Important Things I Learned in Photography

Earlier this week I ordered the books for the next three classes I will soon begin taking. I found myself STILL irritated and bitter about last semester’s photography class. I don’t much care for being irritated and bitter. So I sought to change my attitude.

I imagine that the wise people responsible for selecting the required classes for various majors strive to make sure that upon graduating a 20 something student will be a well rounded person. But perhaps if you are a 44 year old student who has been blessed enough to travel the world and experience many cultures you might sometimes feel like “THIS CLASS IS A WASTE OF TIME.”

I HATE wasting time. Hate it. 

Upon entering (old school) Photography 101 I was already biased. I KNEW I would not be giving up my beloved digital Canon. But the class was a box I needed to check off so that I can one day cross the graduation podium.  Determined to receive an “A” in class I paid attention as I was instructed to “bend the end of the film so it would load more easily”.

As well as a million other tips and tricks about perfect lighting, shutter exposure, timing and the chemistry of chemicals.

For everything I learned I walked out of the class with an “A” thinking “Yet another subject I now know all about that is pretty much useless.”  It would seem that knowledge is not always power.

Yet upon reflection  I saw that I had missed a few really big lessons.

Such as:

There are times you may do everything right and still your pictures will be deemed a failure.

Sounds a lot like life.

While the picture below was harshly critiqued I looked at it again and was reminded of the day I sat my trusting dog on top of the doll house and told him to “Look at me” then “Look at the window” and he did.

So because true artwork should have a title…

“Love and Loyalty Lives On/In This House.”

During the class I tried using my grandfather’s WWII era camera for one of the assignments and somehow could never get the settings right.

This was another image I was raked over the coals for because of the light exposure and blurry subject matter.

However in this artwork I see the other dog who is ALWAYS so happy to see me his entire body shakes. My face always ends up beaming with a smile when I see this.

Beauty does indeed lie in the eye of the beholder.

“Beam Me Up Franzie”

Then there was the landscape assignment fail.

Hmmm. I want a second opinion in the month of October when I plan on making this photo part of my Halloween display.

Sometimes we have to wait for the right time.

“A Watcher in the Woods”

Photography as an art form is judged by using the “Elements and Principles of Design”. As an interior designer I refer to the elements and principles all the time in my efforts to create good work. 

The image below was voted “average”.

Now overall I am fairly meek when it comes to questioning authority. But somehow my hackles were raised. It might have been the subject matter. Most mothers would take a bit of offense if their kid was referred to as “average”. 🙂

I argued that the element of “Line” was used brilliantly. From the angle of his cap mimicking in reverse the planes wing to the stripes of his jacket traveling the same path as the riveting both produced excellent form. I also argued that the principle of “Repetition” was spot on and interesting due to the variations.

Guess what? The class agreed with my assessment. It was then deemed an A++++ photo.

Sometimes you have to speak up for what you believe in.

“My Star, Wearing Stripes Forever”

But I also learned that even if you try to transform something ugly by changing its appearance, there are times it’s still ugly.

“Cactus in Sepia Tone”

Life is full of black, white and grey areas.

“Study on Exposure”

It is up to us to find the perfect balance to create something of lasting beauty.

“Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.” ~ Psalm 4:6

Laura