Re: Photo-Literacy

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 
>From: P3D Dr. George A. Themelis writes:
>
>Thanks Lawerence for forwarding this interesting report:
>
>>Half of America Admits Photo Failure!
>........................
>I saw quite a bit of statistics and comparison of photo-behavior between
>the two sexes.  I that OK with our local "stereotype police"?  :-) :-) :-)

*****  According to that report, it seems males are more prone to bragging
than females.;-)

>.......................
>There are those who believe that it is exactly these modern technologies
>that have taken the control out of the photographer.  Now the camera will
>decide everything for you.  Take exposure for example.  How much control
>does the user of a fully-automatic camera using print film has over
>exposure?  How can you learn using such camera?

******  I submit that for a beginner, ANY camera can seem to be a challenge.
The automatic features do make it easier for the beginner, but it doesn't
teach them composition except in the study of results. True, you might not
learn the intricacies about photography that you would HAVE to learn with a
manual camera, but it would take them to a point of getting some fun
pictorial returns sooner and easier. That shouldn't blunt the ongoing
challenge of getting good pictures, since that isn't so dependent on having
manual control. It's more a matter of learning what to look for before you
take a picture. How to think about your pictures.

According to certain other surveys (relating to the educational system), the
problem goes a bit deeper. It seems that the current generation has problems
learning to think. That could make it difficult to teach any aspect of
photography. I'm glad I don't depend on surveys. The only thing you can
depend on is that you can find one somewhere that says essentially what you
might want it to say. ;-)

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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