Well, I can answer the question…. NO! We are not having fun yet.
It’s heading toward the end of the semester and my landscape class is almost over. Landscape photography, in case it ever comes up again, does not lend itself readily to distance education formats of learning. We should be out in the field, as a group, practicing many of the techniques now I can only describe or attempt to demonstrate remotely through a video or two.
Last week the topic was night sky and milkyway shooting. For some of the students in the past, getting out in Alabama Hills or even out in the desert at night and really — REALLiY — seeing the stars fill the night skies that go on forever is a true revelation. And then finding out how easy it is in today’s digital world to make photos of it
Realizing they are making photographs with photon that left their home stars before any form of humanoid ever walked this planet is mind boggling. I love being a part of that. So that was frustrating. But for this current week it was worse, for me at least.
This week the topic was doing time-lapse photography. Like the night sky photographs, back in the film world this was extremely difficult requiring some specialized equipment. But now, and especially as DSLR and Mirrorless cameras have evolved, it has become, well, pretty simple, though in this case a few pieces of extra equipment can really help. But just TALKING about it and writing out procedure instructions, is a far cry and pale excuse for being able to get together and really shoot them, then go together into the digital lab, and put them together.
We learned that the decision has been made to make Fall 2020 a fully online semester. At least we’ll have more than a week to plan out the classes and the students will have some experience having to deal with them. Some topics can perhaps be even better taught using DE (Distance Education) techniques so perhaps it won’t be that bad.
No word yet on whether or not we will be allowed any classes this summer. Maybe, if there is some interest we could do a workshop or two if the social distancing requirements by then allow it. Let me know if you have some ideas.
And, before I sign off, I just wanted to send my appreciation for those who commented or emailed me directly with support for the Big “C” issue. That really has meant a lot.
Travels with Rocinante 
Good to see your post. I was going to email you just to check in. Sounds as though you are doing ok.
I have hardly touched a camera in several weeks….getting bored with flowers in our courtyard 🙂
Today would have been second tier judging day…a long stressful event….instead I read a little, played the sax a little and watched the Young Lions class on rhythm section responsibilities . Pretty laid back.