I am being honest here… As against many old time photographers, my photography is just two years old.. and only past one year I have been taking more photos … but I never read a manual, or book on technical aspects of photography..and I feel stuck!!!! Please could someone teach me photography!

I do think art can be taught! Photograghy is just a small part of art. Art is a much wider term…. music, dance, acting, painting are all forms of art … and all improve with “practice” and “learning” … which may be self taught or taught by another …. Being taught by another does not impinge on a person’s individualist expression …the same way as siblings growing in the same enviornment can have very different attitudes and personalities …

However most original artists, so to say trend setters, trail blazers …. have had innate /inborn talent … And since there are some people with natural talent, does not mean that it may not be improved by learning or being taught! It does not also mean that every one who learns from the same person or same sources, will show same results … Individual differences will always be there.

back to … I want to learn photography .. or give it up.. My interest has really declined.

Speaking as a part-time photographer that has a somewhat full everyday job, that’s something that would have high value for me: The simple amount time that you would devote, a schedule that sets you on tracks, a framework for concentrating and focussing, (hopefully) a stimulating atmosphere that provides long-term motivation… I’m talking about a typical Greg Tanner “perfect world” scenario of a photography class here of course.

That is a cute shot of the kid!

In response to your response to me; maybe I am mistaken but I think that most colleges and universities would at least want to see a portfolio before they accept you into their art programs so there would have to be some talent somewhere to begin with, at least I would hope. Similar to the audition and resume required for entry into a university or conservatory music program. You have to be able to do more than just emulate. From there you can polish your talent by learning history, theory, and technique. So while art can be taught, the talent needs to already be there as a foundation to build upon.

I guess I don’t share your pessimism about higher education Paul or that it is just some grand marketing campaign to make money. Of course they have business considerations, it costs money to operate a university, attract good professors, etc, etc. I don’t necessarily agree that we would be just fine without them either.

I think there are valid points to be made with the value of a degree for certain professions. But for a society in general – I think the more education we have the better off we are. There is certainly proof of that if you look at issues around the world as a whole.

Will: I think that you can be taught technique, but not ‘art’. I’m a bit more cynical with regards to classes taught at the university level. College, like a lot of things, is a business and their business is to sell their product, education. People got along just fine without colleges and universities. Now, to even compete, you have to spend nearly 6 years and, like in Laurie’s example, jobs that used to be accomplished quite well by non degreed persons, require some degree. I don’t find value in an art degree.

I think the advantage of the degree is that, right or wrong, it gives you “legitimacy” in the marketplace. I don’t really agree with it but that is the way of the world today. You would not hire an engineer who didn’t have a degree no matter how much knowledge he may have been able to gain on his own. That’s just the way it is throughout almost all professions.

An interesting example in my life is the job that I did straight out of high school with only a high school diploma as a copy editor for an ad agency, now requires a 4 year degree or equivalent…Interesting. Not one of the copy editors I worked with there at that time had a degree. That piece of paper caries a lot of weight, right or wrong.