About

A lot has changed in the ten years or so that we have been teaching together. Undoubtedly our ideas have evolved. However our fundamental belief that everyone is creative remains. As children, we are extremely creative. Yet that creativity is often hammered out of us as we grow. We learn to conform. We stand in line. We pay heed to ‘because’ instead of ‘why not?’ And so we have spent the last ten years discovering the joy to be had in using our cameras in unorthodox ways. We have allowed ourselves to move beyond the technical and the quest for pixel perfection. Instead, we focus on creative expression. Flouting the 'rules'. Colouring outside the lines. And pushing against convention. 

There are myriad ways in which we can subvert our camera’s  settings in order to produce images that are expressive and imaginative. Create abstracted and colourful versions of reality. Painting with pixels if you like. We also firmly believe that the creative process doesn’t end the minute we remove our card from our camera. Oftentimes, that is just the beginning.

Ideas flow when we open our eyes to the possible. When we decide to interpret rather than replicate. Undoubtedly challenges arise, but we believe that the images that result are a telling reflection of who we are as artists. In our world, photography and art overlap. In particular, the Abstract Expressionist movement has provided us with a framework within which to explore our ideas. We prioritise the development of imagination over technical brilliance and put our emphasis on emotional expression rather than prescriptive dogma. 

It is not an approach that suits everyone, for sure. It needs an open mind, an imaginative approach, and an acceptance that there will be many failures. The rewards, however are many. Images are personal and unique, not easily replicated, and won’t have been made a million times before.

Our teaching now largely takes place online. Undoubtedly, the pandemic wrought havoc on the world but it demonstrated that sharing what we know online is much more effective than doing so on location. It also means it is available to all - no matter where you are in the world.

If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to take advantage of our no-obligation two week free trial on FYV