[Leica] Crazy idea? Getting a photography degree

[puff11 at comcast.net (Norm Aubin)]

At 05:47 AM 3/19/2005, richard wrote:
>I don't know, may be the feeling will disappear tomorrow.
>
>// Richard

Richard,

I've gone through the same thing: degreed engineer, 25+ years in the biz,
avid photographer, yada yada.  I take classes now at a local Seattle school,
the Photographic Center Northwest; where the staff are all working
photographers with real day jobs, teaching part time to make the bills.

What benefit I get from this is personal, not job related.  I've taken
courses to learn more about seeing and using light, to work with models for
portraiture and for figure work, to learn aspects of studio props and set
construction, to learn to tell a story using photographs, and so many other
things.  Lately Photoshop classes have been the main thrust.  I have only to
complete the thesis part now and I will have their certificate.  I might
even do it, although as so many others so eloquently pointed out, the work
speaks for itself, the certificate is only paper.

To me the most important part of all the classes, after one achieves a
certain level of technical skills, is the aspect of working with other
photographers and seeing how they handle a scene; what they do or don't see
that you did or didn't see.  Their critiques of your work, and yours' of
theirs, the critical looking part of the task, is where there is real
utility.

Photography is my hobby - I have a profession that pays well and that I
enjoy, one I will be able to retire from in another ten years, and then I
can photograph to my heart's content.   If somewhere along the way I develop
sufficient skills and motivation, and if the gods conspire to make it so, I
might be able to sell some work.  If that all happens, and if I keep at it
enough, it might even be a post retirement career change.  

For now I am glad the some of the instructors I have had classes from have
helped me to improve, some of the students have helped me to improve, and
I've met a great group of aspiring photographers, many of whom I can call
friends.   That alone was sufficient justification for going to school.

Good luck,

Norm