frequently asked questions
How are the Unravelling courses run?
In both classes the focus is on weekly photo assignments, backed up with writing prompts and exercises. There are two places for the group to meet together: the password-protected e-course blog, where all assignments, videos and exercises will be posted, and also a private Flickr group where you can share your photos each week and take part in discussions.
Photo assignments are posted on the e-course blog on Mondays; video messages from Susannah are posted on Tuesdays. Writing exercises are posted on Wednesday and also on Fridays, ready for the weekend.
What do I need?
A camera, access to a computer and the internet, a Flickr account, a notebook and a pen. Using a digital camera (DSLR or compact – some Unravellers like to use their cell phone camera as it’s always with them!) will make uploading your images to the Flickr group quick and easy, but film cameras can also be used – just scan your prints or negatives before uploading your images to Flickr.
Do I have to take the courses in order?
Yes, in order to get the full benefit of the Unravelling process it is best to take Unravelling: Ways of Seeing My Self first, and Unravelling: Living in My World second. You might want to leave a few months between the first and second courses so you can finish any assignments from Unravelling #1 you didn’t have time to do, or just have a bit of space to let any realisations and epiphanies you had during the course sink in :) But if you’d prefer to keep the momentum going, you can take the courses one after the other – that works too.
What will I get out of the courses?
It’s my hope that the Unravelling courses will kick-start different things for different people. For some it might be a space for some me-time during the week; it could be a chance to start getting to know the ‘you’ that you know is hidden inside, to reconnect with yourself and your passions; it might simply be a good reason to play with your camera! By working through this course you may find you start to notice more things around you – maybe you’ll have a sudden burst of creativity, triggered by all this picture-taking or maybe you’ll find you’re feeling more comfortable around cameras.
As with any workshop, evening class or self-help book, the more you put into the course – group participation, photo-taking and private journalling – the more you will get out of it.
This course is a place where you can start to make friends with yourself again – honouring memories, seeing the beauty in your face, thinking about hidden dreams, appreciating your tribe around you, seeing where you are in the world… and finding a lovely online community too. Many many friendships have been made through Unravelling classes – and lots of real life meet-ups have be organised too!
Are these photography courses?
Not in the traditional sense, no. We use our cameras but it’s not about making amazing pictures (though of course you might!) but rather thinking about what we photograph and what it means to us. We focus on ourselves. So if you’re looking for a course that teaches you how to use your new digital camera this might not be the right course for you.
But I’m not a photographer – can I still take part?
Absolutely! No previous photography experience is necessary to take part in these e-courses.
Will I need to be in class at certain times?
No, there are no set times when you have to be in class. The assignments and writing exercises are posted to the private course blog on set days, but you can visit the blog at anytime. It’s a self-paced course, so you can fit it in whenever is best for you (perfect for busy mums!) Expect to spend about an hour or two on the course each week – some Unravellers like to check in on the group pool every morning, others save their time for the weekend.
The course fees are in British pounds – do you accept payment in dollars/euros?
Yes – payment is made via Paypal, which automatically converts currency for you. This is a global community – to date we’ve had participants from 35 countries! To check the current exchange rate, visit this useful online currency converter.
What’s a Flickr account?
Flickr.com is an online photo-sharing website that’s free to join. With an account you can upload photos to your own galleries, share photos with other users or keep your photos private if you prefer.
1. To open a new account go to www.flickr.com and click on the ‘Create Your Account’ button
2. Click ‘Don’t have a Yahoo ID? Sign up’ and create a Yahoo account (if you already have one, you’ll be able to use that to sign in).
3. Sign in with your new Yahoo ID and password.
4. On the ‘Make a new Flickr Account’ page, choose your Flickr screen name and click ‘Create a new account’.
5. Click on the ‘Personalize Your Profile’ link then click option 2: Choose Your Custom Flickr URL. This is where you can choose the URL address that links to your Flickr page (the default address is a series of letters and number that isn’t very memorable, so it’s best to choose a word or name).
6. Back at the home page, click ‘Upload your first photos’, following the steps to locate a photo on your computer and upload it to Flickr.
Do I have to share my photos? And my writing too?
No, it’s not compulsory to share your photos, though sharing as a group is a wonderful way to gain new insights into your images. We’ll all be focussed on the same aim – to learn more about ourselves – so the group will be a safe place to share.
The writing prompts are for you to work on in your own private journal, though you may want to share some of your thoughts and reactions to the photos you add to the group pool – we’ll discuss this further in the first week.
Is there an age limit? Can men join too?
No, there’s no age limit – this is a class for women of all ages who want to take a closer look at themselves and their life via the lens of their camera. Which means this is a class for women only. Sorry chaps – I will devise an Unravelling for Fellas one day! :)
