FrankS
Registered User
Can you teach...
fashion sense
musical rhythm
photographic eye?
I'm thinking only to a degree, within a person's innate/natural potential.
It's like common sense. It's not something you can teach someone. You can help them improve, but not beyond a certain point.
What say you?
fashion sense
musical rhythm
photographic eye?
I'm thinking only to a degree, within a person's innate/natural potential.
It's like common sense. It's not something you can teach someone. You can help them improve, but not beyond a certain point.
What say you?
Last edited:
back alley
IMAGES
i used to teach a night class in photography for a local metro college, also a sign language class.
who knew i was unqualified...
who knew i was unqualified...
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
I am modestly "teaching" photography to my friend Laurence. I'm rather teaching her how to use & handle her Kiev-2A (she seems to do well by now), I sometimes lend her my lightmeter. When I do, the photos will turn out spot on and with an interesting framing. I think she's got "the eye" for photography. My help is sort of an assistance in having her remember to wind the advance knob and to check for aperture/speed from time to time. I am very impressed at how fast she got it.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
I'll have to agree that a lot of it comes with the mind presented to the teacher.
After five years of photo 1 classes I find that you can teach most people to print pretty well, but many leave the class having no more clue about how to put a picture together than they came in with, despite my best efforts.
I have one assignment that was a real eye-opener for me in this regard- shoot 4 rolls of film in 1 room in 1 hour. Sparer the room the better. Really shakes up your ideas of what a picture can be, and how to put one together. And for me it really struck a chord about designing through the viewfinder. Comes into every picture I make still- some 25 years later.
It is an option in the assignment list, and many take it on, but not everyone gets it in the end.
And then there are those you can't even teach to print!
After five years of photo 1 classes I find that you can teach most people to print pretty well, but many leave the class having no more clue about how to put a picture together than they came in with, despite my best efforts.
I have one assignment that was a real eye-opener for me in this regard- shoot 4 rolls of film in 1 room in 1 hour. Sparer the room the better. Really shakes up your ideas of what a picture can be, and how to put one together. And for me it really struck a chord about designing through the viewfinder. Comes into every picture I make still- some 25 years later.
It is an option in the assignment list, and many take it on, but not everyone gets it in the end.
And then there are those you can't even teach to print!
pesphoto
Veteran
I believe you can teach techical stuff, even basic composition like rule of thirds and such. But what the greats of photography have that makes their work so special can't be taught or defined.
aizan
Veteran
i don't think that's the right way to look at it. if a teacher can't get something across to a student, he's supposed to blame the student for a lack of "innate" potential?
Pablito
coco frío
After teaching Photo I, Photo II & Photo III and other photo courses for 27 years at a number of colleges, universites and art schools, including some of the best in the country, all I can say is that the most important thing you can teach them (IMO) is to question everything they do, and to BREAK the rules. The most difficult students are the ones who are "passionate" about photography yet cannot think of what on earth to photograph.
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
I'm waiting for someone to teach me fashion sense.
I was taught musical rhythm when I played guitar.
My own eye for photography can hardly be expressed, and the times I try and help others and talk about their photo's I find my head bashing against brick walls.
I was taught musical rhythm when I played guitar.
My own eye for photography can hardly be expressed, and the times I try and help others and talk about their photo's I find my head bashing against brick walls.
FrankS
Registered User
aizan said:
Stuff ike the tchnical aspects, even the "rules" of composition cand be taught, but clearly not everything can be taught. You cannot teach a dog to fly for example. My question is, can photographic eye, or vision, be taught.
FrankS
Registered User
aizan said:
Stuff like the tchnical aspects, even the "rules" of composition cand be taught, but clearly not everything can be taught. You cannot teach a dog to fly for example. My question is, can photographic eye, or vision, be taught.
smeitner300
The Art of Engineering
I agree that you can teach the technical aspects, but not creativity. That spark of inspiration that makes your photos your own...that comes from within.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
Three groups of people:
Those who are "blind" in effect and could be taught very little.
Those who could be taught enough to blow their friends away with what great photographers they are.
Those who, once set loose, would eclipse their teachers.
The first and third groups are very small.
Those who are "blind" in effect and could be taught very little.
Those who could be taught enough to blow their friends away with what great photographers they are.
Those who, once set loose, would eclipse their teachers.
The first and third groups are very small.
denishr
アナログ侘・&#
I don't think you can actually teach anyone to be creative. You can help them learn how to express their creativity. You can help wake up someone's creativity which has been dormant... You can shake someone's perception and preconception(s). You can change someone's attitude towards the wonders of the world. But I don't really think you can actually teach anyone to be creative.
I guess it's like teaching someone how to be sensitive. You can teach them how to pretend they're sensitive, but they will still be same old SOB's they have always been.
