A few days ago I read about Annie L teaching an online course on her style. Not how to shoot, but her style. It is a so-called ‘Master Class’.
I’d been working on a similar project for a year, but I don’t have big bucks behind me. If my ex- had been less short sighted, I might have big bucks, but would still be writing to you.
It recently dawned on me that the one thing I have in spades is experience. I have been a professional shooter for 50 years. I have 1.6 million shots on film and none of it is available on Amazon.
I came to the profession by accident, although it was a planned accident. I never assisted, never went to photo school, and seemed not to follow a path most of you have taken. Like many, I began with a darkroom in my Mom’s basement.
I was hanging a show in a government building and on the way out the door, stopped at the desk and asked if they ever hired photographers. I filled out a Form 171, told them I was getting married in a few days, and split.
When I returned from my honeymoon, there were 27 messages on my phone machine and they asked me to call immediately.
I called on a Thursday and told the woman I would be in on Monday. She responded with, “If you look out your window, you will see a Diamond Cab in front of your apartment. Get in and come down here right away!”
I got in and the cabbie took me to OEO, whereupon a guy whipped me up to Personnel, had me sign forms, swear I would defend the Constitution, and then it was ‘Welcome to OEO!”
Then we returned to the cab, and took it to National Camera Repair. We went in and watched Charlie pack up five Nikons and 11 lenses plus a couple of cases. We also took some of the 1000 rolls of mostly Tri-X we were buying.
I had never shot a Nikon before, and had not shot more than 50 rolls of film in my life. I had until Sunday to learn the camera front to back, as then I would fly to St Louis for my first assignment.
Was I scared? Nope, not for a second.
I think it’s time to sell my and your life’s stories of assignments, good times, and offer to teach younger shooters how to build their own careers and styles. You can’t get them at Amazon yet, so we’re it. I’m sure all of you have amazing stories to tell.
Annie does not have a corner on experience. I hope we can combine forces for an online school in the DC/Baltimore area, or if you have an empty mansion anywhere in the country we could use it.
Course cost is proposed at $85 ea in a block of 15. I have 3 students already signed (2 more called this morning) and 68 in the wings. Various folks want to learn how to take pictures, and not with a phone. All my students work with Canon T5i, available at eBay for about $250, or if they have some dough, get a new T7i for a grand or so.
What do I need from you? An agreement to share the planning, the profits, and to do so for telling others your stories. The classes will be online and eventually, a series of videos too. I have planned to sell blocks of 15 classes at about $85 a class - the same price as Annie’s group. W need a crackerjack web designer too.
First I need to know who wants to join and who can help. I don’t need your money, but I do need partners. My credit is shot, as when you have a titanium leg, all your dough goes to its care and feeding. Without this piece of carbon fiber, titanium, and computers, I cannot walk. How long has it been? The 24th was the 10th anniversary.
I thought about calling our school ‘The Edge’, as in cutting edge. I know that if we can assemble a team of shooters with long careers, we can sell our stories like the competition. We do not need to hear the precise details. If I had more time I’d write it as fiction and find a publisher to make it into a best seller.
Questions?
240-988-7744 I’m open to a new name but I need some ideas. If you think of something, please advise. The members of my original crew must all be on vacation or asleep at the wheel or terrified. Nobody seems to have any ideas. I need input as I can’t do all this myself. I want to be 47 again, so I can plan out a lengthy future to invent war stories to sell others on the longterm benefits of shooting cameras.
Also: camerawork, lightworks, mastersoflight, or similar. I’ll listen to any name, as if it fits, we’ll use it. I like names to be comfortable, soft around the edges and easy to like.
RSVP
The Edge
Maybe it should be called ’The Breeze’ after I get Eric to invest.
JW Faul, Nyce Pictures
nyce2jan@xxxxxxxxx
JW Faul, Nyce Pictures
RIT would kick the image, so go on Google and search for “Jan Faul Trinity B-29"
Site of first A-bomb test, Trinity, White Sands Missile Range, 2002
One is permitted to visit inside the fence for 30 minutes. I was there for 22, and the next day I came down with pneumonia. Geiger counter wasn’t pegged, but almost. The ground looks a bit like it was hit with a large boxing glove as it is depressed around the center. That B-29 flying above was designed to carry one A-bomb and was not there when I was. This bomb was on a 600 foot tower which got vaporized and everybody who was there that day is in the ground. Including my Dad.
