The past six months I have been on a huge learning curve journey.
At the beginning of March I found myself making the difficult decision to temporarily close my photography studio and classroom just as the Spring classes were starting.
As I have done every year for the past 5 years I worked very hard a month prior cleaning, painting, improving the classroom, printing materials and feeling excited about meeting the new students.
Now suddenly I was turning off the lights and closing the door, driving home feeling defeated.
I gave myself a week to regroup and then I decided to put the Beginner Photography classes online!
As you can imagine this hasn't been easy.
Almost 7 months later, and after diligent researching, test driving, learning and practicing I now have the Composition class online and the Aperture control class is almost ready to go live!
I have learned how to create short videos, write scripts, use a teleprompter, use video editing software, use a green screen and how to create effective and engaging google slides and how to use google classroom.
Most importantly, I have learned to create engaging, bite size information when teaching online.
All of this and more in the pursuit of creating an effective online learning platform.
I definitely feel this learning process has pushed me to grow my teaching skills and become a better photography instructor.
And, once I am able to offer in person classes again, I will have even more quality learning resources available to my students.
With that said, writing about how someone learns photography doesn't leave a lot of time to actually do photography!
I have to admit I've briefly picked up my camera a handful of times during this past 7 months.
But, that changed this weekend!
As par for my personality, I decided to grab my gear and head out early to the Wildlife refuge in the Wichita Mountains. This is such an incredible area and I am thankful I live so close.
Only an hour and half away, the Wichita Mountains offer wildlife, nature and landscapes that are therapeutic and healing with endless photographic opportunities.
There are many Wichita Mountains trails to explore, my trail lead me to The forty-foot hole!
As a 53 year old, out of shape photographer who had sat in front of the computer the past 7 months this adventure was starting to get exciting.
I slowly and carefully climbed down into the forty foot canyon.
There, in the morning sunlight was a gentle waterfall and shallow stream flowing through large boulders.
I really do not have the words to describe how the beauty effected me. After 7 months of thinking and being in my head, I now found myself completely in the moment and mindful.
I wasn't thinking, I was SEEING.
I positioned myself onto a small boulder in the middle of the stream and as the water gently flowed around me,
I just took photos.
The wind blew and I took photos.
The birds sang and I took photos.
As I hiked back along the trail headed to the car I was excited with anticipation about my photos.
Now, the trail seemed to have more photography possibilities that I had overlooked on my way to the canyon.
My mind was reset.
It really is about the journey.
Gina Zhidov is a photography instructor at www.ChickashaPhotoClasses.com