Yesterday afternoon I submitted my photography exam to the Open University in the hopes of passing my most recent educational endeavour, T189. This course was my first step back into receiving Photography-based tuition since completing my A levels and it’s been a nerve-wracking, but ultimately enjoyable, experience.
Since finishing college, I barely touched my manual SLR, choosing the cheap and easy route of my Nikon E3200 [point and shoot]. There was no pissing about with rolls of film, no expensive developing fees in order to find that only 2 out of 36 frames were even remotely feasible and then there was all that automated exposure and autofocus business going on, you couldn’t really go wrong.
Only it did go wrong. By the time I had grown tired of the E3200’s limitations and finally got my hands on a DSLR, almost everything I’d learnt about controlling Depth of Field, exposure etc had dwindled to dust. I thought that once I’d got a “proper” camera in my hands, it would all come flooding back to me like riding a bike, or something.
The thing is, I only ever rode a bike properly once. It was given to me as the result of the valiant fund-raising efforts of neighbours and surrounding locals; a specialist hand-crafted , 3-wheeled affair adapted for children and adults with disabilities. I fell off of it so badly that I screamed bloody murder for hours at a volume so loud that the neighbours came knocking. I said I would never ride it again and within a year I was confined to a wheelchair, my vow now set in stone. The tricycle remained seized and static in the shed for years, like a relic of my trauma and a sad monument to all the hard work and wasted money of the kind well-wishers. Eventually, we donated it to the pupils at a local under-funded Special Needs School. I still have those scars on my arm.
When K bought me the D70s for Christmas I was ecstatic, it was exactly what I wanted and I thought I would finally be able to start taking my hobby more seriously. Needless to say, I took to it in the same way I took to riding a bike. Not very well at all. It didn’t come flowing to me instinctively, I just crashed and cried. For months I was just so frustrated with myself, wanting desperately to take the sorts of images that I knew I was capable of, but at the same time feeling woefully inadequate and at a loss as to where to start.
This course has been a fantastic (re)learning experience for me, taking me right back to basics and covering all the theory and technical knowledge that I had been lacking. Of all the courses I have completed with the Open University, I think it’s this one that has taught me the most, I have learnt so much in just ten short weeks, and now? Can I just say, for the record: MY CAMERA ROCKS. With big swinging bells on. Amen.
This course has also given me a chance to get a lot of unbiased feedback on my work from fellow students, which has helped to no end, alerting me to both positive and negative aspects of the peculiarities of my “eye” and photographic style. At the end of the course, someone took the time to message me and say that the work that I’d shared had inspired them.
To me, this was my biggest achievement of the course. There is little I find more rewarding than when someone can take a look at how I see the world, be it through the end of a pen or camera lens, and despite my mistakes or the fact that I’m still learning, actually “get it” and feel uniquely affected by it; to be moved enough to consider thinking about or doing something in a different way because of it. Isn’t that what we all strive for when creating something? Is inspiration like a baton in a relay race, passed on to yet another recipient to take further and possibly in a different direction, once an individual has fulfilled their contribution?
Unfortunately, it is my work elsewhere that has inspired more than I had originally foreseen and quite frankly, more than is flattering.
Over the last 6 months or so, I’ve noticed things. Little, niggling things that I first dismissed as optical illusions fed by the ego.
I started to find the odd turn of phrase or idiom, the rhythm and idiosyncrasies peculiar to my written and spoken style, turn up here and there, overly similar visual styling and design etc. You get the idea. I dismissed them: coincidences, fluke, an over-active imagination on my part. When others start to notice them and begin to inform me about it though, it becomes a problem.
I have found bloggers, and not just any bloggers, but bloggers who read here and some who have the bare-faced audacity to be registered here too, doing rather stonking (it must be said) impersonations of me over on their own turf.
What you read and see here is directly sourced from my life and mind. I talk this way, I think this way, I see the world this way. My posts are the brainchild of the inner monologue and cognitive workings that everyone has. I call mine Bob.
When you see what is published here, you are in fact, directly hearing from Bob. I can’t change Bob, sometimes I argue with Bob, but Bob is all I have to work with. I’m glad that you like what I say and how I say it. Bob is glad too. If you think it’s witty/clever/entertaining then by all means add me to your blogroll or bookmarks.
Don’t be so crass as to rip off a fellow peer and become a cheap imitation.
You are good people with good minds, unique Bobs and experiences, lives and trials. Use your eyes, mouths, minds, Bobs and fingertips to bring what only you can to the table. There is no one else in the world like you, don’t cheat the world out of what is uniquely you and yours by mirroring someone else.
Because in doing that, you do both you and I a gross injustice.
