I take the time and think it through

7 Building Blocks has: Made me thinks things through.

What are the differences before 7 Blocks & after? I had just finished the Masterclass in Photography' Course when I embarked on the Seven Building Blocks so I was already starting to work more deliberately with camera settings. Before that I had been on weekend courses and belonged to a camera club so I thought I knew what I was doing. Making time to think each element through has made a big difference, now there is less chance involved in getting better shots so long as I take the time and think it through.

What is the course worth to you? Every penny I paid for it and more. I can revisit elements if I feel the need to. I have downloaded the complete videos for future reference along with the worksheets.

Would you recommend The 7 Blocks?  I would recommend the course to people who already have some familiarity with their camera settings but want to advance their photography to the next level. The worksheets leave more to the individual - they make you think about it rather than relying on Mike to tell you what to do quite so much. You have to ask yourself questions about how you want your shot to look and then decide what settings will achieve that.

Tell us about your achievements (Published / sold / 100s of likes etc.)? I have been taking part in Photography Locked Down. I have entered four of my pictures from the competitions into camera club competitions. The first two got good marks - 8.5 and 9 out of a possible 10 and both what they call 'seals' which is 8.5 or above.

Anything else you'd like to say? In order to find images of the right size I have gone for ones I have put into competitions which means the before shot is one of my better efforts before Mike's influence began in April. The after shots are from PLD and are still pre-7BB but I feel they show some Browne influence in terms of having thought through what I wanted and how to achieve it. The picture of me was taken 8 years ago but I still use it as a profile picture at work and on Facebook because it's flattering and was taken by a friend who is a very good portrait photographer. I am not sure any of that is helpful.

I have thoroughly enjoyed 7BB and am planning to move onto the Lightroom and Photoshop courses so I can do more than move sliders about in the hope of making shots look better. I have been doing most of my photography at home since lockdown started but that hasn't stopped me producing shots I am pleased with and I now know that if I take the time to think my shots through I can be reasonably sure of getting a good result. I think the focal length block was the biggest revelation for me but they were all really useful and putting it together of course makes all the difference.

PLD has got me taking pictures I wouldn't have dreamt of taking before so when I do get out and about a bit more I will be excited to see the difference this year has made. It's been really good to invest the time, effort and money in growing my skills instead of buying a 'better' camera or lens. When Mike mentioned in one of the videos that people will take the same exact shot more than once hoping for different results I had to smile - that was me before for sure! Never again!

Thanks Mike!