"What else are you going to do?"

"What else are you going to do?"

I asked myself this question when I was deciding whether or not I would go to college to learn Photography and get qualified.  I was looking at my other options at the time.  What else was I going to do if I didn't pursue this?  Work in a Starbucks all my life?  It was this or nothing.

In a conversation with photographer James Pfaff, where we discussed a move away from Falkirk and possibly Scotland, he asked me the same question.  If I didn't take a chance and move to somewhere new, what would my options be?  Events and family portraiture, probably.  Nothing wrong with it if it's what you want to do but it's not something that really allows for creativity.  I would like to challenge myself with photography.  Visit places.  Meet interesting people and learn from them.  Do things that I wouldn't normally be doing.

 I recently did some work for a local dentist that I found enjoyable and interesting as I was able to spend a day with people I ordinarily wouldn't be spending time with.  That wouldn't have happened had I not decided to study photography.  If I can get that kind of thing on a more regular basis, I'll be happy.  Much easier said than done, of course.

So where to?  There's lots of work in London but too many people and with the prices of things I'd be cheaper commuting from Falkirk.  New York, Paris, Sydney all sound good and glamourous but Germany tops the list of potential locations at the moment.

So November saw us go on a short break/scouting mission to see how we liked the country.  I've travelled before but moving is an entirely different proposition.  And 5 days isn't enough to know if it's right for you.  5 days wasn't enough for us to wander about and see all the touristy places.

I said we'd give it more, serious consideration in the new year and take it from there.