Self-Taught Photography?

Student photographers may share the same passion, but they don’t all share the same education anymore.

Professional photographers and many college professors alike tend to agree that technology-wise, photography has drastically changed. 

Now days many people claim to be photographers due to the advancements of digital cameras, but at least 90 percent of self-taught photographers under the age of 40 know nothing of how to develop real film in a dark room. Many photography courses do not even require the old 35mm and dark room knowledge now.

Weather student photographers are self-taught or learning from photography professors, photographers agree a certain “eye” and talent is needed for a good photo.  As a professional photographer myself, I feel that taking classes greatly enhanced my ability to understand the mechanics of the equipment as well as some of the verbiage. However, even though classes can be helpful, but there is not always the need or ability to spend the time and money on them. Many artists make good photographers and many photographers are not artists, but have a very good eye for what makes art.

With photography, you either have it or you don’t; you either have the eye or not. I don’t believe anyone can be trained to have an “eye”.   It is the ability to see the brilliant in the ordinary, to feel the emotion of the scene or the meaning of the seemingly meaningless.It is a talent that drives the artist to keep painting or drawing, or the photographer to keep taking pictures. 

There are many different reasons why artists become photographers. For instance, Norman Rockwell, had the “eye” from childhood back in the early 1900’s when cameras were not really available to the general public. But as a boy he knew he wanted pictures of the emotions and humor he saw in people and events. So he began to draw from his own models and props. Later when cameras became available, he found that drawing and painting from pictures rather than live models was much more convenient.  Thus, he became a very good photographer in his later years.

I like to do this also. Although, I have never tried to do live models.  I was always to shy and afraid to ask anyone to stand still for me that long.

You can see more of my art and photography at www.symplyrosie.com