POLL - Where did you learn?

[Damien_Demolder]

It’s not easy to get better at taking pictures. There is practice of course, but that takes time and requires that we understand and monitor our mistakes to find ways round them. You have to be able to stand back and see the ‘big picture’ to notice whether all your practice is leading to no progress.

I thought for a long time that I was a largely self-taught photographer, but looking back I realise that reading books, work experience, assisting, visiting exhibitions and interviewing other photographers doesn’t count as being self-taught – it is actually ‘being influenced’ and ‘learning from others’. The best I have done is putting myself in the right place to learn new things. New ways of the thinking come from mixing with amateurs and professionals alike.
We should take every chance we can get to learn something new and allow ourselves to see and take in new ways of thinking.

Our new AP Masterclass series is an ideal chance to learn from captive specialists and fellow enthusiasts during a day that will deliver the boost your skills need to take you to the next level. Go to www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/masterclass to see what’s on offer, or write to Gemma Padley at our usual address.

Take part in this week's poll Where did you gain most of your photographic knowledge? by visiting the homepage.

Thanks

damien

[beejaybee]

No option for "parents"? I learned more from my parents than from any other source - including formal education - this applies to photography as much as it does to everything else. In the case of photography, my father was the "guilty party", my mother wasn't much interested.

[El_Sid]

Magazines mostly although I'd have to say that this time around I've learnt a hell of a lot from this forum (amongst others) so perhaps you should have had an option for that too...

I've also learnt quite a lot from my camera clubs - even if it is that judges have no taste.... You get to see a broad spectrum of work from various lecturers plus there are often tutorial evenings where tips get passed around and other 'togs to ask questions of.

I thought for a long time that I was a largely self-taught photographer, but looking back I realise that reading books, work experience, assisting, visiting exhibitions and interviewing other photographers doesn’t count as being self-taught – it is actually ‘being influenced’ and ‘learning from others’.

Maybe 'self-learnt' would be a better term. Ultimately you can be exposed to as many external influences as there are available but you have to want to learn from them to actually do so...

[Still_Togging_Along]

I can say with considerable certainty that Michael Langford's 2 books, on Basic and Advanced Photography, have contributed more to my understanding of the craft, than any others. That they are still being published, overseen and updated by his successor at the Royal College of Art, and are (probably) still cited as 'required reading' says a lot about the enduring quality of the material within these books.

The AP over the past 4 decades has undoubtably fired up my imagination to take on a huge range of different projects.

[Fen]

Magazines mostly although I'd have to say that this time around I've learnt a hell of a lot from this forum

Yes, but what about Photography?

[gollum]

Initially self taught, taking family stuff on an OM1n, when I went digital 2 years ago, I took the SPI foundation course in digital photography, I learnt enough from that to put together a suitable portfolio of work that got me on my current degree course in comptemporary photographic pratice at the UCA in Rochester. So I guess its fair to say i'm still very much learning and loving it!

[Terrywoodenpic]

Got the bug aged five when my oldest brother got a camera ( box Tengor) and was taught to sea-saw develop film and make pop prints.

I also had my first camera aged 10 and developed and printed my first shots that week. By the time I went to the LCP to study photography, in the mid 50's I knew more than they got round to teaching me. Though it was an excellent experience, and spent much of my time in london art Galleries ( very few photo exhibitions in those days.)

My favourite photo books were The focal encyclopaedia of photographer and the Ilford dictionary of photography. The first was a vast tome. and I read the two till I knew most of them by heart. I also bought the BJP Almanac each year, and every issue of the magazine. By 1956 I was getting a copy each month of the rare (in the uk) Kodak (USA)Photographic magazine.
It was on restricted distribution here, but I was related by marriage to the publications Director of Kodak. It was printed 7 colour litho with a very fine screen on real art paper. A joy to see.

I can't remember how but I also got copies of an Italian Architects Journal which had incredible examples of architectural photographs from around the world. a much more lavish production than was available here.

I even got to attend the first demonstration of the Xerox process at the RA.

There are so many opportunities to learn that I have no Idea where I learnt most. At every meeting, lecture, book, photo session, exhibition and discussion about photography you learn some thing new.
It is hard to tell if you are being taught or learning from experience.

I have probably forgotten more than a young photographer will ever have the opportunity to learn today, as the river of knowledge of traditional photography has all but dried up.

