I have taken pictures most of my life, but consider myself a real amateur.  I wanted to improve technical as well as artistic skills.  Oliver gave me the chance to do both.  He gives good explanations as well as objective comments on the photo homework that he prepares with you in advance.  While it might sound banal, he encourages you to think outside the box and not do what every other photographer does; it is not easy but it’s fun.  In addition, he got me into B&W, doing street photography which I had never really tackled and using a flash.  Courses are well worth it.