"Photography Teachers?" Revisited

[benjikan]

"Photography Teachers?" Revisited

I have recently noticed several advertisements of those that are “teaching” photography. At a school of photography as a guest speaker I was asked what my thoughts were regarding the whole “I can teach you photography” thing. Well here goes. I don’t subscribe to that concept for many reasons. One is how to stunt the growth of a new student by teaching them rules about what is and what isn’t right for a starter. Another is the often over used formulas that in most cases these “specialists” teach the naive student as gospel

I do however have no problem with a school that assists one in understanding technical issues or a school that deals with the historical and artistic aspects of photography. But a school that deals with issues such as cropping, lighting style etc…Well that’s where I put my foot down and say an unequivocal NO, Nein, Non.

I have had so many poor lost assistants whom I would rather not pinpoint specifically, that have no clue what so ever who they are. If they did come into a school of photography with the hopes of coming out an individual, well that notion was sucked out of them by the energy vampires. I’m not saying that all profs are frustrated unsuccessful photographers that couldn’t make it in their field. However from what I have seen and heard, one could not help but make that assumption.

I am saying that guest speakers, workshops and specialized subjects dealing with specific technical issues might be a reason to seek out advice or when a guest lecturer has come in to speak of his or her experiences, as I did at the Orleans School of Photography in France. Do your research. Read, experiment, take tons of photos inspire yourself and grow as a human. Build up your vocabulary in all disciplines and your life shall be richer as a result. It has been proven that the greater the vocabulary the richer ones life. Take a deep breath and do what comes naturally. If you get stuck creatively, take a short break. If you need some technical advice, just ask questions.

http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com/2...raphy-classes/

[mwfanelli2]

"Photography Teachers?" Revisited

I have recently noticed several advertisements of those that are “teaching” photography. At a school of photography as a guest speaker I was asked what my thoughts were regarding the whole “I can teach you photography” thing. Well here goes. I don’t subscribe to that concept for many reasons. One is how to stunt the growth of a new student by teaching them rules about what is and what isn’t right for a starter. Another is the often over used formulas that in most cases these “specialists” teach the naive student as gospel

I do however have no problem with a school that assists one in understanding technical issues or a school that deals with the historical and artistic aspects of photography. But a school that deals with issues such as cropping, lighting style etc…Well that’s where I put my foot down and say an unequivocal NO, Nein, Non.

I have had so many poor lost assistants whom I would rather not pinpoint specifically, that have no clue what so ever who they are. If they did come into a school of photography with the hopes of coming out an individual, well that notion was sucked out of them by the energy vampires. I’m not saying that all profs are frustrated unsuccessful photographers that couldn’t make it in their field. However from what I have seen and heard, one could not help but make that assumption.

I am saying that guest speakers, workshops and specialized subjects dealing with specific technical issues might be a reason to seek out advice or when a guest lecturer has come in to speak of his or her experiences, as I did at the Orleans School of Photography in France. Do your research. Read, experiment, take tons of photos inspire yourself and grow as a human. Build up your vocabulary in all disciplines and your life shall be richer as a result. It has been proven that the greater the vocabulary the richer ones life. Take a deep breath and do what comes naturally. If you get stuck creatively, take a short break. If you need some technical advice, just ask questions.

You are making very general and unfair assumptions.

Contrary to what so many people think, teaching is something that only a minority of people can do well. Just because someone is an expert in their field doesn't make that person a decent teacher. We see this all the time: people with excellent credentials who are absolutely awful when they try to teach. All too often, the bad teachers are the ones we encounter. That affects our perception of how best to learn.

Another assumption you are making is that everyone learns just like you do. This is patently false. Yes, I do think and learn the same way you do in most ways. "Keep out of my way until I need you!" is my philosophy. But people are very different in the way they learn, some are kinesthetic learners, audio learners, some are visual learners, some are slow, some are fast. Some need rules to get started and grounded, others learn by trial and error. One way of teaching, the way you suggest, will leave many behind. Not everyone is capable of asking the correct question, knowing how to sort through options, repetition or trial and error may not work for them (like me trying to learn how to dance!).

