Steve – Access to Creative Media and Photography

Course: Access to Creative Media and Photography

My Story: 

After leaving school at 15 and joining the Navy, Steve had no qualifications or formal education and was worried that he would not be able to ever complete a degree. With daughter Deborah studying a photography degree at the University Centre, and Steve often helping out with assignment projects, he started to really enjoy it and became inspired and met with Deborah’s photography lecturer, Ali,  who also teaches on the Access course. Equipped with a wealth of life experience and having dabbled in photography throughout his time in the Navy, it soon became clear that Steve was the prefect candidate for the Access course.

He said: “I’ve always had an interest in photography ever since I was little so, when Debs started her course, I was a bit like ooh what’s all this about. So by the end of her degree course, I was nibbling at the edges so she said come on Dad, lets go in.”

“When we went in to see Ali and had a chat with her and I started explaining, I’m sorry but at this age I have no qualifications and no formal education to show for it. I thought she wouldn’t want me, but she said even though I didn’t have the qualifications, the life experience I have would be invaluable.”

“I have loved every single minute of the course. I’ve never really been a creative or artistic person but with gentle encouragement from the guys around me and tutors here, I’ve been able to express my artistic side, which I would never have dreamt of being capable of 20 or 30 years ago. It has given me the confidence to go for the full University level course.”

“The course puts all the technical bits of photography that I’d accidentally managed to wing for all those years into a more professional practice. I didn’t know about exposures or apertures, I’d just point and shoot before, I have learnt so much”.

After completing the Access course, Steve progressed on to the FdA Film, Media and Photography course at the University Centre Truro & Penwith. Following in Steve’s footsteps is his wife, Cath, also enrolled in a University course at the University Centre.