Every month we choose one of our students who has shown great promise and we sit down with them to learn about how they got started with photography and how they’ve found the art so far.

The winner also gets a £50 voucher that can be redeemed against any of our courses.

This month we spoke with Stuart Parkin about their journey.

“Now 62 years young I have been dabbling with photography on and off since I was about 20. And dabbling really is the word. Life, love and children (now grandchildren) intervened but all providing countless opportunities to capture special moments.

It is only in the past 4 years or so after I entered the digital world for the first time that I realised I wanted something more from my photography. I didn’t know what that “something” was and to an extent I still don’t. But what I do know is that I have to step outside my comfort zone and lay some ghosts to rest.

student of the month

(c) Stuart Parkin, taken on our recent Portrait photography workshop

First up was portrait photography. Strange when you have spent much time capturing those family moments to realise that you are not really comfortable photographing people in anything other than a candid style. What I needed was to come face to face with those people being photographed and try to capture an image that told me who they were. That’s where the internet searching came in and how I found Photoion.

student of the month

(c) Stuart Parkin, taken on our recent Portrait photography workshop

I attended the one day available light portrait workshop at the beginning of January and the light switched on in so many ways. In fact I think I began to see light for the first time – and not just with portraits either.

Next up will be my other great nemesis – the speedlight. Had one in the bag forever but it might just as well be an elephant for the use it gets – Workshop already booked.

student of the month

(c) Stuart Parkin

It has often so been too easy to not take a photograph and blame the lack of light or the quality of the light – but no more. I want to have the confidence and the ability to capture the image I want using what is available. Who knows maybe even a studio lighting workshop one day!”