A full-time wheelchair user since 1998, Claire lives in an adapted bungalow in England with her Partner of 10 years and their two dogs: 
That was a really interesting post. Since getting my first digital camera a few years back I have often wondered about taking photography more seriously. Maybe on day I will upgrade to a DSLR and learn all about the various things you can do rather than just point and click.
Pleased to hear you are an inspiration although with the little bits I’ve read on your site I’m not surprised.
One point though, while I agree that people should strive to be there unique self, isn’t picking up things you like and don’t like along life’s travels part of life itself. Ultimately isn’t each and everyone of us just an amalgamation of things we’ve seen, heard and done. Partly for this reason I would see it as a good thing if something I did was replicated by someone else because this meant they were touched/impressed etc by something I had done. Personally I don’t think you should feel aggrieved by people who have used your site or other things for inspiration. Obviously a blatant rip off or taking credit for something they haven’t done is completely different. Can you name and shame any examples?
Anyway as I said pleased the photography has gone so well…hmm maybe I’ll have a little look to see what cameras are about, you know just for when I do decide to get one!
You do have a very nice way of putting things
Please make sure that Bob stays alive, because you blog in an interesting way 
James:
I couldn’t agree more, James.
To be an “inspiration”, is in many ways, the ultimate goal for anyone who creates (in one way or another). As I said in my post, I consider it to be a considerable personal and creative achievement.
Perhaps, I did not make my view clear in that it is imitation, as opposed to inspiration, that I specifically object to. Unfortunately, the line between the two can be somewhat subjective in nature.
I don’t think it would be very appropriate. I have no desire to create a scene, I merely wanted a chance to communicate where I stand on this issue for the reference of the parties concerned.
Emsz: Welcome, welcome!
I’ll do my very best, he’s not the best Bob in the world, but as they say: Better the Bob you know…
Thanks for the response Claire. I thought I knew what you were trying to get at in your post but I just wanted to understand a little more, which I do now, so thanks. I also didn’t think there was much chance you would ‘name and shame’ but it was worth an ask just in case.
James: No worries, I’d rather be offered an opportunity to attempt to clarify what I’ve said, than have others get the wrong end of the proverbial stick and proceed to beat me with it, as it were.
There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing all the random mistakes that crop up on a manual SLR’s images! It makes it more exciting for me! As soon as I can afford a developers kit I’m there — I’m still annoyed my dad threw out all his kit!
Han:Welcome, welcome!
You’ve got more patience that me! I loved using the darkroom at college, but I think I’m definitely a digital convert now
My favourite are people who steal my layouts outright and then fail to change the fucking copyright notice, so I get ‘em cropping up in my referrals. People are stupid, mmmkay.
Um, would comment on photography but as I don’t know ANYTHING — I mean that — and there’s nothing I can contribute, I’ll gloss over it.
V xx
Of course once you’ve learned the rules of photography the next step is to learn to break them. As for myself, since going DSLR I can’t go back to point and shoot, though I won’t give up on film just yet. Maybe it’s the smell of developing fluid…
Vixx:I remember seeing derivatives of your layouts quite a lot a year or two ago.
You’re forgiven
Lew:
Or the itchiness of the fixer when it gets on your hands… Or maybe it was just me whose skin always reacted badly to the fix tank..
Very wise words, I’ll keep them in mind.
There are very few things more special than being an inspiration for people. Good work!
I love your photos — especially your macro photography. It’s the kind of style I wish I could take if I knew what I was doing. And had a decent camera. hehe When we had the kids passport photos done in Jessops, I stood there ogling the cameras thinking “If I rob this person, beg from that person, and sell this body part, I could afford that kit” hehe
As for people stealing your blog’spirations, I’ve seen similar things out there with things I write and I sigh and move on. Templates are another typically-stolen item, which is why I get mine from people that offer templates to the masses (and, of course, always leave the copyright/link back in place!).
Hope you don’t let the buggers get you down, and *really* hope I’ve not stolen something! hehe
Well good that someone knows how to work the camera. For the past 2 months I’ve been trying to get my dad to take our camera to the repair shop because the focus is all..out of focus, when you look through it. Though the photos come out very clear & focused.
Well, then my dad finally takes a look at the camera and the manual. Turns out there’s a button where you can change the focus level of the camera (so you could photograph even without your glasses if you’re near or far sighted…)..yay.
My blonde moment
Alas, not anymore. Am clearly not worth copying any more!!
V xx
Dan: I meant to reply ages ago, I’m sorry!
Oh, the times I’ve done that/still do that, what I wouldn’t give to have endless funds to spend in camera shops!
I think that’s all most of us can do, sadly