Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/03/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]We have a saying: talent stays afloat. So if somebody has "it" in him/her, one day or another it will emerge. I don't think you need a degree for that: I did 4 years of art school and the only thing I retained from it was that it was 4 years of experimenting and "lab"time. Not because of the teachers but because I tried to do lots of different things myself. So it was more about selfteaching. The real school began on my first job, and I haven't stopped learning since then. So I'm not really an advocate of the degree stuff. If people stop by at our (ad) agency to show their work, we don't ask what school they went to, or what degree they have. We just ask them to show their work. That, and what they have to say about it, says it all. As others have already said and IMO, there's more wisdom in a few well chosen workshops given by real and enthousiastic pros. Now, about building a 2nd career at some point in your life where everything has settled (wife, kids, home, mortgage, ...), as opposed to beign young and being able to risk it all: Take small steps and don't compromise. 1) small steps = start with small (local) exhibitions, little magazines, etc. Once that works, go a bit higher. Move on and be patient. Because talent stays afloat. 2) Don't compromise: it would be a pity to, once you go for your dream, you'd start to compromise. Because after a while, you'd start asking yourself why you took that route after all. And there's nothing more frustrating than realising that you chased a dream instead of realising one. Finally, about the wife and kids: always cherish your homebase. But make them understand that a happy man is a zillion times better for them than a disappointed one. Good luck, Philippe > From: Christopher Driggett <driggett@mac.com> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 11:21:46 -0800 > To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Crazy idea? Getting a photography degree > > Ted, > That is great that you had such a wonderful wife. I hope you are > taking good care of her now that she is in her retirement. My wife > also has the hardest job in the world staying home and taking care of > our three kids. > > When I was a senior in H.S. I thought about a career in > photojournalism. I worked for a weekly newspaper and the > publisher/editor thought that I had it in my blood and would do it as a > career. But I chickened out and became an engineer. I equated being a > successful photojournalist to being a successful actor. One in a > million shot. Now that I think about I should have gone for it but > then I would not have met my wife or have three wonderful kids. > > My advise would be when your are young go after your heart's desire > before your practical life has taken root. > > Cheers, > Chris > > > On Mar 19, 2005, at 9:09 AM, Ted Grant wrote: > >> Christopher Driggett offered: >> Subject: Re: [Leica] Crazy idea? Getting a photography degree >> >> >>> As I write this my middle child just came up and sat on my lap >>> remember what's important now and take care of that. As my wife >>> reminds me, when you are on your death bed what would you have >>> wished for more, spend more time at work or with your family.<<<< >> >> Hi Chris, >> Such great wisdom our wives have when it comes to the important parts >> of our lives.... >> >>>> As my wife reminds me, when you are on your death bed what would >>>> you have wished >>> for more, spend more time at work or with your family.<<<< >> >> If I have any regrets about my years as a photojournalist all over the >> world, it's I didn't spend enough time with my 4 children while >> growing up, as well as time with my wife. So in that case I try to >> make up for some of it, one can't really make up, but I spend as much >> time as I can with the 10 grandchildren in trying. >> >> Could it have been better balanced? I'm sure, but hindsight always >> works! But when the phone rings and a photo-editor asks you to do an >> assignment in Africa or wherever they required pictures, it was pretty >> difficult to say, "Sorry my son is playing baseball and I can't go >> then. Could we make it later next week?" And that would be the last >> time you heard from that photo editor. Tough choices! :-( >> >> The good part? I had a great wife who kept it all together and brought >> the children up extremely well and successfully. Sure I spent quality >> time when I was home, but it wasn't like the 9-5, five day a week >> office person's life. But then I'd have died a young old man if that >> were the case. >> >> ted >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >