Marilyn wrote:
Hi Q,
This student is only 14 years old and worked all summer to buy her
film camera (she wants to learn black and white darkroom work, also.
Rule # 1 for me - never discourage a student who works to earn their
education and equipment and is eager and excited to learn any subject).
She is going to have to use the equipment she has until she can afford
a digital camera.
Thank you for your input, though{:->
Marilyn
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Let no one come to you without
leaving better and happier.
Mother Teresa
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I couldn't agree more. It's not the equipment you have, it's the way you
use it. I teach to 16-18 year olds and that is my philosophy too.
I want them to enjoy taking photographs. All the fancy techniques and
equipment can destroy their early enthusiasm. I'm not trying to make
latter Ansel Adams or Richard Avedons...
So:
We use 400 ASA film - to avoid camera shake. They rarely need to print
above 8*10 and when they do, why worry about grain? Their visual skill
is more important than grain. And that film allows a much wider range of
work than 100 ASA film.
They haven't often got the money to buy tripods, so I teach other ways
of holding the camera still.
Equally they can't afford filters, so I may lend them an orange or a red
filter.
I never tell them what to take, but encourage them to do things
differently - get down on the ground, look through windows, frames,
foliage, etc.
Focus on the foreground and then focus on the background.
Don't worry about where the sun is; they haven't got the time to go when
the sun is in the "right" position.
I don't worry about depth of field - that will come out of their results
and their need to improve their skills.
I let them make mistakes because that way they do in fact learn; but
help and advice is always at hand.
But I do get them to research what images other people have achieved and
then to challenge their own perceptions and results. I try to build up
critical analysis skills, as their examination syllabus requires it.
Thank goodness there's no written paper, only sketch books and
portfolios to mark.
In September, I will have at least 70 (and probably more) students over
the two years of my course, which is over 1/3rd of all students in that
age group. So something must be going right!
Howard
