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The Experience
Over the course of six fortnightly sessions, we will move away from rules and boundaries, entering instead into a narrative of visual discovery. This course is designed to be an easeful journey into creativity, the sessions intentionally spaced at fortnightly intervals to provide you with the time to explore the assignments with no rush.
Unlike previous courses, this course is limited to just 20 participants to allow a more personal experience.
The Art of Arrival
Our practice begins not with the shutter, but with the breath. You will learn to cultivate a "Quiet Visual Experience"—a profound moment of stillness before you even lift the camera. We will transform the act of photography from "taking" images to "receiving" them, allowing the scene to speak to your heart first.
The Architecture of Silence
As we sharpen our gaze, we will explore the skeleton of the world. You will learn to strip away the visual clutter to reveal the enduring architecture of nature and the silent geometry of the city. By mastering the use of negative space, you will create pathways for the eye, turning your images into a guided journey for the viewer.
The Poetry of Tone and Touch
We will look past the loud and the bright to discover the emotional weight of the muted palette. You will learn to see "Black and White in Colour," finding sophisticated beauty in the low-contrast, tender nuances of the season. Finally, we will make the visual visceral; capturing textures so rich that the viewer can feel the delicate lace of frost, the rough grain of bark, and the chill of the air.
A Note for my Southern Hemisphere Friends
The Quiet Eye knows no season.
To those of you currently bathed in the light of Summer: you are so warmly invited to join this circle. While the Northern Hemisphere sleeps, you can apply this "Still Mindset" to your season of abundance.
We will explore how to find the "quiet" within the harsh midday light, how to use deep shadows to create space, and how to find a cool, structural stillness amidst the heat. Winter is a weather pattern, but Still is a perspective—one that applies wherever you stand.
Additional information
Photography is so much more than an image. To me, photography is an expression of your relationship with the world around you – your complete experience of a moment, in all of its wonderful richness. Many photographers consider photography as the culmination of subject and technical skill – but I passionately believe that photography becomes truly exciting when used to explore and develop your own beautiful art of seeing.
Open to photographers of all levels, I will encourage you, challenge you and guide you as you work alongside a brilliantly supportive community of fellow creatives to move forwards together.
There is no right or wrong; no marks will be given and no critical judgement passed – simply an invitation to immerse yourself in a period of creativity and deep exploration into your own space, at your own pace. It’s your opportunity to come together with other likeminded photographers to explore, inspire and learn - being fearless and imaginative.
Starting on 6th January with a live zoom session I want to help you grow creatively over twelve weeks, concluding on 17th March.
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I created this course for any photographer, from beginner to experienced professional, who feels weary of the rush, ego and competition but longs for a deeper more authentic connection to their images and subjects..
If you want to use your camera as a tool for mental wellness, discovery, and connection, you belong here. All you need is a camera or smartphone and a desire to see the world with new eyes.
We will work together over six Live Fortnightly Sessions (via Zoom), where we share our work, our feelings, and our growth in a safe, supportive space. All zoom sessions are recorded and emailed to every member of the community so even if you miss the live session you won’t miss out on the feedback and assignments.
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The live zoom sessions will take place on Tuesday evenings at 1830 GMT each fortnight throughout the workshop, and last approximately 1 hour - each recorded and emailed to all participants. All assignments and any notes will also be emailed to everyone.
The initial session will give out our assignment and something to inspire you to think deeply about it. The following sessions will be building on the project I will offer a new technique that you can use to explore the concepts further.
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I want to make this accessible for as many people as possible. The cost of the course is £225.
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You will be encouraged to let go of preconceptions about your work, to move in to experimentation and fun. Letting go of perfection is hugely important for all creatives, creativity is harmed by perfection, I will push you to let go of this trait so that you can freely express yourself. I will show you ways of incorporating your daily experiences into your creative practice and to make creativity a daily practice.
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For those who have done online workshops with me before this will build on the previous ones, it will push you a bit harder to immerse yourself in a project.
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If you are travelling you can do this project anywhere in the world, you can and possibly will use any sort of camera, smartphone.
“The course has been absolutely brilliant. The really interesting assignments set by Paul each week have made me ‘see’ more and really think about the meaning of the assignment. I’ve loved it as it has given me real purpose to my photography. The Zoom sessions with Paul were interesting and educational. As well as Paul, I have also enjoyed the interaction with the other members of the group via a private Facebook page. I couldn’t recommend Paul’s online courses more highly”
About Paul Sanders
These days, I see myself less as purely a photographer but more as someone who mentors and champions creativity in others. It’d be easy for me to teach you to take photographs in the same way that I do; to take you to stunning venues, tell you where to stand, which lens to use to capture the money shot – but it’s far more exciting to discover how you see the world.
With my workshops I want to create a safe place that’s free of judgement for photographers of all abilities – whether they’ve a bag full of kit or a smartphone in their pocket – to really explore their creativity and what creative expression means for them. I encourage people to explore their own space at their own pace, with their own eyes, giving them the absolute freedom to develop their creativity uniquely.
It’s all about finding yourself creatively and finding your style on your own terms – its not about validation, winning photography competitions or gaining approval through social media, but finding the courage to express yourself in your own way. To find your creative voice, and to photograph the world in the way you see it.