Photographic education

treeman

treeman

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Mark
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Is it possible that you could pass a degree in photography and not understand some of the basic technicalities like apertures and shutters speeds and their effect on the final image?

Just curious :)
 
Quite likely. We have employed people with degrees in electronics who didn't know the most basic of things so I don't see why it shouldn't be possible with other subjects.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Quite likely. We have employed people with degrees in electronics who didn't know the most basic of things so I don't see why it shouldn't be possible with other subjects.


Steve.
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The problem is these days its all math and no practical work, so they arrive knowing furrier series calculations but not knowing which setting to test current on with a fluke.
 
Gr8Shot said:
No
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I don't think that you've read the thread that Mark is referring to. The answer is most definitely Yes.
 
DemiLion said:
I don't think that you've read the thread that Mark is referring to. The answer is most definitely Yes.
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I haven't, and I haven't taken a degree in photography, so I'm now guessing he's poking fun at the level of ability perceived to pass said course, I cannot believe you could even get on the course without knowledge of the exposure triangle.
 
treeman said:
Is it possible that you could pass a degree in photography and not understand some of the basic technicalities like apertures and shutters speeds and their effect on the final image?

Just curious :)
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Highly unlikely, but not impossible. At some point you will just not be able to create work to a high enough standard if you do not have the technical ability.


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You may pass... but a pass degree is worthless.. you won't be getting honours... not on my watch anyway.
 
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DemiLion said:
I don't think that you've read the thread that Mark is referring to. The answer is most definitely Yes.
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I didn't even comment on that thread so how do you know I was..........Oh :schtum:

Pookeyhead said:
Highly unlikely, but not impossible. At some point you will just not be able to create work to a high enough standard if you do not have the technical ability.


[edit]

You may pass... but a pass degree is worthless.. you won't be getting honours... not on my watch anyway.
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Right, so a pass is possible, and you'd be perfectly entitled to say you have a degree.
 
treeman said:
I didn't even comment on that thread so how do you know I was..........Oh :schtum:



Right, so a pass is possible, and you'd be perfectly entitled to say you have a degree.
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Not an honours degree, but yes.

You have to remember, a degree is as much an academic qualification as it is a vocational one. Someone who is exceptionally adept academically and researches well and writes a fantastic dissertation, can pass with below average photographic work.

Degrees are academic... if you feel that's somehow wrong, then degrees are not for you... go and do a HND or a FdA which are far more vocational.

Having said that... it's highly unlikely you will get ON a degree course unless you can at least demonstrate some basic exposure theory knowledge... but we have on occasion accepted students with none because they've been exceptional in other areas.
 
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Gr8Shot said:
The problem is these days its all math and no practical work, so they arrive knowing furrier series calculations but not knowing which setting to test current on with a fluke.
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Or which way round to connect an LED.


Steve.
 
...just to add balance.. it's also possible for someone who is technically brilliant, but academically poor to pass as well. So their work will be technically brilliant, but uncreative, prescriptive and boring.

Is that somehow more right than the other way around?

To get a 1st.... you need to be brilliant at both. The best technical photographer in the world can easily fail a degree if they aren't academically engaged.

treeman said:
So if you have a BA Hons in Photography, you should be able to understand why you're pictures of moving people aren't sharp?
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Absolutely... if they have honours... then yes, there would be no way they'd get through without knowing how to focus a camera.... or why slow speeds would make them soft or blurry.. this is basic stuff.

I get a feeling you're fishing for info for another reason. Is there a reason you're asking? Does this relate to another thread or article?
 
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treeman said:
So if you have a BA Hons in Photography, you should be able to understand why you're pictures of moving people aren't sharp?
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I would say yes... you should be able to understand it but it's also possible that you don't.

We're intrigued now. What's the reason for your question?


Steve.
 
treeman said:
But aren't those considered lesser qualifications?
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No... just vocational. A BA (Hons) is an academic qual. They (HND and FdA) are both level 5 as opposed to level 6 for a BA, but that final year is mostly academic and personal work development.. there's little in the way of "training" in year three.
 
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Steve Smith said:
We're intrigued now. What's the reason for your question?


Steve.
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I don't want to point fingers as it seems a little harsh, but in another thread someone was asking why their pictures of moving people were not sharp, and their website says they have a BA Hons in Photography.

In fairness it could have been more a lack of camera setting knowledge, than anything else.

I'm not knocking Degrees BTW, my wife has just finished hers and I know how incredibly hard she worked and the level of detail was mind blowing (she did get a first though).
 
treeman said:
I don't want to point fingers as it seems a little harsh, but in another thread someone was asking why their pictures of moving people were not sharp, and their website says they have a BA Hons in Photography.
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I find it highly unlikely that someone with a BA (Hons) couldn't work that out... but without seeing the thread in question I'd rather not comment.
 
SPAM!! Kill it!!

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Spam killed...
 
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As someone who knows virtually nothing about photography compared to most on here, even I could take a decent stab at answering the OP's question. I doubt you could study photography for more than a fortnight without covering these topics.
 
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