Wednesday 22 December 2010

Photography education - feedback

Thank you to all those who responded to my recent post regarding education and in particular photography. The comments and suggestions have been most informative. I was a little disappointed that no full-time educationalists were able to contribute to the discussion as I feel their viewpoints and position are critical to how the industry/education responds to the new demands being placed upon it.

From the feedback I received from students, professionals and part-time lecturers(photographers), there seemed to be a consensus regarding the following:

- teaching of core camera skills and work-flow practices
- a need to develop a far greater understanding of the business elements of the industry
- realistic views and goals of student progression into the photography industry

and also
- students should be prepared to work far more independently at higher levels
- less 'spoon feeding' of students in regards to ideas and responses to briefs/assignments
- less able students should be 'allowed' to fail

I know some of these comments are extremely controversial in the current academic environment but many industry watchers perceive a severe dilution of the current academic awards and a reticence amongst many institutions/exam boards to be realistic about students' true level of  competence/ability.

Many of the students who respond were already despondent about how their qualification was perceived by industry even before completing  it and many felt the award was 'not worth the paper it was written on' in respects to their future employment. Also they felt that many of the briefs/assignments they received bore no relationship to the requirements of the 'real world'.

Personally I feel they should be a balance struck in the structure of higher level courses between the real needs of industry at the moment and also the development of the individual as both a photographer and image producer.

I don't feel that there is an easy answer  but with the coming increase in students fees and the vast reduction in education spending (reduction both in teaching hours/resources), I feel that this conversation needs to be held.

Following my previous post, I will try over my next few educational posts, to try and include feedback and views from those in the graphics/advertising industry.

For those with a keen interest in the photography education sector, Skillset have posted several reports on the industry and education:

www.skillset.org/uploads/pdf/asset_9291.pdf

If you have any comments, I would be delighted to hear them especially those of full-time academics. 

Richard Southall

www.emphasis.biz
www.richardsouthall.co.uk

Saturday 11 December 2010

Initial preview images - Spaghetti




My new personal project - Spaghetti, is starting to take shape. I have attached a couple of preview images for comments and feedback.

Richard Southall
www.emphasis.biz
www.richardsouthall.co.uk

Saturday 4 December 2010

Do photography students ask too much of their courses?


Over the last couple of months, through my involvement in FRAME and education in general, I tried to ask recent and current photography students what they expect from their courses and what they feel they should be taught. There seems to a growing resentment among those questioned about the quality and quantity of the education they have received especially given the rising cost of tuition fees.

Also, I have asked for feedback from current local practitioners who still hire assistants and have views about the trade skills of this new crop of aspiring photographers.

We are asking these questions at FRAME so as to devise an effective and rounded strategy to support new and aspiring talent in the West Midlands. This will hopefully be a multi-pronged approach that will involve current practitioners and current and former educationalists.

Below are a few of the comments and suggestions that have been made:

-       Students should expect at least 12/15 hours contact time per week with course tutors on higher level courses (level 4 and above)
-       Tutors on the courses should have been or are still practitioners of photography (preferably with 10+ years of commercial experience).
-       The individual modules within the qualifications should be based on ‘real life’ commercial scenarios.
-       A stronger emphasis on photographic workflow (both digital and conventional).
-       Far more workshops on the basic skills of photographer i.e. lighting, studio practice, digital work-flow, colour management etc.
-       Far more detailed and frank feedback both in tutorials and assignment assessments.
-       Clearer aims and objectives of both the individual modules and how they relate to the overall outcomes of the course.

Also students specifically asked for greater emphasis to be given on the following topics:

-       teaching of key camera skills (including medium & large format and darkroom practice)
-       Colour management
-       Basic lighting techniques or people and product photography
-       Health & Safety and its relevance to the photo industry
-       Detail business practice including marketing, accountancy, insurance, current legislation and copyright
-       Visiting lecturers who will give workshops on specific specialties such as journalism, portraiture, studio, architectural etc.

This is not meant to be a rant against education or dig at any particular establishments but merely an attempt to see where we are going with training of our future photographers and image-makers.

We (I) at FRAME are very keen to get feedback from all concerned especially current lecturers. Are students being unrealistic in their demands? Do you feel that they should be more self-guided in their learning at this level or do you feel the students want to be ‘spoon-fed’?

We are eager for all comments so that we develop and refine a strategy to support all new incomers to this professional that we dearly love.

Richard Southall

Wednesday 1 December 2010

New mini project update


The theme of the new mini project is starting to develop and will be based around the architecture of Spaghetti junction in Birmingham. The underside areas of this massive structure are quite bizarre and in many ways reflect the interior of a modern cathedral.The intention now that the majority of the day shots have been completed is to revisit the area at night with a large format Sinar camera and try to capture the lonely and haunting atmosphere while keeping true to an architectural interpretation.

Images to follow shortly - provided the weather improves :)

Richard
www.emphasis.biz
www.richardsouthall.co.uk