Creative technique workshops with Valda Bailey (August 2024)

I'm extremely excited to welcome Valda Bailey to the community, as she has been requested by so many of you for such a long time. Valda is joining us to give a series of talks on creativity.

This 3-evening workshop is all on a single-ticket price of £15.

Session 1: Beyond Replication - introduction to alternative techniques and how I use them

I will discuss the principles behind multiple exposure photography, how I use it, the issues that most frequently trip me up and ways in which I combine it with ICM, iPhoneography and even, on occasion, AI. This presentation covers multiple exposure techniques, a discussion about which subject matter is better suited to replication and the things I feel it is important to bear in mind when shooting this way.

Session 2: Harnessing the Imagination

Having broken free of what I felt were the shackles of photographic replication and all its rules, I now find myself confronted with an enormous number of interpretive opportunities. Throw a fertile - if somewhat meandering - imagination into the mix and the sky really is the limit.

I will talk about my editing process, how I select images to work on, deciding whether or not to work in single images or sets of images etc.  And - possibly most crucially - as I am no longer constrained by the colours or even the compositions that have been so thoughtfully provided by Mother Nature - where do I find my boundaries? What is it I am trying to say? If indeed I am trying to say anything at all.

Session 3: Originality Is For People With Short Memories

A discussion about looking back in order to find a way forward. Finding our direction - our creative voice - discovering who we are as artists and photographers. I will discuss those who have influenced me and chat about ways to broaden our horizons in order that we never fall into the trap of plagiarising our own work.

These talks will be recorded and made available for FOUR weeks after the event.

Optional hand outs will be available for each/all of these workshops.