I achieved my Masters Degree in photography at De-Montfort University, Leicester about nine years ago. The course leader was, and still is the highly respected Professor Paul Hill MBE. Paul Hill has been a major figure in world photography for a good few decades and has been an influence on many fine photographers (including myself if I may say so) over that period.
From the mid-70′s, and running for twenty years, Paul Hill and his wife Angela established at their home in Derbyshire the legendary ‘Photographers’ Place’. Here dedicated photographers would become immersed in their subject, eating, drinking and breathing photography. Important figures such as Andre Kertesz and Ralph Gibson were invited to give talks and run workshops.
The original ‘Photographers’ Place lasted for just twenty years, but now it has been reborn, and with great success it seems, as the first weekend workshop in April filled up with delegates very quickly. The next has been orgainsed for the 4th to 6th of June at Ilam Hall on the Derbyshire – Staffordshire border. This time the photographer and teacher, John Blakemore will discuss ideas and aesthetics.
A third workshop has been planned for September, with the photographer Brian Griffin talking about environmental portraiture. Brian Griffin has recently been commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery and British Telecom to produce a series of portraits for the 2012 Olympics. It makes a change to hear about real workshops by real photographers.
The photographer’s place teachers – Martin Shakeshaft, Nick Lockett and Paul Hill
As an aside, whilst on the MA course, I was teaching photography full time in Blackburn. After teaching a full Tuesday I also taught a Tuesday night class. I usually returned home from this evening class around 10.30pm. On Wednesday morning I was up at 4.00am to catch the 5.00am train from Lytham to Leicester. After three connections, I arrived in Leicester at about 11.00am, with an hour or so to kill before my afternoon studies started.
At the end of the day I would catch the 5.30pm return train home. British Rail passengers were going through a bit of a tough time during this period, as most trains were running slowly due to a crisis over the Hatfield train crash, it had something to do with metal fatigue on the tracks I think. Anyway my line, the West Coast line was one of the worst, with the result being a return home about 1.00am (thursday). My teaching commitment re-commenced then at 9.00am, Thursday morning. I used these many train hours to study and when finally arriving at the university I went to their library.
I went through this for an entire year. In year two I bought myself a car. I tell you this as I know some of my students will read it. There is a message here for a few of the younger ones who habitually arrive late to my classes. If an old geezer like me can get up early to do what is needed then so can anybody.
To conclude, I thoroughly enjoyed my time achieving my Masters Degree, and coming to the academic environment from a purely commercial (in a photographic sense) one. I found it re-invigorated and enriched my own practice. Now, as a full-time professional and a part time teacher, I have more confidence in my own work and ability. I know good (and mediocre) imagery when I see it and hopefully I can pass this on to my own students. Now which train is it to Derbyshire.
