You cannot teach art
I originally set about writing this post after seeing some rather infuriating comments made by an individual I once knew. Granted the article I was going to write was inspired more so by anger and rage than a creative perspective, and so I wrote a full four page long entry, and discarded it hoping I would cool off somewhat.
Fortunately I did, however the subject still remains very close to my heart and so I am writing this once more with a clearer head, but in a way that I hope will convey my true feelings and impressions on this subject.
There are three types of people. The thinkers, the do-ers and the wannabes. Sadly there are more of the latter than there are of the first two, and this also extends rather dramatically to art.
You cannot teach someone to be artistic.
There are so many people that I have met that say they can’t draw, they can’t think or write, and yet these people go to college and art schools in the sole belief that they will become better at these things that they have admitted themselves that ‘they can’t do’.
I should say here and now, I am not an artist. Whilst I have received many comments and compliments about my photography, I do not consider it to be anything beyond average. The reason I market it in the way I do, is because those compliments have come from people who have influence, and those who clearly see a market for the type of photography I do. Perhaps it “is” art? Perhaps it is nothing more than a collection of snaps that some people find appealing.
What I can say for certain, is that I am a photographer. That I am creative enough to get a different perspective on objects and people, and take a picture that is visually appealing. I am a photographer and a decent one at least.
You cannot teach someone to be a photographer.
The reason I say this with such certainty, and such profound exclamation is that a few months ago, I offered someone my services for free as a favour. The response that I got was less than complimentary.
“It’s ok, I studied photography in college”
I refrained myself from sending a response, knowing full well an argument would ensue, and having seen the quality of this persons photography, I knew that they simply wouldn’t understand. Mine alone, is near Da Vinci quality in comparison to this persons.
It irks me, frustrates me and downright angers me when people believe that going to college and studying photography will somehow make them a photographer!
You cannot teach someone to look at an object differently, nor can you really teach someone how to light an individuals face with a variety of different things. Sure you can teach them the focal lengths and best practices, but you never really find out unless you try it. A perfect example is when I shot on Casimir effect, and whilst you won’t see it, I actually didn’t use flash, nor did I use all of the regular lights, I used a penlight and a cigarette lighter in one of them, purely because it was the only thing that I felt would give an appropriate light to this persons eyes. They needed colour, not white, and whilst this persons face was lit perfectly, it was not even close to what I wanted to achieve.
You can’t teach that.
Photography is subjective and uniquely down to the individual, and it angers me that people believe they are photographers simply because they went to college.
If you have a talent, or a decent enough level, then of course, go, there are technical things that you can learn.
If however, you have no talent, just a passing interest, then I don’t personally believe you should be going. You may learn the technical aspects of things sure, and who knows you might get taught a few things that you didn’t know, but to go there with some kind of misguided big headed delusion that somehow after your time in college you will emerge as the next David Bailey. You wont.
Build your talent, and build your interest, but don’t become another one of these ignorant people who firmly believe that two years in college will make you an artist unless you have SOMETHING there already.
