Cat Milton presents the Iphone photography course on Ibiza
Writing this article was my New Years Day resolution. I had to laugh at myself. I spend every day and night, week days and weekends, promoting Ibiza via my photography and as Editor-in-Chief for Ibiza Spotlight, but when Ibiza Inside asked me to tell them about the iPhone Photography Courses I run – and a little about myself – I baulked!
The North of Ibiza
However, with steely resolution, for both this island and my amazing students to date, deserve this, I sit at the screen and think back. Like many, Ibiza captivated me from the start. I was lucky enough to discover the North of the island first, many, many years ago and was completely taken aback. I had, again like many, only been informed of the ‘party side’ of Ibiza life. The rolling ‘mountains’ and beautiful valleys of spring flowers, olive groves and carob trees, the endless pastures of seasonal almond blossoms and gorgeous beaches, reminded me of my own ideal of paradise.
I also celebrated the lifestyle the islanders welcoming me warmly despite the fact that I have little to no skill for languages (an ongoing source of embarrassment). My “May I speak English?” rather than the blunter “Do you speak English?” carried me through tight spots beautifully. I found myself desperately wanting to share this amazing island with my friends and yet was simultaneously protective of its beauty. Over time I learnt to appreciate all aspects of the island. The freneticism and fun of the south and San Antonio in the summer, the peace and quiet of the north.
My Photography
I had two rules with my photography ”see the beauty; take the shot” and misquoted but sentiment recalled from another photographer, “The best camera you have, is the one with you” So.. with an iPhone 4 (my first exploration into the Apple world) I’d take snap shots of my days on Ibiza and pop them up on my Facebook. A funny thing started to happen. People liked them. Then people started asking me if they could buy them. iPhone photographs! It didn’t stop and when introduced to people, time and time again I’d be asked how I took the shots I did.
The birth of the Iphone photography course
On a whim, I returned home one evening and said to my partner, “I’m going to run an iPhone Photography Course”. It wasn’t an original idea at all. Dozens of people had suggested it but I’d laughed it off for months. So it was that this October just passed, eleven students and myself gathered at Hidden Bar, in Cala San Vicente. That unto itself was a small miracle. I’d had no idea where to hold the course but had been wowed by Hidden Bars location and setting. Amanda Blanch and Chris Edwardes, proprietors of Hidden, kindly agreed to open just for the Course. It proved, as I had hoped, to be a fantastic choice (ably assisted by Chris amazing cocktails at an hour far too rude to mention, but enjoyed by many!)
The Course
Each week for five weeks, course members were guided between two or more app’s each lesson and then encouraged to go out and photograph the beauty of Ibiza. At first they were set suggestions by myself, to encourage them to see and gain a sense of perspective. The results were stunning! It struck me early on that each person on the course had a ‘natural eye’ many had just not had opportunity to realise it before. Course members were invited to upload their images to Instagram (a free Photo hosting site) and each week, those with the most ‘Likes’ would be shared to Ibiza Spotlights Facebook page so the audience could choose their favourites. The purpose of this was to both promote Ibiza, through the eyes of those that live here, and Ibiza Spotlight had kindly agreed to reimburse the course fees and apps to the photographer of the image with the most votes.
Friendship
Friendships were formed, much laughter was had and still, amazing images capturing the beauty of Ibiza flooded in each week, garnering an international audience of thousands. Finally, the course came to an end. I think it fair to say both myself and course participants were sorrowed for we’d so enjoyed ourselves. I learning from the students as much as they learnt from me. Hidden Bar opened again for us one last time, preparing an amazing three course lunch of celebration. All course participants received a certificate of completion and Daan Weijerman Mans image of Es Vedra won the Ibiza Spotlight Facebook competition, garnering in excess of 800 votes!
The winner of the Ibiza iphone photography course Daan Weijermans with a stunning shot of Es Vedra
When is the next course?
So, what next? Those who missed the first course have asked for me to run another and I welcome the fun of it. Those who have already done the first course are asking for an advanced course and … well, I’m having great fun putting one together! Helping others learn how to capture the magic of this island and promote it gives me the greatest of joys.
Details of the next course are:
Start Date – Sunday 13th January 2013
Time – 11am – 2pm, each Sunday for five weeks (ending 10th Feb – just in time for some beautiful St Valentines images!) Course Cost – 115 euros for 15hrs, plus app’s (approx 15-20 euros)
2 Comments
lovely …