This has given be a unique perspective on the generational differences since I am older than everyone, even the professors.
This brings up another thought.
With more life experience, do older artists face different challenges in their vision? Without the effects of external influences, do younger artists see things more clearly, or with less worry?
Don't worry, I wasn't suggesting bridal shows. Just making the point that regardless of your genre of photography, marketing is the vast majority of your time, followed by sales, brought up last by creative work.I will NEVER do another bridal show again as long as I live. They are the absolute WORST. Buncha bitchy women being unnecessarily "high maintenance" because they think a wedding gives them the right to act as such.
In my day job, my team lead is a decade younger than me. Whet he brings to the team is the ability to organize stuff, as well as technical excellence. So I have tremendous respect for him. Same with photography teachers - when I teach, some of my students are high school or college age. Some of them are my age, and some of them are retirees with 20+ years on me. They're choosing to take my class because I have something to share that they want to learn. And when I take classes from others, it's because they are sharing something I want to learn. I've learned the etiquette of keeping my mouth shut in class when I think I know better than the teacher, as a courtesy to them - I'm not the one getting paid, they are. Now, if they spout off something that's factually WRONG, I'll speak up. But I don't try to override them because I know how obnoxious it is to have a student try to take over my class.How do you do this? I don't know that I could take a college professor seriously if they were 25+ years younger than me. Especially with your veteran status. You've seen and experienced more than probably the entire classroom combined, and yet you have to sit there and listen to them spout off lessons.
The most important thing you learn from all that experience is that there is so much more to learn, from so many other people, and that the learning is more fun than just about anything.How do you do this? I don't know that I could take a college professor seriously if they were 25+ years younger than me. Especially with your veteran status. You've seen and experienced more than probably the entire classroom combined, and yet you have to sit there and listen to them spout off lessons.
In my day job, my team lead is a decade younger than me....
My answer to your question is: "Remembering what it is like to be young and naive".
OK, you've got 33 answers to mull over. Now grab the camera and hit the bricks. No time like the present.
Aw you're cute. Unfortunately I'm stuck in the dispatch hole until 6pm, and again tomorrow. So I'm reading between posts.
Why aren't you taking/making photos in that hole. A hole is a terrible thing to waste.
I think older artists, who have a history of selling their work, can find themselves resting on their laurels, and repeating themselves. I've done over one hundred art festivals, beginning in the mid 90's. I've seen some photographers with the same work hanging on their walls for 25 years. While that may be a good financial decision, it certainly doesn't advance their art. They've traded being artists for being merchants. Sad, but true.This brings up another thought.
With more life experience, do older artists face different challenges in their vision? Without the effects of external influences, do younger artists see things more clearly, or with less worry?
Life is a juggling act no matter how old you are. The trick is not letting the endless and sometimes deafening static-of-life / BS derail you.
This place has all the inspiration of a dirty portapotty.
sounds like a place that is full of interesting photographs to be made. instead of closing your eyes to the world of the familiar that presents itself to you open them and see the possiblities.Aw you're cute. Unfortunately I'm stuck in the dispatch hole until 6pm, and again tomorrow. So I'm reading between posts.
im back in school too, grey hair and sometimes students think i am one of the teachers. ive had a lot of teachers that are younger than me, and my classmates are usually younger than me too. gotta have an open mind cause young people have lots to say and teach.How do you do this? I don't know that I could take a college professor seriously if they were 25+ years younger than me. Especially with your veteran status. You've seen and experienced more than probably the entire classroom combined, and yet you have to sit there and listen to them spout off lessons.
Ha! If I need surgery, I'd rather have a young surgeon than an old mechanic!How do you do this? I don't know that I could take a college professor seriously if they were 25+ years younger than me. Especially with your veteran status. You've seen and experienced more than probably the entire classroom combined, and yet you have to sit there and listen to them spout off lessons.
Ha! If I need surgery, I'd rather have a young surgeon than an old mechanic!
First, I am not young, and I am impatient.Not that much thinking of challenges but advantages.
Advantages of being older:
- Patience
- Accepting mistakes and, sometimes, failure
- Not necessarily wanting to make a career out of it
- Appreciating the work of colleagues without jealousy or competition
- Appreciating the work of great artists without feeling the self-imposed pressure of wanting to be as great as them
- More focus on meaning, less on image and image-making
- Being able to be self-critical without destroying your self-esteem
- More experience/psychology dealing with people (helpful with portraits)
- No desire to strictly adhering to rules and, on the opposite end of the spectrum, no desire to be a revolutionary
- Serenity now
Advantages of being young:
- Time: when you're closing 60, you know that projects that are important to you may take 4, 5, 8 or 10 years, and you just don't know if you'll have that time.
- Physical limitations: I can no longer trek for hours with a heavy bag on my back; I can no longer quickly shift positions when doing street photography ; I can no longer... well, you get the point.
- Time: yeah, again. When you're young, you know (or rather think) you have time to learn. I'm OK (serenity now!) with the fact that I'll never learn alternative processes if I want to focus on my projects, but it does make me sad.
- Time (did I say time already?): I've learned to accept mistakes, but I also know that I don't have time to make that many...
Outstanding. I'm glad that waiver exists and that you're taking advantage of it!In 2015 I decided to go back to college and get a BFA, something totally outside my previous areas of study. In my state they give full tuition waiver to Vietnam-Era veterans and anyone over 65 so it was a no-brainer.
Yes, I've seen these guys at all the art festivals around Atlanta, selling the same Holga pictures of Paris they were selling when I first saw them in 1998, selling the same macro photos of tiny dolls climbing up sprinkled donuts, selling the same lace-covered, semi-nude cyanotypes. You probably know exactly who I am talking about.I've done over one hundred art festivals, beginning in the mid 90's. I've seen some photographers with the same work hanging on their walls for 25 years. While that may be a good financial decision, it certainly doesn't advance their art. They've traded being artists for being merchants. Sad, but true.
That is, the people who could do nothing but their photography, no matter the pain, no matter the cost. I am not one of those people.
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