Taking rubbish photos? Phones and education…

Everyone here knows of my man-crush on Chase Jarvis (just hit the tag cloud, he’s the most common topic on this little rambling site!), it’s almost like he has a sixth sense for posting something right as I’m thinking/experiencing it!!

For example, over the last couple of days I’ve been pondering the idea of formal photography training. On one hand I think I would like to “round out” my photography knowledge with a little more theoretical substance – I can talk most of the tech but I sometimes wonder if I know enough, or if my knowledge is really as comprehensive as I pretend it is! But on the other hand, Ansell Adams said it best when he said “There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs…” – surely if I take enough images I’ll eventually hit my groove and know what I’m doing??

And of course, Chase had to post something on the topic! In his usual display of perfect timing, his post last month pointed out that perhaps structured learning is right for some people, while others do better with real world experience. His almost facetious concluding line really nailed it for me – If this is too simple a post for you, then go to photo school. Ouch…

I’d been checking out course prices and comparing the dollars with the course outlines – given my experience level and my assessment of my own knowledge, there wasn’t a lot in there compelling me to shell out a wad of coin just to trudge through the things I already know – just for a piece of paper at the end?? But it might also force me to shoot more, if I had to complete assignments (coz I’m hopeless at setting them for myself!). Of course, there’s always the weird conversation to deal with at enrollment time as well, a conversation that would probably go like this:

Me: I’d like to enroll in your esteemed photography course!
Them: Absolutely! Have you done much photography before?
Me: Not really – I teach lighting workshops occasionally and own a 600m2 studio, does that count?
Them: … *twitch* o_O …

I’m rambling now, but I’m a HUGE fan of continuous education – you never stop learning!! And that’s certainly true for photography, but is learning “on the job” (so to speak) actually enough? Structured learning has its place even for seasoned professionals, particularly on more broader topics than just pushing the shutter button (just ask the old film guys! PS anyone?)

So maybe I’ll do it, maybe I won’t, who knows… maybe I should join AIPP and try out their mentor program? Would I be better off spending quality time assisting awesome photographers (hey Peter, surely Koukei studios could use me every now and then?? No charge?? And I make a pretty good coffee! 😉 )

Enough of that – on a side note, Sydney photographer Mark Matthews contacted Chase to point out that Olympus Australia was getting into a bit of guerrilla marketing, with stickers around town saying:

“If you’re camera also sends text messages, that will explain why your photos are rubbish.”

Go and check out the photo, most amusing!! And surely contrary to the view from the F-Stoppers that you can use any camera for anything (including iPhones for fashion shoots and iPads for lighting). And contrary to Chase’s view as well, since he is the force behind the notion of “the best camera is the one that’s with you…”