The key to learning is to offer many different ways of doing it. We should definitely cater to people such as yourself and me. But we should also cater to others and their learning styles. The goal is the same, there are many ways of eventually getting there.

[Lori11]

I didnt see that as ben saying anything more than it was his opinion. I do have a friend who is attending a school, and yes, by her admittance, the creativity has been sucked out of her. We talked and she is taking a break from "perfection" photography and is going to use her hearts eye for a bit.
I am a visual learner, I tried a few classes at one time and it was to frustrating. I love speakers and lectures however!

[mwfanelli2]

I didnt see that as ben saying anything more than it was his opinion.

As I was expressing mine!

I do have a friend who is attending a school, and yes, by her admittance, the creativity has been sucked out of her.

Creativity is never "sucked" out of a person. Creativity comes from within and is there no matter what. More than likely, she was just not aligned with what they were teaching or did not want to learn the particular topics they were teaching. My nephew had the same problem: he's a musician who went to the very prestigious Peabody College. It just didn't fit his style. So he went somewhere else where he was happier. As bad as the fit was, nothing got "sucked" out of him.

I am a visual learner, I tried a few classes at one time and it was to frustrating. I love speakers and lectures however!

This is not aimed at you, its just a general observation: I see many students who just don't want to put any effort into learning. They believe that every course should be a "feel good" and "Google my work" situation. They all say the same thing: "I understand but I just can't express it". That's an excuse, not a reason.

[Axle]

I'd have to disagree about not being able to have creative sucked out of you. I've seen it happen to a friend. She is a brilliant traditional artist (working with paint, pens, pencils) and occasionally a camera. While she was at university studying Anthropology she admitted that it sucked the creativity right out of her. Now that she's graduated, it's slowly coming back.

So in part I guess I agree that creativity can't be sucked out of you, but it can be repressed, which can appear to have it sucked out of you.

Mind you, I have another friend, and she went to an arts school for photography and it only served to increase her creativity. She in fact is now looking at continuing her education in the field by applying to universities. And I've taken time to browse through the halls of Sheridan (where I work and went as a student but in the computer field) and looked at the work from our Applied Photography program and some of the work is simply stunning.

[jetrim]

Honestly I don't see where Benjikan and mwfanelli are so far apart on the issue, though both make comments that are probably overly generalistic. The thing I take away from both posts is that if you choose school - choose wisely, and don't think that just because the teacher has an impressive resume or client list it means you can follow some cookie cutter path to your own success story. I would disagree with one statement from each though:

Benjikan "If you need advice just ask questions." One of the most difficult things in the internet age is discerning the difference between good information and bad. Some myths have been repeated so often, by so many, they are taken as fact, and often when someone who really does have the correct info, and tries to help speaks up, they're shot down as being a *crackpot*.

Mwfanelli "Creativity is never sucked out of a person" while it may not be a permanent afflicition, I'm attending a class right now where week by week you can actually watch it happening. There is little doubt in my mind that by the end of the semester there will be ten photograpers producing identical portfolio shots because all are smart enough to have figured out what the requirement will be to pass the course. Sad really...

BTW this weeks featured photo in the critique forum received a D+ because it didn't follow the instructor's "formula" :lol:

[Axle]

There is little doubt in my mind that by the end of the semester there will be ten photograpers producing identical portfolio shots because all are smart enough to have figured out what the requirement will be to pass the course. Sad really...

Yes, that is also a sad fact. I do plan on hopefully start teaching photography continuing ed classes in the future, I hope that I don't turn into someone like that but rather one that encourages creativity.

[readingr]

BTW this weeks featured photo in the critique forum received a D+ because it didn't follow the instructor's "formula" :lol:

This is the reason I never joined the local photo club. In each of the visits I made the creative photo's were ripped appart and mediocre photo's raved about.

Learn to make up your own mind and try and understand the advice being given. The only perfect photo is in the eye of the beholder.

Roger R.