This week I start another semester teaching two photography classes at Delaware Valley University’s Center for Learning in Retirement. I also teach another class on a completely different subject and continue to work for myself.  Then of course there are the children and the grandchildren to see. In between all of this I find time to go out to photograph and make some prints of the keepers. Occasionally I’m able to listen to some music, which is another lifelong passion. All of which means I’m probably a little bit nuts! My wife tells me that with more frequency and she’s probably right. And speaking of insanity, there’s the puppy we got that turned our lives upside down this year.

The problem is I gain a tremendous amount of satisfaction from living a somewhat insane life.  One thing that gives me the some of most satisfaction is teaching my course called Living a Photographic Life. I’ve discussed this before. It came about as a result of the first entry I wrote for this site. The idea is to find things to do in order to keep our heads in the photographic game when life conspires to keep us from making photographs. But there’s another useful reason to go to all sorts of art exhibits, go to libraries and used bookstores to find great monographs, and get on line to discover a treasure trove of information. The reason is that we sometimes need a creative spark to reignite an interest to actually go out and make photographs.

So I love teaching this course for a number of reasons. I see my students learn new things and broaden their photographic horizons … or in some cases develop horizons that never existed before. Then there is getting them to go out to make photographs and have them printed so they can actually see what they look like instead of merely viewing them on their phones or pads. None of my students use film or go near a darkroom. But that doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is that I’m getting them excited enough about the possibilities so they will go out and do something.

What about you? I’ve discussed the value of a photographic project if your interest is waning or your just stuck. But I know there are some that can’t even do that in order to get motivated. Better to wait for the exotic trip next year that’s thousands of miles away. Ok, I can’t get in your head, but how about try keeping it in the game to continue learning and stay interested? Just perhaps something might spark your desire to pick up your camera, load some film into it and go out photographing.  Who knows, you might get inspired to find the time to go out again and even make some prints!

I’ve come to know a number of my students and have gained a tremendous amount of satisfaction from seeing what has resulted because they kept their heads in the game.

There’s a lot to see and learn about. Take the time to do it. You might just enter a new and rewarding creative phase!