My Photography Instructor HATES Me!

[Boy Scout]

I have a photography class. In this class, critiques are apart of the course along with our full participation.

As it just so happens during a particular critique, she wanted our thoughts on mixing both color and black and white prints. I gave her my thoughts, nothing mean or rude, just my honest opinion... with no malicious intent whatsoever. :angel: After doing so, she became clearly frustrated and angry (I could see it on her face). 😕

I spoke to her today and from what I suppose, she is looking for a reason to fail me. Numerous times she's insinuated that SHE does the grading and has suggested I should drop and receive a W. 🙁

Has this ever happened to you? 😱

Edit: Though this class isn't UC/ CSU/ Art Center transferrable, I expect to do well.

Here is the breakdown for the class:

Exposure Index/ Perfect Print Assignment: 5% (credit/ no credit)
Flash Test : 5% (credit/ no credit)
Response Paper: 10%
Artist Statement: 5%
Final Portfolio: 60%
Participation: 15%

 

[Athos6]

Sounds like your teacher got into teaching for the wrong reason. Many teachers choose teaching because they have control or superiority issues and cannot be contridicted with it being a serious blow to their ego. You can always go to the dean, in my experience these types of teachers already have a track record and you can find help higher up. Another thing, always talk to the teacher with a witness, its much easier to file a grievance if you have a witness or two.

Edit: I'm also a teacher.

 

[MikeL]

With any conflicts, whether student or teacher, document everything.

 

[Athos6]

With any conflicts, whether student or teacher, document everything.

Ahh yes, the same is true with bosses and employees, very important point.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Yes, in a masters level computer engineering class I stood up, asked how many in the class actually knew how to program a computer, three of thirty raised their hands, and I announced the computer being designed was useless. The thing cost 6 million dollars to build, and was surplussed having only three programs ever written that acually ran on it. The teacher didn't like that I told him the thing was unprogrammable.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

well...what did you say that made her mad?

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

Oh wonderful.....had the same problem you are having with one of my profs. In fact this guy was so opinionated and only seemed to listen to students who had breasts. All of us in the class went to the deans right before our final projects were due and he wasn't teaching the next semester. The deans are really on your side when you run into this sort of thing.

 

[rogue_designer]

1. What on earth did mixing BW and Color images in a critique have to do with anything?

2. If you said something that made someone that angry and frustrated, I would evaluate how you choose to make your points.

3. Talk with the teacher again. If nothing comes of that meeting AND it's clear it's personal (and not just you being stubborn) either go to the dean, or withdraw from the class this semester.

(note: despite making a living as a photographer I nearly failed photo twice in college, having a chip on each shoulder that *I was right*. Even if I was, it didn't help anything, and only cost me darkroom access and ruined my chances at graduating with honors in the long run. You don't have to eat crow, but you don't have to prove you're right either - there are ALWAYS compromises.)

 

[dazedgonebye]

For every burned out or arrogant teacher, there are a hundred know it all students.
I can't tell from here which is true in this case...quite likely a bit of each.
Take the good advice you're getting from Bill and rouge_designer.
I've had far better luck "doing right" than I ever had "being right."

 

[paulfitz76]

Yes

Yes

Two words:

Owen Butler

RIT BFA

Guess that's four. I made an album devoted to not caring what he would think. Kind of like Hell's Kitchen and we had to shoot slides every week. I imagine with digital he could be even more brutal.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5697

 

[Johnmcd]

I make a good salary. I'm an autodidact. It's not that they were bad, it is that I'm just brilliant. But teachers don't like to be corrected. And when you're in their class, they're el jefe.

The 'turd' line was pure genius. I'm stilling giggling like a little girl. You are brilliant!

 

[hans voralberg]

Well quit the course, teach yourself, that feel much better, try to get back the tuition fee though

 

[paulfitz76]

For another point of view, I was in class with this guy and he told Owen off a few times. He never seemed to take any criticism badly and just did what he loved and didn't care whether OB liked it or not. Guess you could say he shot with his gut. Check out:

http://www.photosource-enhanced.com/bin/Portfolios?launch=pdn-13650

Owen was tough on that guy too. Maybe that's what it takes.

 

[rogue_designer]

Forgive my ignorance... Who is Owen Butler, and why does his opinion seem to matter so much?

 

[paulfitz76]

Owen Butler, the "Chef Ramsey" of Photo Illustration:

http://www.rit.edu/news/umag/fall2004/HonorProf.html

You would either make it or break it with this class.

 

[rogue_designer]

Ah.

Guess I'm glad i didn't go to art school. I would have never become a sucessful artist. 😀

 

[paulfitz76]

Ahh, good advice

Ahh, good advice

Ah.

Guess I'm glad i didn't go to art school. I would have never become a sucessful artist. 😀

That's like "the only way to win is to not play the game!!" 😀

I like it...

 

[erikhaugsby]

Forgive my ignorance... Who is Owen Butler, and why does his opinion seem to matter so much?

From what I gather he's a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and apparently a quite popular photographer.

http://www.beyondsecond.com/forum/?topic=47

 

[NickTrop]

Not enough information presented in your description to make a case either way. Sometimes teachers are wrong, sometimes students are wrong. We're all human. I once taught a professional wrestling class for "little people" who wanted to be midget wrestlers. I was teaching a lesson in the "belly to back" suplex. You can't be a pro-wrestler without knowing how to do this - whether you're a midget, lady, or male wrestler. One guy who went by the name "Little Mr.T" (looked just like Mr. T, 'cept he was 3-1/2 feet tall) just wasn't getting it right. He sat in the corner sulking - blaming me, said I hated him. In this case the student was wrong.

Another "little person", "Little W" (looked just like President Bush, except he was 3'8" tall) did it perfect but I just didn't like the looks of the basthad. So, I was just busting his chops. He said I hated him, and I did. In this case I was "technically" in the wrong but since it was my class, didn't matter and "Little W" was SOL.

This particular school was located outdoors near a swamp and had no "Dean" to complian to so the students were hosed and I could do whatever the hell I wanted.

 

[Johnmcd]

Not enough information presented in your description to make a case either way. Sometimes teachers are wrong, sometimes students are wrong. We're all human. I once taught a professional wrestling class for "little people" who wanted to be midget wrestlers. I was teaching a lesson in the "belly to back" suplex. You can't be a pro-wrestler without knowing how to do this - whether you're a midget, lady, or male wrestler. One guy who went by the name "Little Mr.T" (looked just like Mr. T, 'cept he was 3-1/2 feet tall) just wasn't getting it right. He sat in the corner sulking - blaming me, said I hated him. In this case the student was wrong.

Another "little person", "Little W" (looked just like President Bush, except he was 3'8" tall) did it perfect but I just didn't like the looks of the basthad. So, I was just busting his chops. He said I hated him, and I did. In this case I was "technically" in the wrong but since it was my class, didn't matter and "Little W" was SOL.

That is the funniest thing I have heard for a long time. Even funnier than bmattocks 'turd' smoking analogies.

I look at your avatar and imagine the scene - you, the midgets - classic!

What a thread.