Speaking of workshops (since, independently from the weekly activities, I have also thought of the idea, or people made me think of it), I am in two minds.
My actual plans are for having a series of workshops - I even have an agenda for the whole thing with exact topics and activities to be covered - after all, in my BA in English Philology, I was trained to be a teacher of English so I have an idea how to create a lesson plan. The idea of the workshops is to tutor people who start from scratch and it is divided into two parts - the basics and a more advanced one.
The whole idea (as awesome as it sounds) has a few setbacks - I lack a room to hold these meetings and some sponsorship would be required. Another problem is price (if I will be charging at all) - people in Bulgaria simply hate paying for anything! So if the course is free, I am sure there would be some people to sign up but if I set a fee (even if it is as little as 5 EUR) people will skip it simply because the will have to pay. On the other hand, I need some funds since, as we say in Bulgaria 'you need money to buy cheese' so it would be fir to charge them.
The Bulgarian UNESCO club I work for have already proposed that I do the course as a lecturer for them but I am still reluctant to do so for a few reasons. Reason number one is that they will not be able to certify the people I will be tutoring. After all, what does UNESCO have to do with purely photographic course? The main idea was that I will be helping out to recruit people that are to go on expeditions. The ongoing project of the UNESCO club, Friends of the Bulgarian treasures, is all about digitalizing the Bulgarian cultural, natural and historical heritage and to do that they need not only students that have expertise in the current field but also people who have some knowledge about shooting and composition.
That is where I come to the fore - as the Photographer-in-Chief of the organization, any images that are taken on expedition anywhere are to pass though my hands for composition, editing and so on. I have also been on several expeditions already (for the sole reason that you need to have a good photographer around when you document an important ritual or site). However, as the project progresses - I have been on board ever since 2016 when it started - we need more photographers as I have other things to cater to (an a project of my own to tend). So, on the one hand, holding a course with them is not a bad idea. Initially, I drew up the lesson plan to cater for their needs. I also have a whole photo guideline book done for them (yet to be uploaded on the website and we plan to have it in print too).
Then I had a second thought. Who am I, after all, to be having a course of this kind? And charge for it? I am not really a very famous name in Bulgaria (fellow photographers know me but it is only them that do) and when people pay, they would like to have a document that they could use. I cannot issue something like that. The UNESCO club cannot either. On the other hand, I am not exactly OK with sharing my tricks of the trade for free. It took me years to learn them (as we say in Bulgarian - you do not learn to be a craftsman, you steal the craft from someone else) and as keen as I am to teach people, I would love to have someone pay me for my work.
So, as the new academic year starts - which means October this year - I will be having talks with the UNESCO club (since they see the opportunity to earn more money). The main target are university students and they are very few during the summer break.
I thought out a better option that would, if realized, bring me much more.
It depends on the good will of the Association of Professional Photographers of Bulgaria. I proposed them to have such workshops since most of the members are really famous photographers with years of experience and will have a lot to say. On the other hand, this type of courses would not only bring in money for me and the others, as well as the organization BUT also bring me some fame and prestige. Plus, the Association has the legal right to issue certificates so that problem would also be off the table. Besides, with having more than one professional lecturing (not just the widely unknown me) I would have the opportunity to also learn and have some support from the other colleagues.
The chairperson is enthusiastic but this idea, too, cannot be realized until the summer is over since most people are out of Sofia, having a good time at the seaside. I also need to talk to hep in detail about my idea since I have managed to briefly outline the ideas to her in a phone call.
Hence, any plans that I have could be realized in a few months time.
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