Five assets each photography student needs!
This post should really be titled “Jerod Foster’s opinionated list of what photography students need, besides a camera and MacBook Pro.” At the risk of being too forward, this is a small compilation of what I believe takes a photography student from someone that is just simply attending class to becoming an individual storyteller. I have taught photography now for a little over two years at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and over the course of those semesters, I’ve noticed certain characteristics in students that make them more successful in and outside the classroom. I like to think of this list as a work in progress, and by no means should you take this to be THE exhaustive list on being an “A” student (apply this as a metaphor if you are not in school). However, it’s a good head start in choosing photography as a career path.
*Disclaimer: I left out passion and vision for reason. Developmentally, these are what we as photographers strive for, and at the same time, we inherently use to communicate with our cameras. Without these, the following list would be truly difficult to adhere to, however, the following five items may spark or reinvigorate one’s own residing passion for the craft!
1. Willingness to learn
“Be open-minded” is a cliche phrase, but it’s true! Not one successful photographer has ever developed his/her style without experimentation and creative exercise. Many did not have the time or resources students have in an institutional classroom, however, they developed their style and craft as a result of eagerness and focus. If you are a student passionate about this line of work, take full advantage of where you are, ask all the questions you want answers to, pick your instructor’s brain about communicating with the tool we call a camera, and take notes (mentally or physically). All the while, adapt this knowledge to your style, your vision, and be ready to learn more. It does not end when you have a diploma or certificate in hand.
2. An eye for others
“Who is your favorite photographer.” I ask this question of all my students at some point in their first semester as a photo/visual communication majors. I’m often answered with steady stares, but no answers. This is not all that surprising if you think about it. For one thing, it’s not as if photographers’ bylines are printed in large, bold font next to their photographs in the standard magazine. And in today’s fast-paced media world, who really has time to search for the byline in the first place, right? I’ll tell you who: other photographers. Students have the best opportunity to become totally infatuated with their field of study, and really delve deep in to classic works such as those of Adams, Bresson, and Newman (my favorite portrait maker), to more contemporary images made by folks like McNally, Cowart, and Orwig. Just as important as studying work of “big names,” is the effort put in to studying, critiquing, and appreciating peers’ images, and local/regional photographers, as well as those photographers make “paradigm shifting” changes in the convergence of stills and video, such as LaForet. Take the time to visit a different photographer’s portfolio everyday. You never know what you will find or what will inspire you!
3. A good ear (for the classroom and for others)
I’ve heard countless times the significance of the eye in photography, and by all means, there would be no images without a strong vision! I’ve also heard successful lifelong photographers speak of having a good ear. If you were to sit down with an editorial photographer, an environmental portrait maker, or a photojournalist, listening to who they are photographing is just as important as the eye is in telling their story through images. I’d be willing to bet that even fashion photographers have a similar relationship with listening. Be able to communicate audibly with your subjects, not only visually, and your images take on a new life: their life meshed with your vision. Of course, listening in the classroom would be helpful as well.
4. A story
No matter what type of photography you study or pursue, in school or otherwise, you are communicating something. Whatever the format of the story, whether it is extremely tactile such as the victims of the devastating destruction in Haiti’s capitol, or abstract art, it is crucial to the message of the image, and the core of why we become photographers. Study other stories, learn to look for them, and listen and watch for their appearance. The human race has always been made up of storytellers. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at ancient art and writing, and then listen to your grandmother “spin those yarns.” You’ll notice the stories, and as photographers, it’s our job to learn how to further communicate their message in to visuals!
5. Influence
Where would we be without it? I once heard that creativity is half stolen. Whether this is true or not, I do believe that nothing begets nothing, and influence develops into much of those characteristics I’ve already outlined. Find a mentor, it doesn’t even necessarily have to be a photographer, that inspires you to pick your camera up every day. Find multiple mentors for that matter. You will always be influenced by something, no matter how much of a rogue photographer you might think you are. Here’s the catch: influence is not a bad thing. It’s something to take into account each time you make a new photograph, and then you massage that influence to fit your own style and voice as a visual storyteller.
Really enjoyed this read. Thanks for such a strong blog post!
A very interesting & inpiring read did not know of the works of Newman..and now I do. Always doing my best to improve my work. Thanks 4 taking the trouble to put this out.
Great tips, Jerod. I really appreciate you giving props to storytelling. Narrative is so important.