formal education

[Magnus]

Now honestly what is there to learn about photography .... I would think that experience is the important factor, not theoretical knowledge.

 

[unohuu]

Masters and post graduate study for a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Luke

 

[ChrisPlatt]

When I was an undergraduate student at Queens College CUNY
in the early 1980's I took a course in Ethnographic Photography.

Much of the instructor's portfolio was drawn from his fieldwork;
years spent living among tribesmen in Papua New Guinea.
Once we had mastered the basics of lighting and exposure,
he taught us how we could apply a similar approach in several
field trips to ethnic enclaves in and around New York City.

A fully stocked darkroom and the instructor's printing expertise
helped everyone in the class turn out first rate finished work.

The memory of this course stays with me, even after 20+ years.
Against it I measure all others, before or since.

The Queens College Anthroplogy Dept. still offers the course.

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[CameraQuest]

Photography and Education

Photography and Education

1) I am a big fan of photo education, a huge fan, a mega huge fan.

2) wherever you are in photography, education will only make you better

3) that being said, I believe true artistic photographic talent is a gift, and can not be taught. either you have it, or you don't, like a great actor, like a great painter

Stephen

 

[tedwhite]

When I was twelve, in L.A., my father one day told me to quite bitching about having nothing to do and handed me an old Kodak Box Brownie. But what made the difference was that he bought me a beginner's developing kit to go with it. Each night, after dinner, I set up my little kit on the service porch, developed film (I forget the MF size) and learned how to make contact prints (flattened negs with a piece of glass over a sheet of 8X10, then turned on the ceiling light for one second). When I first saw an image appear in the developer tray, that was it.

Decades later I found myself teaching English in a midwestern college. One day, while perusing the college's catalogue of offerings, I noticed there were no photography courses. So I started one. It would develop into a major. I found it a bit ironic, that in an institution that defines itself on academic credentials, I was able to initiate a program with none.

A couple of years later I got a job in a university teaching it at the graduate level. Sounds lofty, but all I was doing was helping MFA students with their final portfolios.

So, I've had no formal training, no courses, just self-taught. I think if you have a good eye, as they say, you can figure out the rest. If you don't have the eye, you can still learn to make technically perfect pictures. A cynic might say, "But, what's the point?" I don't have an answer, other than to feel that if you enjoy doing something, just do it.

 

[jan normandale]

Ted, you're a Renaissance guy.. who knew, I thought you were also a career police officer?? I'm coming over for a coffee right now to hear the full story.. LoL!!

When I was twelve, in L.A., my father one day told me to quite bitching about having nothing to do and handed me an old Kodak Box Brownie. But what made the difference was that he bought me a beginner's developing kit to go with it. Each night, after dinner, I set up my little kit on the service porch, developed film (I forget the MF size) and learned how to make contact prints (flattened negs with a piece of glass over a sheet of 8X10, then turned on the ceiling light for one second). When I first saw an image appear in the developer tray, that was it.

Decades later I found myself teaching English in a midwestern college. One day, while perusing the college's catalogue of offerings, I noticed there were no photography courses. So I started one. It would develop into a major. I found it a bit ironic, that in an institution that defines itself on academic credentials, I was able to initiate a program with none.

A couple of years later I got a job in a university teaching it at the graduate level. Sounds lofty, but all I was doing was helping MFA students with their final portfolios.

So, I've had no formal training, no courses, just self-taught. I think if you have a good eye, as they say, you can figure out the rest. If you don't have the eye, you can still learn to make technically perfect pictures. A cynic might say, "But, what's the point?" I don't have an answer, other than to feel that if you enjoy doing something, just do it.

 

[mikeb380]

Hi,

Any of you got any formal Photography education ?

When I started in Photography there was not formal education in photography, no internet, no one to teach me.I started at 14 with a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 speed graphic with RF. I had my own darkroom and began doing pro photography, taking kids pictures. I formed a photo club in high school and taught photography. After leaving the Navy in 1967 I attended the university of SC abd ended up tutoring in the photo lab instead of learning. I opened my own business and taught photography for 3 or 4 years and then moved to NYC where I attended the School for Visual Arts for two semesters. I did learn somewhat about lighting there. I learned more working for/with Max Waldman about theater and dance photography than I could have ever learned from books. Unfortunately for the photo world Max passed away and thus ended my "aprenticeship".

For several years I did no photography and in 2004 I bought a Canon EOS Digital. I truly don't like digital so I have been buying cameras as a collection and now I am again shooting B&W and setting up my darkroom in my bedroom. I'm looking forward to again working inthe dark and printing my photos without a computer in the act. I had bought a Canon F1 because I had some in the early 70s and liked them. I shot my first roll of film last week and am waiting to get chemicals to start in. Next project is to use a Zeiss Ikon Nettar (VF only ) to shoot 120 film. My brain is drooling.

Well, I didn't intend to write this much but..........

Michael 😛

 

[tedwhite]

Jan: Thanks for the 'Renaissance' compliment. Never was a career cop. In Bakersfield, CA, I got a night job so I could support myself while going to college during the day. The night job happened to be as a deputy sheriff. working 11 PM to 7 AM. I did that for three and a half years. Then I moved to San Diego, worked at odd jobs while attending San Diego State University. After graduation, while waiting for the 'right' job to come along, I worked on the Mexican border as a detective sergeant for two years. When I got accepted to graduate school in San Francisco I immediately quit the det. sgt. job and never looked back.

In retrospect, though, it provided me with a great deal of raw material for stories.

 

[PhotoGeek]

I am just about to graduate w/ my BFA in Advertising Photography. Does that count?! 😉 haha.

I personally believe that you can learn everything on your own, however, it would just take you your life time to do it.

I've believe that it's an honor to be tutored or taught by a Photographer who has been doing it for a long while, is someone you look up to, or who's work you admire. You also gain the chance to learn from their mistakes w/o having to make them yourself. Sometime this is a huge advantage, especially financially.

You do need the quintessential "eye" for photography as well though. I don't care what anyone says, photography is one the arts.

I also believe that the passing on of knowledge is an essential part of being human, its how we have advanced to where we are, and how we'll keep going long after.

I plan on working on my graduate studies, I would love to have my Masters in Photography, and I would love to teach someday. I'm trying for several MFA program's this fall, wish me luck.
-peter