[AlexMonro]

My dad taught me the basics of photography when I was a teenager, so I chose "Other Photographers". Since then, I've learned quite a bit more from many sources, not least this august forum and a certain weekly magazine, together with books, other websites, other photographers, and exhibitions, as well as much practice.

Still got a lot more to learn...

[ermintrude]

Mm well Ive always snapped, then I did A level photography but learnt sod all and didnt know my arse from my aperture, so I guess I learnt it all from trial and error and a few nuggets of info off you lovely lot.

[daft_biker]

Magazines mostly although I'd have to say that this time around I've learnt a hell of a lot from this forum (amongst others) so perhaps you should have had an option for that too...

How about subject matter experts?

Glad there's no option for bloggers though

[Terrywoodenpic]

I have not voted ... see my previous post... I don't think there is an answer to this question as all of them have been in play for me for the last 65 years. I don't think any of them could claim first position.
Though today I think I am finding new things first on specialist web sites.

[Nod]

On the photography side (actually taking the pictures), I think I'm pretty much entirely self taught, although I'm in no doubt that I've picked up hints and tips from magazines and books through the years. I did have some lessons in developing and printing B&W but not with a view to any qualifications, just to reduce the number of ruined films and bad prints! Some of the technical side was sort of absorbed from Dad who was at one time a pro and was always happy to answer any questions I had, until we entered the digital age, at which point it was me who had to answer his questions as best I could!

[Fire_Monkey]

I think the question should be, "Where do you gain most of your photographic knowledge?"

I'm still learning and probably always will be! A lot of my knowledge to begin with was from books and other peoples work. It still is other peoples work and what I learn myself! The learning part is the fun part to me, when you suddenly, and unexpectedly, get a photo right!

[SqueamishOssifrage]

No option for "parents"? I learned more from my parents than from any other source - including formal education - this applies to photography as much as it does to everything else. In the case of photography, my father was the "guilty party", my mother wasn't much interested.

Indeed. My brother and I were given cameras by my father at a very early age - 7 and 9 respectively. My father taught us photography, darkroom skills, camera care etc., and 'upgraded' our cameras as we got deeper into it. We both still are avid photographers.

[Wheelu]

I joined a photo soc at school at the age of 12 (almost 50 years ago) and was taught how to develop and print, thus ended my formal tuition!

As a teenager I would go out with a group of friends on photo expeditions and you learned from one another. I have also read numerous books on the subject, Internet articles, and magazines, attended exhibitions, been to art galleries, engaged with photo forums and looked at and enjoyed other people's work.

You also learn a lot by doing, theory is one thing but putting it into practice doesn't half sharpen the senses. In truth you never stop learning.

It would be difficult to say what has had the greatest influence, but I have found that reading books and observing the work of other photographers has been particularly useful.

[El_Sid]

Yes, but what about Photography?

Photography?.............. What the hell is photography?!.......

[stormbringer]

Dad bought me a 35mm rangefinder back in the '60's I was about 14,we were on holiday on the Isle of Wight.He then taught me.I took my first roll of film (Kodak Ektachrome) on that holiday.In the early '70's I bought my first SLR a Zenit B,went to College and learnt how to develope my films (slides,Colour and black and white photo's).One of the teachers there was Mike Crisp whos drag racing photos I loved,from there it was buying cameras ,canon EF ,Pentax Mx,finaly went digital about 5 years ago.Still learing and love landscape photography.

[Atavar]

Got one unit on photog in a media production college course, so just the basics, then read Tom Angs 'Digital Photography Masterclass' front to back, forceing myself to read the bits i didn't get, want to know or planed on using. I consider that to be a very good book.

[OneTen]

I learnt the basics from books in the school library and then put that into practice on a borrowed slr. The school also had copies of AP that I'd read from cover to cover. It was much later, possibly a few years, that friends also showed an interest and a teacher set up a school darkroom. At this stage I became more aware of critique and looking at other photos in a different way.

[bob58]

not sure which to vote, have always enjoyed looking at photography, but in the days of film and a family, i simply could not afford it as a hobby.
then digital arrives, and family grow up so lets give it a try

1.evening course how a camera works, not that much on composition etc
2.magazines
3.self taught get out there and give it a go (hell its digital sod the exspense of developing with no result )
4.AP forums which i will add has probally made me a lot more aware
5. still learning by my mistakes


so which one do i vote?