R
Richard Black
Guest
None of the above! Self-taught with the aid of magazines and books along with some discussions with photo store owners.
formal education
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jdos2
Well-known
Nothing formal.
I picked the hobby back up after a disastrous introduction in the late 80's Navy days.
Bought a Mamiya Universal (to be accurate, I bought a light-leaky RB67 with a 127mm lens, which was almost enough to make me forget the hobby again, then the Universal which got me into Rangefinders) , two cases of out-of-date 667, and let fly.
Suffice it to say that I have hundreds and hundreds of REALLY BAD shots, but they did get better over time.
I picked the hobby back up after a disastrous introduction in the late 80's Navy days.
Bought a Mamiya Universal (to be accurate, I bought a light-leaky RB67 with a 127mm lens, which was almost enough to make me forget the hobby again, then the Universal which got me into Rangefinders) , two cases of out-of-date 667, and let fly.
Suffice it to say that I have hundreds and hundreds of REALLY BAD shots, but they did get better over time.
peter_n
Veteran
hey you got me there... 🙂 Didn't know there was a Dublin in KY... I spent eight wonderful years living in Dublin (th'oul sod one 😉) and I can tell you that Shaw's quote was taken for granted as accurate. Now the population is much more heterogenous so it may not hold as much water as previously...johne said:
dmr
Registered Abuser
When I was in HS, photography was not offered at my school. (I went to what you would now call a math/science "magnet" school.) Friends at a nearby HS did have a basic photography course. Closest I got in HS was Art Technique, which covered lighting, perspective, things like that which are relevant. In college I took several Journalism and Broadcasting courses, but nothing in photography per se. Mine came by my desire to do exactly opposite what my dad said to do with a camera. 🙂
phototone
Well-known
We don't need no steenkin' classes. I have been making a good living at photography for 30+ years now. Completely self-taught.
Photography is perhaps the only profession where one does not have to have a degree to be successful, and a degree is no guarantee of success.
Photography is perhaps the only profession where one does not have to have a degree to be successful, and a degree is no guarantee of success.
FrankS
Registered User
Self taught by reading books to understand the theory/concepts (eg. exposure, depth of field) and by hands-on experience. I did join the university photography club and later took some college courses, but that was mainly to have access to their darkrooms before I had my own. Have taught adults in a community college course in basic photography.
I took the Famous Photographers correspondence course in the late 60's, then went back to university in the '80's and pretty nearly finished a Photo BFA. Not quite sure why I didn't complete the last requirement or two before being swept away by computers and typography. Well, at least I learned what "banal" meant! 🙂
pvdhaar
Peter
Initially, I was self-taught. But at a certain point I did decide to join a photo course. Although I didn't learn anything new from a technique point of view (apertures, shutter speeds, depth of field and all that I already understood), it was still very valuable. The challenging athmosphere prompted to put in more effort, to keep a better eye open for opportunities, and to put more though into composition.
S
Sean Reid
Guest
I studied photography formally and intensively at Bard College (BA degree). In my case, that experience probably altered the course of my life and so it was extremely valuable. My professors were Stephen Shore and Ben Lifson. I know that my approach to photography and my whole understanding and sense of visual art is vastly different because of Stephen and Ben. Ben became a close friend and has acted as a mentor ever since. Now that he's photographing seriously again, after many years of primarily writing, etc. we end up helping each other. He now teaches privately, BTW. I also met casually with Helen Levitt, in her NYC apartment, in the early 1990s to discuss the subway pictures.
How useful is education for photographers? There's no general answer. How important is meeting a woman? Perhaps that meeting will have no effect or perhaps it changes one's life. It depends on the woman, the timing, other intangibles. I think it's much the same way with education: it depends on the teacher, the student, the timing, etc.. Some photographic education does more harm than good but sometimes it does great good. Paul Strand was the student of Lewis Hine. Henri Cartier Bresson let Helen Levitt become his informal student. Winogrand learned a lot from Robert Frank, albeit indirectly...etc. etc.
