Topic: A Higher Level of Learning

[beck]

I'm a 1981 High school drop...er, graduate...and yea, that makes me crust...and I can't tell you how many times I have kicked myself for not going to college to pursue some sort of craft. I recall, then, my mother managed scholarships for both my sister and I, with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I'm not sure how these were obtained, or by who, but they were there for the taking...and well, sadly, and foolishly, we declined. Big mistake #2. I suppose it's never to late to enroll, but at this point in my life, I am set in my ways.

I am often asked by folks wondering how long I've been doing photography...well, of course I cringe and try to come up with some sort of great reply...only to say, ugh. If it is possible to be self taught, well dammit, I'll get there soon enough.

So, with a higher level of learning...where, what sort of schooling, degrees, and the like, have you received, whether it was in the Arts, education, etc.? School is cool...

[Janet_P]

I went straight from school to university (to do a degree in photography) and to be honest I wish I'd waited and gone later in life - I really didn't get what I should have from it and if anything it kinda killed my creativity. I went back to uni to do a Masters degree in Digital Arts about 6 years later and finally rediscovered my creative side.
Still, I don't think I've learned more about photography and a sense of the sort of photos I want to take than in the last 4 years since I bought a Holga and started to play around with old cameras.

School is cool but being self-taught and brilliant (as you are Beck) is really impressive.

Janet

[FrankB]

Straight out of 6th form into an HND in Computer Studies followed by 16 years beating software (and occasionally users) with a stick until it (or they) worked. Dyed-in-the-wool techie.

Started photography (reasonably) seriously about five or six years ago and am now well and truly hooked. 

[Dave_M]

I did a BA degree in History. Then a master's degree in History. Then I decided there was no future in it (yes, I know I should have been a comedian ) and did a conversion degree to IT. That was 10 years ago and I've been a paid geek ever since.

So no proper photo-schooling then. I've been trying to take photographs since 1990 (but only with determination in the last 5 years or so).

[Tammy]

Becky, you are really not alone in self-learning this stuff.  I think most hobbyist photographers ARE self taught just out of sheer desire (self challenge) coupled with the need to create.

I went to college out of high school and had intended on continuing education with a PhD in a science field, but I stopped short due to the arrival of my first child.   So, I have a double major in chemistry and biology (BS degree). I took photography 101 in college to fullfill my art elective (it was only 6 mos), but had already worked in a darkroom when my mom had taken the same course when I was 13. rI didn't really take it seriously then, but I am glad for that experience- even as basic as it was.  Now, I hadn't had any experience in high school although that opportunity was probably there, I was too busy with other things.

I didn't start really wanting to learn about photography until 3 years ago, and more intently 2 years ago when I decided to start doing my own film developing and printing.  So, I'm learning new stuff on the technical end all the time and well, the creative end of it is more challenging.    I thank the resources of the internet for most of my drive and inspiration.  Coming from an area of extreme remoteness  rural North Dakota), I had limited connections to the real world growing up (you can't image how limited).  The internet really opens up the entire world now.

I have a sister who does art for a living.  She didn't go to college until she was in her 50's.  The reason she did finally go was she had hoped to teach art someday, and to add it to her resume.  But, at that point, she was teaching her teacher techniques.  Really, some folks are just gifted and it comes naturally.  No amount of schooling can help, other than to open up new ideas more quickly, or to have some validation of effort.

[outofcontxt]

I've got a B.A. in English Lit and an M.L.S. I did study film history and theory for a time in grad school but didn't take a single photography class. I, too, am self-taught and cut my teeth taking photos for my university's student newspaper back in the early 70s. In liberry school, I was one of two people who ran the media lab which had a really sweet darkroom. Spent a lot of free time in that room.

If there was something I wish I knew more about it was darkroom work and master printing techniques. Would love to set up a darkroom but (a) the space I have that might work needs a lot of work -- I see mucho $$$$ signs flittering in front of my face -- and (b) my family would never see me again (though my wife HAS encouraged me at times to actually do it).

[CarlRadford]

Beck - you are already producing stunning images, not sure what school/uni could do for you! What about taking a couple of workshops by people that inspire you or to help on areas you feel you need help!

Keep wasting film, Carl

[beck]

Nnn...well, thank you for that. Where I live, not much is offered as far as any classes concerning the said...and the ones that are, I would have to do some traveling and that always proves to be chore. Of course there are the local professional portrait studio people and I've always wanted to knock on their door and ask for some kind of assistance...but I have yet to do that.

I want to master a format...and the darkroom, someday, and I've hit a road block for now and it's really frustrating me. I imagine learning to develop your own work is like cake, I know that, I just need someone to show me, pre and post production...and while I was on the year book staff in school, during the ice age...I don't remember anything then to benefit myself today. None of it. And don't you know, if there were a class I could take tomorrow, I'd be there today...everyday.

[Susan B.]

Formal study is overrated imho.

