Student Focus: Charlotte Duch Lynggaard
As many of you know, I began running workshops in Beijing in late 2009 as a response to what I perceived to be the demand for a setting where photographers could get together, share ideas, enjoy photography and explore China in a guided and relaxed setting. So far, we have had many students attend, all bringing their own approaches to photography. Not every student has the same aim. Some are aspiring professionals, some keen amateurs with advanced kit and some who just want to take better holiday pictures to act as memories for their time in China. Everyone is welcome and our primary aim is to try and pass on some of the passion we have for photography and China to our students.
This week, I’d like to introduce you to one of our former students, Charlotte Duch Lynggaard. Charlotte attended one of our first group classes in the hutongs in November and has since taken a number of private one-on-one classes with me. During these classes we have approached a number of topics including street photography, basic photoshop skills and ways to approach effective editing.
By day, Charlotte is a doctor. However as can be seen from these photographs in this post, she has a great visual sense to go along with her obvious analytical and technical skills used in her day job. Charlotte does not aspire to be a professional photographer however photography is a creative release for her, that gives her an escape and a level of balance in life.
Charlotte wanted to focus on an intensive one-on-one course to try and improve her level quickly, under the guidance of someone who could give her give her immediate and direct feedback. By talking to Charlotte about her background, personality and aims in photography we were able to tailor a course that suited her schedule and her overall goals in photography.
Mid-way through our classes together, Charlotte went to Tibet to try out some of the new techniques and skills that we had been working on during her classes. All of the pictures in this post were taken by Charlotte during her journey in one of China’s most visually spectacular regions. By sitting down and working together, we edited and discussed which pictures were strongest and conveyed Charlotte’s vision. I’m really happy with how fast Charlotte has progressed, just from the few sessions we have had together. To see and help her use photography as a creative release and discover her way or seeing the world, is a real honour and pleasure.