Cheers,
Sean
How useful is education for photographers? There's no general answer. How important is meeting a woman? Perhaps that meeting will have no effect or perhaps it changes one's life. It depends on the woman, the timing, other intangibles. I think it's much the same way with education: it depends on the teacher, the student, the timing, etc.. Some photographic education does more harm than good but sometimes it does great good. Paul Strand was the student of Lewis Hine. Henri Cartier Bresson let Helen Levitt become his informal student. Winogrand learned a lot from Robert Frank, albeit indirectly...etc. etc.
Cheers,
Sean
hoot
green behind the ears
Back in 2000, while I was writing weekly columns for an e-zine, one of my colleagues got me into photography. In numerous online chat sessions, he taught me the basics of operating a manual camera (f-stop, shutter speed etc.), and I taught myself artistic composition by looking at the work of the greats (my biggest inspiration back then was Edward Weston; I hadn't gotten into the street photographers until years later). Then I met Roman on pnet, and he taught me everything I know about darkroom work and classic cameras, gave me GAS (up until then I'd been completely disinterested in any camera that wasn't my own... ah, the happy days!) and introduced me to my fellow sufferers at RFF. A dozen cameras, hundreds of rolls of film and an empty wallet later, here I am!
R
Roman
Guest
hoot said:
Yeah, right, blame it on me... don't I always warn you before looking at yet another model that it might not be perfect for your needs...? 😀
Roman
kiev4a
Well-known
Learned basics from my father. Attended several National Press Photographers seminars while shooting for a newspaper. The LIFE Library of Photography (contains a lot of information) Six years in an Army National Guard Public Affairs Detachment.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
My education in photography doesn't quite fit into the categories offered so:
Back in the dims recesses of time I borrowed the Boy Scout manual from a friend and made a pinhole camera. Years later, I took the majority of the pictures in my Highschool newspaper. And a lot of the informal pictures in my yearbook. With about 20 minutes of instruction about using the K-1000 camera the school loaned me for the last two years of school.
My folks bought the Time-Life science series of books and I then bought the Life photo books. Then Ansel Adams' trio. Then Alfred Blaker's book about nature photography. Then several books about coloor, light, and composition(aimed mostly at painters). The local college here still offeres a basic BW class--only once a year and it's going to be the spring '06 semester this year--that I'm trying to adjust my work schedule to be able to take. Mostly to have the use of the darkroom but also for the instruction/criticism.
So, mostly self taught and certainly still trying to learn.
Rob
Back in the dims recesses of time I borrowed the Boy Scout manual from a friend and made a pinhole camera. Years later, I took the majority of the pictures in my Highschool newspaper. And a lot of the informal pictures in my yearbook. With about 20 minutes of instruction about using the K-1000 camera the school loaned me for the last two years of school.
My folks bought the Time-Life science series of books and I then bought the Life photo books. Then Ansel Adams' trio. Then Alfred Blaker's book about nature photography. Then several books about coloor, light, and composition(aimed mostly at painters). The local college here still offeres a basic BW class--only once a year and it's going to be the spring '06 semester this year--that I'm trying to adjust my work schedule to be able to take. Mostly to have the use of the darkroom but also for the instruction/criticism.
So, mostly self taught and certainly still trying to learn.
Rob
JOE1951
Established
Hello
Took a 1 yr. Community College course 20 some years ago!
It gave me the opportunity to try stuff and use some equipment, but I never really learned anything until you get out in the real world.
Took a workshop and met Duane Michals and Ralph Gibson. Nice people, but it was a bit of a let down, only because my appreciation for their work put these guys on too high a pedestal, they couldn't live up to what I was expecting.
Worked as a darkroom tech, camera operator/assistant for Film/Television, Pressman and pre-press tech for a couple of printing companies, presently Photographer/Digital Image tech at a university.
I still meet new students from the same course and teachers I had, and I'm amazed at just how little they know, and some who just blow me away with their talent.
