[pure-silver] Re: photography teachers top 3
- From: nicolas <nicolas3141@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 18:35:56 +1000 (EST)
I teach a for-fun-only type night class which caters
to people using both digital and 35mm - everything
from p&s cameras so small I would lose them through to
big modern SLRs (haven't seen any medium or large
format yet though and not many people interested in
B&W).
Because gear and materials specific issues has to be
all one-on-one I can't spend too much time on that
stuff. The advice I give to class as a whole is
non-gear-related.
Pretty much echoing what others have said:
1. Photography is all about selection and the most
important piece of equipment is your eyes.
Selection of where you point the camera and what you
include in the frame (and of course which negs you
choose to print) and the selection process needs to be
based on truly seeing. Truly seeing what is in front
of you when making photographs and also truly seeing
what is in the prints you get out the other end of the
process. Especially framing at first, once that is
sorted we can go on to other more subtle stuff like
selective focus, motion blur, colour temperature, etc.
2. Photography is all about perspective and the most
important piece of equipment is your legs.
Understanding how the three dimensions of your subject
gets represented by the two dimensions of the
photograph and how changing your point of view can
allow you significantly influence that and impart
different feelings to the photograph. Especially
perspective, but also framing and lighting (see 1 and
3). Related to this is the patience for waiting until
the planets move into the right alignment and the
skill to be able to predict when they might.
3. Photography is all about light.
First use the tools mentioned in 1 and 2 above (eyes
and legs). Then with a little understanding of light
you can also shape and create the light you want using
an assortment of useful junk (my approach) or a
variety of very expensive toys (the road the camera
shops want you to go down).
With regard to the Canon, I am just thankful whenever
someone bring along and asks me questions about a
camera that has controls I can comprehend. Too often
I am faced with tiny digital cameras with half a dozen
buttons and menus a mile deep all displayed with
enigmatic symbols that may or may not represent tiny
people running off into the mountains screaming. I
often have to say to people things like "There is
probably a setting for controlling depth of field
somewhere in the menus of your camera, it may be
called aperture or depth of field, you may need to
look for a mode called manual with a setting called F,
but perhaps the action or landscape modes might be the
answer, etc ..."
Its all good fun though.
Nicolas
--- Dave Valvo <dvalvo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> My top three are
> 1. Look before you shoot. Is there a better angle?
> 2. Look at what else is in your view frame you don't
> want
> 3. Are you sure you looked? Look again.
>
>
>
> Canon body with L glass? The others won't know
> the difference. Most will feel sorry for you.
> Can't put it in your pocket!
>
> Dave
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark Blackwell
> To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 11:19 PM
> Subject: [pure-silver] photography teachers top 3
>
>
> For those that teach photography, Im just
> interested in some new techinques. For that matter
> you don't have to teach, just have an opinion.
> There are several things that I believe are often
> missed when the subject of photography is taught.
> Rather than a David Letterman Top Ten list, how
> about we just keep it to the top three. What are
> your top 3 that are either missed all together, or
> people you come in contact with just seem to not
> understand.
>
> My personal pet peeve is that EVERY student
> whether they want it or not needs some experience
> with film, both color and black and white. Don't
> get me wrong digital is a wonderful tool and I use
> it just like almost everyone else here, but I have
> found film to be a much better teacher.
>
> I have decided to do something rather unique. I
> am going to a CVS photography course this Sunday.
> Thats right the drugstore is teaching photography.
> I am just going to keep quiet and see just what
> happens. In a week or two I am curious as to the
> look I might get if I walk in with a Canon body with
> L glass on the front. LOL
>
> Also if there are other photographers out there
> that would like to trade links, drop me a not off
> list. Im always looking for new resources and links
> to improve my site as well.
>
>
>
>
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