Personally, I started shooting at 8. Studied photography for 4 years in a fine arts program in high school. Began working as an assistant to a top photographer in Chicago at the age of 14. Burned out in no time, since I hated the idea that it was more about the money than the creativity--but kept working for him throughout college to pay bills. In college, I shifted directions and earned three degrees in film/tv production, English Lit and Drama...Followed all of those paths professionally for years...stand-up, acting, screenwriting, script consultant work...burned out. That's when photography found me again. This time I did it on my terms and had fun with it. Taught myself what I wanted to learn, instead of following someone else's rules.
The business side still wigs me out--but as long as I'm tearing some camera apart, making something completely new, teaching myself some fresh approach...All is good.
So see...formal study is overrated, since it's all about pursuing what you love on your terms imho. I've taken a few classes here and there with folks who are considered at the top of their game---but  it's more about my own dedication to learning and creating than what anyone else can teach me.

Beck--You've grown lightyears in your work in such a short time. Second guessing the coulda-shoulda's doesn't acknowledge all that you've done. Just keep doing what you're doing. You're on the right path imho.

[beck]

Wow, that's rather impressive, Susan. Stand up? How cool is that...we should do a headliner one day...that would be something else. I appreciate the good words and I pretty much imagine myself doing this for a long time...it's all I have really. All of you have been great to me and a giant inspiration and I'll never forgot that and will owe you something fantastic out of my camera one day...I can feel it.

[outofcontxt]

You're already doing fantastic things with those cameras of yours, beck. Just keep doing what you're doing. 

[beck]

I'm not there yet man...you'll know it alright when it hits you over the head like a case of beer. Beer? Where? Thanks, Bill...

[lauraburlton]

Dont worry Miss Becky I never finished college either. I have been studying photography though for the past 6 years at an art school which is affiliated with St. Thomas University and the museum of fine arts. But alas, no degree as I would have to pay 4 times more for my classes through the university and take lots of extra stuff like theology. Maybe one day I will get a degree from Uni of Houston, but for now I just do not have the time or funds. My sob story is that straight out of high school I was accepted to Pratt University in New York and a few others but my parents would not let me go. They would not even fill out financial aid forms so no loans or scholarships. The only option I had was to go to community college, which I tried for a year  and did keep going back as needed but I never finished as it was just not very inspiring at age 18-19. Now I wish I had not been such a snob about it and just got it over with... oh well...now you know. At least I finished beauty school, too bad I hate doing hair...

[LT]

my story is thus ....

I failed most of my GCSE subjects apart from music and french and left school at 16.  I went to a performing arts specialist further ed college where i studied music mainly, but re-took some of my GCSEs and gained Maths and Eng Lit in the first year, then dropped out before taking my music exams.  I then started a course to train to be a mental health nurse when I was 19, dropped out after the 1st year.  I bummed around working in a few music shops for a while, and doing some care work, then eventually got back to college when I was 27 to train to be a social worker, graduated at 29, and have worked in that ever since.  I have never done any formal visual art training and no photogrpahy stuff at all, just learned off my own back.

 

[FrankB]

I have never done any formal visual art training and no photogrpahy stuff at all, just learned off my own back.

I'd have to say that it doesn't seem to have left you with any lasting impairment...

[tread]

I actually bachelored in Computer Science after not taking two different art scholarships at small schools because my pop said "you can't make no living being an artist....I make my living as a graphic artist...photography...self taught while working for the local government righ tout of college, had a large darkroom all to myself and a couple cameras to practice a lot with...

[chricela]

I've had a camera in my hand since I was 9 (thanks, Grandma!!) I never went to college. I took a course in Travel & Tourism. & I worked in the travel industry for  about 8 years. All the while shooting film. In 1992 I decided to take  Photography I, summer class, at Westchester Community College. Before the class was over I had a darkroom set up at home ( in my bathroom). & signed up for Photography II . Mostly to continue to use the schools darkroom & meet more  people with the same interest. A couple years later I took a couple more classes (PhotoIII & Color I). 
After working for KLM Airlines for 6 yrs. I 'd decided I didn't want to do work I didn't love. So I started to get jobs in Photo Labs. & work in Studios. Until one day I landed a job with the Patent Trader Newspaper.
I worked 2 yrs as the photographer (ran the photo dept..it was just me) for the paper (learned on the job, everything except darkroom & how to take a photo ). It still,  remains to be the most gratifying job ever & not for the $ !!
Chricel

[beck]

Wow, sounds like everyone is on the same boat and I think that's cool...now I don't feel so much like a putz. Har. You know, I must have dabbled in every thing from claymation on 8mm, to drawing goofy erotic panels, creative writing, wanting to be a master hair stylist....the list goes on...and here I am making a living as a janitor...someone hit me over the head one too many times I'm afraid. This is what I like doing...this photography thing...it's the only way I can express myself without having to explain why it is I feel like I do, what I want to see...I want to be able to have someone look sometimes and have them scratch their head...I want to push the envelope...I want it all. I wish like hell my twin thought the same...but she does not and I think with our odd ball minds, we would come up with some really interesting work. I have tons of ideas that go to waste because of that...she would be my muse, as I, hers. Tis a shame really...