The most important thing about education is not the technical stuff, but getting feedback regarding your work, and learning from, sometimes harsh, criticism. If you don't get used to that in school, you will suffer in the real world!!
Took a 1 yr. Community College course 20 some years ago!
It gave me the opportunity to try stuff and use some equipment, but I never really learned anything until you get out in the real world.
Took a workshop and met Duane Michals and Ralph Gibson. Nice people, but it was a bit of a let down, only because my appreciation for their work put these guys on too high a pedestal, they couldn't live up to what I was expecting.
Worked as a darkroom tech, camera operator/assistant for Film/Television, Pressman and pre-press tech for a couple of printing companies, presently Photographer/Digital Image tech at a university.
I still meet new students from the same course and teachers I had, and I'm amazed at just how little they know, and some who just blow me away with their talent.
The most important thing about education is not the technical stuff, but getting feedback regarding your work, and learning from, sometimes harsh, criticism. If you don't get used to that in school, you will suffer in the real world!!
W
wlewisiii
Guest
What real teaching I've had was at the Army craft shop in Illesheim, FRG about 21 years ago. Got to use the dark room and had someone to ask questions of... 😱 Other than that, it's been using and doing with the internet providing many useful texts.
Learning and playing daily... 😀
William
Learning and playing daily... 😀
William
Fred
Feline Great
City and Guilds levels one and two during evening classes at the local college. Thankfully passed em and have the empty bank account to prove it. Causes GAS.
S
Scarpia
Guest
i have also taught some courses in basic photography for a community college (at the local prison).
joe[/QUOTE
Serves you right for lifting those Canons 😀 😀
I joined the camera club in the sixth grade and somehow learned (and retained) a fair amount. We had an excellent teacher a Mr. Rubin. I always regretted that I never had him as a class teacher. I used a 127 camera, a photo-flex, see
www.merrillphoto.com/JunkStoreCameras.htm
I eventually broke it and totally destroyed it trying to fix it.
Kurt M.
joe[/QUOTE
Serves you right for lifting those Canons 😀 😀
I joined the camera club in the sixth grade and somehow learned (and retained) a fair amount. We had an excellent teacher a Mr. Rubin. I always regretted that I never had him as a class teacher. I used a 127 camera, a photo-flex, see
www.merrillphoto.com/JunkStoreCameras.htm
I eventually broke it and totally destroyed it trying to fix it.
Kurt M.
canonetc
canonetc
The University of Trial and Error, Bachelor's degree. For obvious reasons, it was a ten year course covering color (failed miserably), followed by a ten year course in Black and White, Digital, and Darkroom development. Underscored with a minor white in aesthetic theory, Anselary Zoning (I just could not understand that rot), and a Cartier-B and Gown fellowship in Find Arts.
I pledged with Contaxus Leicus Capa; buggers hazed me terribly, causing me to have to shoot with my left eye and bet often on horses. Magnum returned my submission with "no comment. You simply have no connections!"
AP lent a hand with my graduate studies. Of this history, there is little worth mentioning in the public eye, as they claimed all ownership of images and called me a "stringer". What that was, I've never quite figured out. I am honored, none the less.
Then I spent six years, every day, in a dark red cave, putting odd paper in foul smelling chemicals. Things..... appeared on the paper, asking me to "burn or dodge" them. Still trying to understand what that was all about.
A nice couple one day asked me to "do their wedding". Well, I tried my best; but after looking at my patch-worn cassock, they told me they did not need a priest. Oh, I said. I didn't know about money, so I only asked $350.00 to shoot ten or so rolls of color film. Goodness, that was a hard lesson. No wonder my bank account went dry.
Other "wedding photgraphers" laughed and castigated me on my meager earnings, promising eternal damnation and ridicule if I did not raise my rates. Naturally I complied, not wanting to upset them, nor keep the account empty. Now we are good friends.
