Wednesday 14 September 2011

What is it like teaching photography in a school?

Matt Stuart
Have you ever wondered what we teach photography students at school? This week is my first experience of teaching in a state school in Surrey England. It is a roller-coaster of emotions as learners who are forced to be there are sometimes a challenge to motivate, but this is the reward. Not everyone is bitten by the photography bug at an early age it is sometimes a slow burning fuse that ignites the fire. A good teacher is often the catalyst for this change and with hard work, dedication and a desire to make the subject relevant to their lives I would like to fill this position. So what do we teach them? Naturally the basic technical stuff like ISO white balance and the exposure triangle. 60% is course work with the remainder a practical exam so there is the opportunity to allow learners to experiment. Photography provides the vehicle for creativity and improvement through trial and error. Have you experienced corrupted cards or some other technical malfunction when taking pictures? When learners are young it can affect their desire as the lost images are always 'the best work ever' so over coming this needs careful handling. Photography today is much faster and we live in a world of instant gratification. The speed of life is what I use to keep them thinking like photographers. Pictures happen around us all the time and a good photograph is when we catch the world winking at us. Blink and you miss it. The answer is a cognitive solution so for all the things that do not work and the pictures that are best sent to the trash, you are that much closer to the picture that makes you feel like you have discovered the elixir of life. One of my students is a big fan of Matt Stuart and I thought I would share the above picture with you.
Nicholas Brewer


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