hobbies
BACK TO SCHOOL
FIONA TURNBULL from Lacock Photography discusses going 'back to school' this autumn by learning a new skill in digital photography.
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espite having left school many moons ago, every September ushers in that back-to-school feeling, stirring some deep-seated impulse to purchase a sparkly new pencil case. And apparently, I'm not alone, a third of grown-ups experience a curious Pavlovian reaction to the change of the season, reporting a desire to buckle down at the office, invest in dapper new workwear, discover a hobby or pick up an old one. At Lacock Photography we say lean into that childhood conditioning and celebrate that first-day feeling by turning your hand to digital photography. Here are a few reasons why:
Photography is one of the best pastimes for long-term brain health
Shorter days result in the sun’s trajectory being much lower and so the time of golden light is significantly longer than in summer, meaning less pressure and more time to bag that AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHS magic post-sunrise or pre-sunset shot.
ARE THE BEST
Ok, so this is debatable, but we think no other time of year rivals the colours and textures that autumn brings. Rich red and brown leaves are the season’s signature and elevate any woodland path or city street to a thing of beauty. Another great plus for taking up photography in September is the autumnal light.
GOOD FOR THE BRAIN For many of us, that back-to-school feeling comes with a renewed motivation for learning. Research has revealed the numerous benefits of adult learning, for example the improvement of memory, stress reduction and increased self-esteem. Photography is regarded as a leisure activity with ‘high cognitive demand’, making it one of the best pastimes for long-term brain health.
shy away from learning environments in adulthood. At Lacock Photography, our aim is to give students the very best bits that education has to offer, encouraging self-expression, creativity, fun and community: the perfect cure for those back-to-school jitters! Lacock Photography run their Beginner’s Photography Workshop several times a month. If you’re interested in taking up digital photography, check out their website for dates and more information. • lacockphotography.com
FORGET BACK-TOSCHOOL JITTERS
Autumn is a great time for photography
42 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE
Although a lot of people associate the new school year with fresh starts and new beginnings, for others early September can unearth old academic anxieties and a few scholastic nightmares thrown in for good measure. Negative feelings about ones’ school years can, quite understandably, cause individuals to
Fiona runs beginner courses every month
