Facing today's photography students

[ilya1963]

Larry thanks much , I really did not intend for this to take this turn , I do appreciate all of the people that pitched in ...


ILYA

 

[Larry Bullis]

Sorry, Larry goes over the top again.

 

[ilya1963]

I just want to say that there is something special in sharing your work and thoughts and emotions with people that want to learn , it's very humbling for me to know how much effect that you and your work make ...almost scary how much control teachers could have to mold young minds... it was 11 degrees outside , but it was steaming hot in that classroom last night ...

Thanks,

 

[Galah]

I just want to say that there is something special in sharing your work and thoughts and emotions with people that want to learn , it's very humbling for me to know how much effect that you and your work make ...almost scary how much control teachers could have to mold young minds... it was 11 degrees outside , but it was steaming hot in that classroom last night ...

Thanks,

Dear Ilya,

Please don't keep us in suspense: how did it go? Some debriefing please!

 

[BobNewYork]

Something I used regularly when teaching was to assert that no-one takes photographs of a subject or an object - but rather of an emotion. Even a snapshot of the kids. It's not the subject itself, but the emotuion it engenders in us. This always caused a pause - then a discussion. Your own work clearly illustrates this concept. I would also give assignments by giving them a CD and telling them I needed a photograph of Track 3!

You have a lot to offer the students - share your own photographic wealth. And most of all - enjoy the experience.

Bob H

 

[ilya1963]

I am still digesting it , for now I can tell you that every student at the end thank me for coming , so did the teacher.

I have a show coming up , I have to frame 25 pieces so not to much time , may be later.

 

[Larry Bullis]

Something I used regularly when teaching was to assert that no-one takes photographs of a subject or an object - but rather of an emotion. Even a snapshot of the kids. It's not the subject itself, but the emotuion it engenders in us. This always caused a pause - then a discussion. Your own work clearly illustrates this concept. I would also give assignments by giving them a CD and telling them I needed a photograph of Track 3!

When my daughter applied to Cooper Union, they gave her a home test. One of the assignments was to draw a map of "why I hate Thursday"

 

[clayne]

Richard , last night while printing I was listening to Coltrane -Impressions (1963) , visual and sound combination has been on my mind for a very , very long time , my mom was a sound engineer in the movie industry when I was just a child , it was then that I learned that visual has sound and sound has visual , that is definitely going to be talked about at this class ...

It's funny that you mention this because, as a person with some background in recording engineering, I've always found the feel and response of sound to be such a close analog to light (and film).

For anyone else who's knowledgeable, just consider a compressor and it's similarities to some aspects of what we do.

 

[BobNewYork]

When my daughter applied to Cooper Union, they gave her a home test. One of the assignments was to draw a map of "why I hate Thursday"

Only in New York! There's no doubt in my mind that it's an emotional repsonse that prompts us to photograph, or paint or sculpt etc. he real toughie is trying to work out what that emotion is! Right brain stuff I guess - although when I try to really think about it it makes all of my brain hurt..!

 

[Larry Bullis]

Only in New York! There's no doubt in my mind that it's an emotional repsonse that prompts us to photograph, or paint or sculpt etc. he real toughie is trying to work out what that emotion is! Right brain stuff I guess - although when I try to really think about it it makes all of my brain hurt..!

We think in words. Emotion asserts itself forcefully, and without words. Trying to describe "an" emotion would be similar to trying to describe the flavor of say, a banana, under a deadline with a vital penalty for failure to get it right.

It's a mixture of functions. More appropriate or productive to act from emotion, rather than to think about it.

 

[BobNewYork]

We think in words. Emotion asserts itself forcefully, and without words. Trying to describe "an" emotion would be similar to trying to describe the flavor of say, a banana, under a deadline with a vital penalty for failure to get it right.

It's a mixture of functions. More appropriate or productive to act from emotion, rather than to think about it.

True. That's why I think that the most successful works of art are those that convey some of the emotion felt by the creator to the viewer. We've all seen technically superb photographs which do nothing for us; but,by the same token I've seen poorly executed photographs which just grab me.

- excuse me....I'm getting emotional !!