In a message dated 6/16/2003 6:34:25 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Hi, Marnie, > > So, in other words, nothing much has changed from your initial assessment, which was > about two or three classes into the course. Pretty much. Although once I realized he really was trying to help and just was a blankity blank perfectionist, I calmed down a bit about the critiques. > > He's a good stock photographer. A nice guy. But a lousy teacher (if what a teacher > is supposed to do is not merely pass on knowledge, but motivate and excite students). > > Interesting that it sounds like he's having trouble breaking out of the "stock" > mode, and that his "artistic" stuff, while very competent, is safe and repetitive. That is what I found interesting too. In my own shots what he liked best were the safe shots. Okay, the safe shots were probably the best shots, in the one can look at it and see immediately what it is type of sense, and maybe the best technically, but safe nevertheless. And I suppose, that logically, one should be able to do safe shots first well before branching out into the area of more risk. Logically. But I am not sure that *I* can approach photography that way. I tend to fool around and try things, and have from the beginning. Sure it means a lot of lousy shots, but I am happier doing it that way. The safe way -- well, to me it makes photography too much of a skill, a craft, just a matter of learning technique and less an art form. I do sort of wonder if my critique where I urged him to take more risks himself offended him or not. :-) Probably never know. > > Anyway, sounds like in spite of everything, and in spite of your teacher, you did > learn a fair bit in the course. > Again, wonderful images in your portion of the show. Not sure how much I learned, actually, now that I think about it. I think maybe what I learned was how to be more critical of my own stuff, how to assess it better. That is what I probably learned the most. And I think I learned more by looking at other students' shots and listening to their critiques. Because when I got a shot he/they liked, I got it "right" the very first time. Every time. No reshoots. Not sure what that tells me actually. He did say "freaking fantastic" when I brought in the barn, "best landscape brought into class so far!" Of course, that kept me going. And I do think it's good, however, one photograph (well, two, the tree is good too) does not a photographer make. And so much of that was luck, the sun was just starting to go down when I reached that spot, and I looked up and went, "oh, wow." > > Congrats for sticking it through to the end! > > ciao, > frank Thanks, maybe that is what I learned. Sticking with it. :-) He did announce at the beginning we would learn his prejudices and biases. Which we did. But I think what I need now is more technique stuff, I still am learning that -- exposure, focusing (with auto focus), framing, films. And don't feel I know enough yet about that to be that good yet. So if I take a class again, it will be one where the teacher goes on a shoot with us and maybe I can get some assistance in what I am DOING. Picking out the subject matter and the composition -- hey, I'll do that part. That I think I am not too bad at. Later, Marnie aka Doe ;-) It is nice to be a little real life show though, how many beginning photographers get that?
