RMSP: Student Focus

This past July I was e-mailed by the Rocky Mountain School of Photography publication department asking me to share my experiences with the school and to show some of my work in a part of their catalog called Student Focus. I was honoured because every year I receive this catalog I read it from cover to cover. What was I going to say that would inspire people the way so many have inspired me.

It was a busy time, Malaika was only 2 months old and I was in the process of putting on the final touches for a family reunion in Jamaica. They needed it yesterday. I could have said no, but this was something I really wanted to do. It's not my best piece of writing but here it is with to two photographs that were chosen.

Starfish - Seattle Sea Aquarium

2008 Rocky Mountain School of Photography Catalog
Phillipa Dugaw, WA

Since the age of 15 I’ve wanted to call myself a professional photographer, 19 years later I made the decision to pursue that dream but first I needed to answer two questions; was I talented enough? And where would I study?

I knew I didn’t want to go back to a university setting and have to take the art of drawing along with statistics. It was important to me that I found a place that would focus strictly on the art of photography. In 2006 I found RMSP. After receiving the packet in the mail, I wanted to sign up immediately for the Summer Intensive course but it wasn’t to happen at that time. So, I took back to back workshops; the Beginners Photography with Susanna Gaunt and Intermediate Photography with Elizabeth Stone. These are two amazing women that are not only talented photographers but brilliant instructors. When I found out they would both be teaching the Advanced workshop in Seattle, I signed up immediately. I have learnt more from them in three weeks than I have doing workshops over the last 19 years. These workshops have changed my life because I can now call myself a professional and I will continue to come back for more.

Church Pews, MT