Me Ra Koh Photography Workshop

It was a little over 2 years ago that I realized every time I picked up my camera I was happy. I no longer wanted my camera to be just a point and shoot. I was eager to do more, I wanted to create. It's been a fun two years and I'm still learning.

What did I get from this weekend? Here's my short list:
1. New friends.
2. I'm talented and I'm good enough.
3. I'm the artist and my camera is the tool.
4. I'm very new to photo coaching but I will get it, at some point.
5. Crop in camera - it saves time.
6. Put down that flash- natural light is your friend.
7. It's time to take this "hobby" to the next level - how does Phillipa Dugaw Photography sound?

This is just a sample of shots I took this weekend. It was difficult and fun all in one

Fantastic Weekend

I just spent two days with some of the most inpiring people I could meet. Me Ra Koh Workshops are amazing! Me Ra and Brian - nuff respect to you both, you are truly the ones to help a girl move mountains.

There is so much to do and so much to share with you all, so stay tuned, more to come about this wonderful weekend.

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

It's Like A Good Novel

Tuesday of this week I had the privilege of replacing all of my camera equipment. It was certainly a weird experience spending that much money at one time and not having to worry about how I was going to pay for it. My goal, not to go over the cheque amount that the insurance company gave us. I was successful and I am extremely pleased with my new equipment.

Well, the next day I get a phone call at work from a stranger that asks me if I lost a camera and he knows who has it. Are you kidding me. I ask him how he knows it's mine and he says that the guy tried to sell it to him and while looking through the manual a receipt for a photography course fell out with my name on it. He took the receipt without this other guy noticing and googled me. That's right folks, you too can be googled...scary. Anyhow he realized that this was some expensive s**t so he felt it was only the right thing to do.

I called Tim, we called his brother the lawyer and he advised us to call the police and our insurance company. After calling our kind stranger back he was willing to give us not only the guys name but his phone number and where he hangs out. Once we got the police involved they went to the guys house but he wasn't home. Not sure where things are at the moment the one thing we've learnt is that there are still good people out there that will do the right thing.

As for my new equipment, if they retrieve the old stuff they have given me two choices. I can return the new stuff and keep the old stuff OR I can keep the new stuff and the old stuff will then be owned by the insurance company. Not knowing what this guy has done to my old equipment, I think I will stick to my new purchases.

Two Teefin Bwoy

So last night I had the worst night ever. I was leaving work yesterday evening at around 4:45pm to go to a Family Forum for the YMCA, I was in charge of taking pictures. When I got to my car I realized that I had forgotten my purse inside so I placed my camera bag in the car shut the door and ran in to get my handbag. I was in the branch for no more than 3-minutes. I use the bathroom, I got my bag and I was out the door- no dilly dallying. When I got back to my car well, I think you must all know where I am going from here. My camera bag was gone. I thought I was in the middle of some cruel joke, I kinda wish I was. My heart began to race and I began to search the area like a mad woman. It was gone, it was time to call 911. We later found out that a members car window had been punched in, nothing was taken from his car.

The contents of that bag was worth over $8,000. It had been 3-years of me accumulating every piece of equipment that I own. It was with great care and serious thought that each piece was purchased and that is what was of value to me.

So the sad news is that I will not have the opportunity to capture the events over the Christmas season and it also means that I must put a hault on my portfolio. It does NOT mean that I plan on giving up on my photography, it's just given me the fuel to continue what I love to do and to really address the subjects that I am passionate about.

Have a wonderful Christmas and be safe.
Walk Good!

I'm Back!

Wow, two long weeks away from home. I missed my husband, I missed my bed and I missed the opportunity to cook good meals everynight. With all of that said, I have to tell you that it was all worth it because it was two fantastic weeks of intense photography. I learnt so much and I've come back with an appreciation for this art that I never had before.

Rocky Mountain School of Photography has given me the confidence to really start taking serious pictures. It also showed me that I am a good photographer, I have a good eye and I'm now even more technically sound.

What will I do next, well I'm working on that and the moment things start to happen you will all be the first to know about it. Let's just say there will be a show in my future.

My Love For Photography

I was 15-years old when I picked up my first camera and when it came to what I wanted to be when I grew up, professional photography was number two on the list under professional beach volleyball player.

Well, it's now twenty years later and one year ago I had made the decision that I ither needed to get back to the beach or take my photography to the next level. With my husbands support I have decided to do the latter.

Beginning on Saturday I will be attending the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana for two weeks. I'm not expecting to come back a professional but I am expecting the dream to become even more alive.

I'm not sure how much blogging I will be doing but I do look forward to sharing my experience with all of you.