Dear list, I have been following this long thread on and off - and have not had time to take part - mainly due to being extremely busy snapping wedding photos.
Bob Croxford says >Which brings me back to the digital aspect. I wonder how many >photographers working well in a digital environment learnt their skills >at college years ago. How many of the older generation who had a more >basic grounding in theory are finding digital not too hard a conversion? Being of that generation, Bob, I have also found that nothing much has changed - a good picture is a good picture, however produced. I was lucky to have half a day free in London and went to the British Museum this week. What a delightful new roof! Anybody not seen it, do go. As I was there, I went to look at the Elgin Marbles - wow! Did you (especially the wedding photographers on the list) know that the whole lot is a 'Storyboard' about a wedding which ends in a brawl! Fabulous. And some of us thought this 'candid' photojournalistic wedding photography was a new thing, quite the contrary. The Greeks did it very beautifully - centuries ago! Nathan Gaydhani says >For as long as we are making exposures and using lenses, most of the photographic theory is still valid, Yes Nathan, as is theory of composing, posing and lighting. Re:Assistants and students... I would like to add to the weeks' comments, that my current assistant finished her degree at Nottingham Trent University last spring, and I am delighted with her photographic skills. Although none or very little digital training was given during her 3 year BA course, she has adapted to shooting weddings digitally very quickly. She also had solid grounding in Photoshop techniques, which she has developed in her time with me. I was surprised to find that in all that time they had NO training in classical studio portraiture or lighting, nor indeed in any 'people photography' at all. I can not but wonder why the course leaders or curriculum writers had made that decision. So much imaging involves making people look beautiful, by lighting or other tehniques! However, she is a conscientious and hard working person, who fits into any situation with clients and locations easily and confidently and is learning traditional posing skills very fast. Unfortunately, I can only employ her for 2-3days per week, so she is having to supplement her income working in a bar. This is not a satisfactory situation, so I am asking the list if anyone is in need of a part time assistant / free-lancer Nottingham-Leicester area. She would also consider jobs in London and has a clean driving licence and a reliable car. (Guys, part time only! I would hate to lose her. Further info off list - of course.) List mum, please, this is relevant to the thread on this subject and illustrates that however talented the young person is, or however well qualified, there are not a lot of openings out there, and any one of us oldies actually making a living out of digital (or otherwise) photography can count ourselves lucky to have a client base and work. Pleasant weekend everybody, Liisa =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
