I begin my first photography class tomorrow. Sounds a bit strange, doesn't it? After all, I'm 45, and I've been making images since I was - well, for as long as I can remember -- but I never took an official photography class.

I suppose I never did because I just wanted to learn on my own. Pick things up as I went along. I never had any intention of making money from my photography, and I still feel that way. I'm in it for the pure love of images. I like to capture images of things I love -- not wedding images -- not images of someone's kids -- but of things that please me. For me, it's all about the 'feel' of an image -- feeling what I'm shooting. I probably don't take near as many photos as most photographers because of that reason. I just don't like to take and image just to take it. There's got to be a feeling there for me -- something that sparks me to raise my camera, take an exposure reading, frame it, focus it, and shoot it. I may go a whole day and only take a few images -- but I'm usually very pleased with the results.

So -- I take this thinking with me into my first class. I'm taking the class at one of the finest places in Chicago. I'm hoping to learn how to properly develop my own film and make prints -- that's FIRST on my list. All the while, I'm certain I'll learn a lot about exposure, composition, etc. -- but I'm there mostly to learn from other like-minded photographers. Maybe they aren't all that like-minded -- which is fine by me -- I just want to learn new things -- try new things -- experience new things -- and let it all take me wherever it shall go.

I'll keep everyone posted as to my progress -- and share what I've learned. Maybe you'll find it inspiring, or valuable to your own brand of photography -- maybe not. I'm open to any, and all, suggestions as I go through the next 8 weeks. I'm certain I'll be posting a lot of what I do in class - so bear with me - I hope it's entertaining and pleasing... and I know I'll be looking for feedback from all my photoblogging friends -- hey, I'd like to get an A in the class!!