Re: Newbie...

Janie Thomson wrote:
> "Jamesy" <beats@rootmean****THESPAMMINGsquared.co.CUNTSuk > wrote in
> message news:bdhlkl$k6i$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> "Will Cooke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> So, is it worth me spending the cash on classes or on D&P for a few
>>> dozen films?
>>>
>>
>> I wouldn't bother enrolling in an evening class unless you feel you
>> need more tuition and/or don't learn well from books. Everyone learns
>> differently.
>>
>> Where do you feel your knowledge is lacking? Or is it just
>> experience/confidence you need?
>>
>> I enrolled in an evening class several years ago, and it taught me
>> virtually nothing - I did get use of their darkroom though :-)
>
> I did 3 of the NC modules. If these are available at a college near
> you, you won't go far wrong with them. Of course, a lot depends on
> the tutor. I had been taking photographs for a couple of years, and
> had just set up my own darkroom and started printing my own b+w work
> when I enrolled on the course. I made very rapid progress from a
> snapper who had read some books to an amateur photographer on the
> first module. Not all evening classes are that good, though. In the
> Glasgow area, it's very mixed, and I was lucky my local one was so
> good.
>
> As Jamesy said, people learn differently. The things I appreciated
> on the course most were the projects, and the darkroom work. Having
> a project to work to gave a real focus (pardon the pun) to my
> learning. I already knew about apertures and shutter speeds, but
> putting that knowledge to use when I had to go out and look for
> particular types of picture was very beneficial. In the darkroom, the
> tutor's demonstrations and feedback were invaluable to me. It saved
> me a lot of time in experimentation at home. I still have a lot to
> learn both in picture taking and darkroom work, but now I'm learning
> and experimenting from a good technical base.
>
> Hope that helps you decide.

Janie:
I find that I have the biggest problem with 'seeing' pictures / insipration
/ composition, rather than technical issues. Does this make sense? I don;t
think a class would help much here. Am I wrong? Is it just a case of
experience leading to inspiration?
Thanks,
Mike




Mike Sendrove

On 4/7/03 1:59 pm, "Mike Sendrove" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

> I find that I have the biggest problem with 'seeing' pictures / insipration
> / composition, rather than technical issues. Does this make sense? I don;t
> think a class would help much here. Am I wrong? Is it just a case of
> experience leading to inspiration?

I'm not sure there is any link between experience and inspiration, but a
course with an assignment can certainly help to motivate you into finding
shots that you wouldn't otherwise have seen. You can also get inspiration
from the work of others in a class.


Pat
--
Photos at:
http://www.shuttercity.com/ShowGalle...ll&AcctID=1251

On Fri, 04 Jul 2003 23:41:51 +0100, Pat Chaney <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On 4/7/03 1:59 pm, "Mike Sendrove"
> <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> I find that I have the biggest problem with 'seeing' pictures /
>> insipration
>> / composition, rather than technical issues. Does this make sense? I
>> don;t
>> think a class would help much here. Am I wrong? Is it just a case of
>> experience leading to inspiration?
>
> I'm not sure there is any link between experience and inspiration, but a
> course with an assignment can certainly help to motivate you into finding
> shots that you wouldn't otherwise have seen. You can also get inspiration
> from the work of others in a class.

Wot he said :-) Also, there are some so-called "rules" of composition,
which it's handy to know so you can know when to apply them, and when to
break them. In the final analysis, if you don't have an eye for a
photograph it's not really something that can be taught, but an inate eye
can be developed through the focused learning of a good course. I've seen
lots of photographs that conform to all the "rules", but still lack that
spark of magic to make them great (or even good) photographs. There are
some people who can study for years and never take a great photograph,
because they don't have that inate eye, but most people at least get better
with study. If it's something you are interested in, then an investment of
your time to find out if you really have it is worth it? You'll probably
have bags of fun along the way too.
--
Janie
http://www.janie-thomson.co.uk

Janie Thomson wrote:
> On Fri, 04 Jul 2003 23:41:51 +0100, Pat Chaney <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> On 4/7/03 1:59 pm, "Mike Sendrove"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I find that I have the biggest problem with 'seeing' pictures /
>>> insipration
>>> / composition, rather than technical issues. Does this make sense? I
>>> don;t
>>> think a class would help much here. Am I wrong? Is it just a case of
>>> experience leading to inspiration?
>>
>> I'm not sure there is any link between experience and inspiration,
>> but a course with an assignment can certainly help to motivate you
>> into finding shots that you wouldn't otherwise have seen. You can
>> also get inspiration from the work of others in a class.
>
> Wot he said :-) Also, there are some so-called "rules" of
> composition, which it's handy to know so you can know when to apply
> them, and when to break them. In the final analysis, if you don't
> have an eye for a photograph it's not really something that can be
> taught, but an inate eye can be developed through the focused
> learning of a good course. I've seen lots of photographs that
> conform to all the "rules", but still lack that spark of magic to
> make them great (or even good) photographs. There are some people
> who can study for years and never take a great photograph, because
> they don't have that inate eye, but most people at least get better
> with study. If it's something you are interested in, then an
> investment of your time to find out if you really have it is worth
> it? You'll probably have bags of fun along the way too.

I never thought of it like that. Thanks, I'll look into it...
I gotta say - since I started photography (only a couple of years ago), I
find my photos have improved a great deal, but of course I now notice more
what they lack rather than what I have acheived in them. Lots of people say
that they like my photos, and I'm sure I'm my own worst critic, but when I
look at people's sites who post in this group, I always take ideas and
inspiration from them.
I'll look into classes locally to me. When I get some of those round tuits I
keep hearing about.
Mike

"Pat Chaney" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:BB311478.33B4F%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> And if anyone emerges from the shadows and offers you a copy of Practical
> Photography just say no.
>
Either that or buy a copy of Loaded/Maxim to hide it inside and save
yourself some embarrassment

On 9/7/03 6:12 am, "Tony Parkinson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> And if anyone emerges from the shadows and offers you a copy of Practical
>> Photography just say no.
>>
> Either that or buy a copy of Loaded/Maxim to hide it inside and save
> yourself some embarrassment

Best to just walk away. Even recreational PP users have been known to go on
to Photography Monthly and overdose on clichéd images.


Pat
--
Photos at:
http://www.shuttercity.com/ShowGalle...ll&AcctID=1251