Re: [Leica] College

[ShadCat11@aol.com]

In a message dated 07/23/2001 12:51:12 PM, you wrote:

<<Ok I have a quick one for you, and though it isn't directly leica related 
its close enough.  I know that some of you arn't professional photographers 
but those of you who are and have formal training in photography I would 
like your input.

I have to go to my college counselor today and Im guessing that he will ask 
me If I have any preferences of the colleges I want to go to.  I asked the 
photographers at my local newspaper and they gave me a list of a few 
colleges but no decisive best college for photojournalism.  I have heard a 
lot about University of Missouri in the past but have also heard that they 
have been slipping.  So for the question: What is the best college for 
photojournalism (not studio stuff)?

Thanks,
David Degner

>>

While my training in photography was informal, I have been doing it 
seriously/professionally for a very long time, during the course of which I 
have associated with many formally trained photograpers in different fields 
and have taught classes, myself.  

My opinions, based on the before, is that a systematic course of study can 
save some time in learning the craft and techniques.  But I also believe that 
a good liberal arts education NOT specializing in photography can do more for 
your ability to master photojournalism than concentrating on the tech stuff.  

It's not rocket science.  The chops can be picked up readily enough, but a 
really good photographer operates from a sensibility that encompasses 
information from every direction; history, languages, psychology, science, 
name it.  Specializing in photography trains a person to be a shooter, 
considered glamorous by some but not me.

One of the better photojournalists of my acquaintance is Amy Sanchetta (last 
seen at AP), whose work is invariably probing, insightful, sensitive, tough 
and pictorially, quite elegant.  When asked by her admirers (well, my wife 
and I) about her education, Amy remarked that she stayed away from her 
college photography department.  This, of course, is only one approach, and 
many graduates of photography programs have done well.  But photojournalism 
is involved (or should be) in so much more than photography.

Two photographers were discussing their day.  One said "I saw a bundle of 
rags on a park bench, and it turned out to be an old lady.  She told me that 
once she had been an heiress, but the family lost all its money and 
eventually she became just another poor homeless person."
"Poor woman," said the other.  "What did you give her?"
"Well, " came the reply, "It was sunny, so I gave her 1/250th @ f16."

Allen Zak