Comments on: Is It Really A Photography Class? Pt.1 http://www.naturelightphoto.com/2010/03/is-it-really-a-photography-class-pt-1/ The Journey Thru a Photographic Life Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:10:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Mark Williamson http://www.naturelightphoto.com/2010/03/is-it-really-a-photography-class-pt-1/comment-page-1/#comment-305 Mark Williamson Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:37:36 +0000 http://www.naturelightphoto.com/?p=743#comment-305 There is nothing wrong with indiscriminate shooting. The idea is to learn how to compose and how to utilize the camera not how to develop film. Keep reading the blogs coming up and maybe I'll answer the points you brought up. If not, let me know. There is nothing wrong with indiscriminate shooting. The idea is to learn how to compose and how to utilize the camera not how to develop film.

Keep reading the blogs coming up and maybe I’ll answer the points you brought up. If not, let me know.

]]> By: Marti Williams http://www.naturelightphoto.com/2010/03/is-it-really-a-photography-class-pt-1/comment-page-1/#comment-304 Marti Williams Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:46:31 +0000 http://www.naturelightphoto.com/?p=743#comment-304 My apologies in advance if I am using incorrect photography terms. Well, I am only an iPhone photographer but I can see the teacher's point. Of course, I can also see your point but I have to agree with the teacher. Black and white film uses, assuming a typical college students finances, a limited and expensive resource. Photos must be effectively rationed, which like most rationed goods means that they will be highly valued and not be wasted. Since the students are not going to be indiscriminately shooting pictures, their shots are more likely to be carefully thought out. Instead of thinking "I'll shoot a couple from here and then move over a bit and then shoot a few more from here and then I’ll move..." they should be scouting out their subject and determining the best composition *before* they shoot rather than looking at a hundred pictures and choosing the best one. This forces the student to think about what makes a good photo, as in “Why do I think this is the best angle?” rather “Oh, I like this finished photo the best!” The first requires thinking about specifics. Why use black and white? Several reasons - black and white is the easiest for novice dark room users. To me, it emphasizes the importance of light in the photo's composition, which can be further illuminated (get it?) by dark room manipulation. It narrows the variables that the photographer needs to think about, allowing a beginner to focus on composing the shot. Yes, film does not offer the instant feedback in terms of settings but that can easily be covered by assignments requiring different settings. How many pictures did you take on your recent Death Valley trip? My guess would be over a thousand, probably several thousand. What would you have changed if you had to limit yourself to, let's say 1/10th of the number of pictures that you actually took? Could you have missed that perfect photo? Maybe. Would you have given more thought to each photo? Absolutely. Which method makes, you the photographer, plan more *before* your shot? Try it and report back. Remember, this is a beginning class. The teacher is teaching the basics. What, to you, are the fundamental properties of good photo? What is the first thing you want a beginning photographer to consider in terms of composition? My apologies in advance if I am using incorrect photography terms.

Well, I am only an iPhone photographer but I can see the teacher’s point. Of course, I can also see your point but I have to agree with the teacher.

Black and white film uses, assuming a typical college students finances, a limited and expensive resource. Photos must be effectively rationed, which like most rationed goods means that they will be highly valued and not be wasted.

Since the students are not going to be indiscriminately shooting pictures, their shots are more likely to be carefully thought out. Instead of thinking “I’ll shoot a couple from here and then move over a bit and then shoot a few more from here and then I’ll move…” they should be scouting out their subject and determining the best composition *before* they shoot rather than looking at a hundred pictures and choosing the best one. This forces the student to think about what makes a good photo, as in “Why do I think this is the best angle?” rather “Oh, I like this finished photo the best!” The first requires thinking about specifics.

Why use black and white? Several reasons – black and white is the easiest for novice dark room users. To me, it emphasizes the importance of light in the photo’s composition, which can be further illuminated (get it?) by dark room manipulation. It narrows the variables that the photographer needs to think about, allowing a beginner to focus on composing the shot.

Yes, film does not offer the instant feedback in terms of settings but that can easily be covered by assignments requiring different settings.

How many pictures did you take on your recent Death Valley trip? My guess would be over a thousand, probably several thousand. What would you have changed if you had to limit yourself to, let’s say 1/10th of the number of pictures that you actually took? Could you have missed that perfect photo? Maybe. Would you have given more thought to each photo? Absolutely. Which method makes, you the photographer, plan more *before* your shot? Try it and report back.

Remember, this is a beginning class. The teacher is teaching the basics. What, to you, are the fundamental properties of good photo? What is the first thing you want a beginning photographer to consider in terms of composition?

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