So, what's "potographic vision" or "photographic eye", after all? A kind of "visual creativity", I think, which can be perfected by knowledge of "visual vocabulary" (rules of thirds, composition, technical mastery of the medium, etc.). Still, no technical wizardry or knowledge of visual arts can help unless you have that touch of creativity within you. Mere knowledge of the rules and the technique is not a guarantee of an art/visual masterpiece. Photographically related, I don't know whether it was St. Ansel or someone else who said "there's nothing worse than a sharp photo of a fuzzy concept"
Denis
I guess it's like teaching someone how to be sensitive. You can teach them how to pretend they're sensitive, but they will still be same old SOB's they have always been.
So, what's "potographic vision" or "photographic eye", after all? A kind of "visual creativity", I think, which can be perfected by knowledge of "visual vocabulary" (rules of thirds, composition, technical mastery of the medium, etc.). Still, no technical wizardry or knowledge of visual arts can help unless you have that touch of creativity within you. Mere knowledge of the rules and the technique is not a guarantee of an art/visual masterpiece. Photographically related, I don't know whether it was St. Ansel or someone else who said "there's nothing worse than a sharp photo of a fuzzy concept"
Denis
aizan
Veteran
insofar as one person can influence another person's life, yes.
back alley
IMAGES
hey denis, long time...
nice to see you around the old joint.
joe
nice to see you around the old joint.
joe
Jocko
Off With The Pixies
FrankS said:
I agree, and I think this is how it should be. One can be taught to imitate - to mirror a style or technique - as often happens in fashion, music or photography, but this is neither teaching nor learning.
The basic task of a teacher is to ensure the student grasps the practical aspects of a given discipline. Almost everyone can acquire a reasonable degree of such mechanical knowledge, but true success comes when a teacher inspires: Nurtures a personal response to information and kindles a desire for direct experience. At that point the student becomes his own teacher and the results will precisely mirror the nature of the individual.
Cheers, Ian
denishr
アナログ侘・&#
back alley said:
Thanks, joe... it's been a while
PetarDima
Well-known
No
Vision & photographic eye - two gifts,
but
the biggest part of taking photos is 99% of hard work ...
that is most important question for me:
Have I photographic eye & vision? Whithout that I just waisting my time
Vision & photographic eye - two gifts,
but
the biggest part of taking photos is 99% of hard work ...
that is most important question for me:
Have I photographic eye & vision? Whithout that I just waisting my time
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
In my little community where I live I appear to be the only person interested in photography. Digital or film!
Ninety percent of my input comes from this forum and occasionally someone tells me something that opens up another door for me. Any photographic skills I am developing are being absorbed from a lot of you guys! You (the experienced photogs) have a responsibility with new chums like myself to offer sensible logical advice and generally you do it well!
It's a big fun classroom with the occasional slap around the ear offered when we get out of line or don't listen!
Ninety percent of my input comes from this forum and occasionally someone tells me something that opens up another door for me. Any photographic skills I am developing are being absorbed from a lot of you guys! You (the experienced photogs) have a responsibility with new chums like myself to offer sensible logical advice and generally you do it well!
It's a big fun classroom with the occasional slap around the ear offered when we get out of line or don't listen!
VinceC
Veteran
The semester I taught photography to a class of 5th and 6th graders, (they signed up for it and so were motivated) we spent a considerable amount of time studying photographs. Every session included looking at examples of classic photojournalism, as well as the daily newspaper and magazines that caught my eye, or the kids' eyes. We discussed moments and settings, what the photographer had to do to get the picture, timing, classiclal composition.
I think too many photography courses get stuck on the process and the technical stuff. We did that, but always in context of the end result, an image that tells something about the world.
No, you can't teach photographic genius. But you can teach the elements that make a successful photograph. I think, because good photography is so visual, many of the finest photographers have difficulty expressing what they do in words. But when you go to their lectures, you realize their passion is about the story they are telling, not the technical matters related to the capturing of images.
A good teacher cannot create a Mozart of Gerswhin or John Lennon. But music can be taught, and taught well. Writing can be taught. Journalism is taught. Painting can be taught. Diplomacy and negotiating skills can be taught. Leaders are taught at leadership courses -- gifted leaders figure it out for themselves but the very best ones also know they can always be taught something new. And photographic competence can be taught.
I think too many photography courses get stuck on the process and the technical stuff. We did that, but always in context of the end result, an image that tells something about the world.
No, you can't teach photographic genius. But you can teach the elements that make a successful photograph. I think, because good photography is so visual, many of the finest photographers have difficulty expressing what they do in words. But when you go to their lectures, you realize their passion is about the story they are telling, not the technical matters related to the capturing of images.
A good teacher cannot create a Mozart of Gerswhin or John Lennon. But music can be taught, and taught well. Writing can be taught. Journalism is taught. Painting can be taught. Diplomacy and negotiating skills can be taught. Leaders are taught at leadership courses -- gifted leaders figure it out for themselves but the very best ones also know they can always be taught something new. And photographic competence can be taught.