keep abreast of the latest developments in that field.

Do I work on a computer at the CCP?
Though not a requirement, anyone is welcome to bring a laptop computer with them. However I don’t present my CCP courses in a traditional ‘computer lab’ environment’ where everyone sits at a computer and ‘builds the same widget’. Personally I find this approach too generalised and inefficient for the breadth and intensity of the material covered in my CCP courses. Working on a computer is more suited to my one-on-one consultations and studio workshops.

How experienced do I need to be?
It depends on what you are looking to take away. My courses are generally intense affairs, covering a lot of information with often surprisingly new or alternative forms of practice for many people. I try very hard to make sure my courses are ‘stand alone’ affairs in the sense that I do not assume you have attended any of my other courses, or in any particular order. My only assumption is that you are working at the level the course is presented at, or aspire to. Any familiarity with the relevant applications and processes is a bonus, but not essential. Most important is the desire to learn and understand more about what you are doing and to become better at it.