So, The UTE was a good start, and a fine ejukation. 🙂
Cheers,
Chris
canonetc
I pledged with Contaxus Leicus Capa; buggers hazed me terribly, causing me to have to shoot with my left eye and bet often on horses. Magnum returned my submission with "no comment. You simply have no connections!"
AP lent a hand with my graduate studies. Of this history, there is little worth mentioning in the public eye, as they claimed all ownership of images and called me a "stringer". What that was, I've never quite figured out. I am honored, none the less.
Then I spent six years, every day, in a dark red cave, putting odd paper in foul smelling chemicals. Things..... appeared on the paper, asking me to "burn or dodge" them. Still trying to understand what that was all about.
A nice couple one day asked me to "do their wedding". Well, I tried my best; but after looking at my patch-worn cassock, they told me they did not need a priest. Oh, I said. I didn't know about money, so I only asked $350.00 to shoot ten or so rolls of color film. Goodness, that was a hard lesson. No wonder my bank account went dry.
Other "wedding photgraphers" laughed and castigated me on my meager earnings, promising eternal damnation and ridicule if I did not raise my rates. Naturally I complied, not wanting to upset them, nor keep the account empty. Now we are good friends.
So, The UTE was a good start, and a fine ejukation. 🙂
Cheers,
Chris
canonetc
O
Oldprof
Guest
I started in photography when I was about 16 years old, and much of what I learned came from reading the articles in Popular Photography and Modern Photography. I was such an avid reader of these magazines that I spent hours in the library going through back issues. To be honest, I also spent a lot of time looking at ads for cameras I couldn't afford. The rest of my photographic "education" came from experimentation, and trial and error.
VinceC
Veteran
In my teens I was very interested in astronomy and learned about f/stops that way. After a considerable amount of pestering, my dad bought me a 35mm SLR camera to take pictures of the 1979 solar eclipse in Canada. I was somewhat annoyed because I needed a manual camera for blast off various exposures in the two-minute duration of totality, and he instead got me a Pentax ME-Super which was automatic, and actually a much nicer camera than I expected. It only took pictures of stars and eclipsed suns for several years.
I joined the Army (U.S.) in 1981 and my training as a public affairs specialist included a week of photography and darkroom work. It wasn't until I was stationed in Germany a couple of years later that I really got interested in photography. I was running a small one-person weekly installation newspaper and had to take the pictures for it, so I had a swift, steep learning curve. Like one of the other forum members, I spent a huge amount of time in an Army craft shop photo lab, this one in Garlstedt, near Bremen and Bremerhaven. The exchange rate was really cheap in those days, so I was able to by a box of 100 sheets of photo paper for about $25 from the German photo stores, and I went through many, many boxes. Also pored through magazines and books. Mostly, too, photography gave me a reason to head off base on weekends in search of new pictures and places. The Army issued me a Canon F1. For my second body, I sold my Pentax to another GI and bought a Nikomat at a German camera shop.
Several assignments later, in 1988, the Army sent me to a summerlong photojournalism course at the University of South Carolina. Ten weeks of total immersion for 10-12 hours a day. That was my only formal schooling.
I joined the Army (U.S.) in 1981 and my training as a public affairs specialist included a week of photography and darkroom work. It wasn't until I was stationed in Germany a couple of years later that I really got interested in photography. I was running a small one-person weekly installation newspaper and had to take the pictures for it, so I had a swift, steep learning curve. Like one of the other forum members, I spent a huge amount of time in an Army craft shop photo lab, this one in Garlstedt, near Bremen and Bremerhaven. The exchange rate was really cheap in those days, so I was able to by a box of 100 sheets of photo paper for about $25 from the German photo stores, and I went through many, many boxes. Also pored through magazines and books. Mostly, too, photography gave me a reason to head off base on weekends in search of new pictures and places. The Army issued me a Canon F1. For my second body, I sold my Pentax to another GI and bought a Nikomat at a German camera shop.
Several assignments later, in 1988, the Army sent me to a summerlong photojournalism course at the University of South Carolina. Ten weeks of total immersion for 10-12 hours a day. That was my only formal schooling.
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