title: "waltz for pony" by boy
I write to you frustrated with the current situation my
fellow students have present in a college setting. This last week we received
an assignment in my Fundamentals of Photography class.
The assignment was simple: photograph a subject (that cannot
move or be moved) in different ways, do not edit, change all to black and
white, print a contact sheet with twenty of your best images, print one of
those images, bring to next class to critique. There were no hidden rules,
confusion in the details, or misleading statements. It was crystal clear. Elementary
my dear. It was even printed word for word in full paragraphs on a hand out and
in our syllabus received on the first day. No surprises.
Today in class, I was one out of five people in a classroom
of twenty who did the assignment.
Out of those five people, I was the only one who followed
the directions.
I sat there astonished as the excuses poured out of mouths
around me.
“I did not understand it”
“I was busy.”
“I could not get my hands on the paper.”
Silently I answered them all in my head.
What did you not understand? If you were confused, you could
have either called one of the numbers of the students in the class we exchanged
on the first day, or you could have emailed our professor who stressed the
importance of not being afraid to use his email and ask questions.
What exactly were you busy with for a whole week that you
could not find the time to shoot at least twenty photographs of any object of
your choice? I find this hard to believe because as beginners we are all in the
same classes. I have the same workload as you. I had time to spare, even after
doing homework for our other three classes, and spend a whole day walking from
one bridge to the other. Did I mention I also had time to go to the movies?
I will agree, finding the paper was hard, but with an entire
week, a cell phone, and Google, you could have found the paper is six different
locations just on Main Street alone. If that wasn’t possible or maybe right now
you cannot afford it, you could have dug up that contact sheet previously mentioned
and asked a classmate where they got their paper or if you could borrow a few
sheets. I know I would have said yes. Maybe you were too busy, that’s what
happened wasn’t it?
Seriously, ladies?
We are in college. Not only are we in college, we are all
adults. Legal adults. Adults who can take care of themselves, who know we have
to pull our own weight, adults who can solve a problem when it comes up, an
adult who knows what is expected of them and does what is expected.
Every time you show up to class unprepared you are not only
throwing more than two hundred dollars out into the crisp wind, but you are
wasting your time. Have you ever thought about how your lack of preparation
affects my learning? Have you ever thought about how it makes Tim, your
educator, feel that you do not take his class seriously or have the respect to
follow through on little things he asks? Do you realize these projects and
lectures and classes and textbook readings are not punishment or busy work, but
actually have meaning that will help you in what is supposed to be your career
choice?
I actually feel bad for you.
After brushing fifteen unprepared students to the side, I
focused my attention on those who were prepared. They did the assignment; they
deserved feedback, respect – just like I expected to receive in return.
Critiques are the best way to learn and to grow. I learn from you, you learn
from me. That is why I go to onsite classes and do not just sit home online in
my pajamas and a bucket of ice cream.
The first to present set up her work. Her prints were in
color. Her subject placed in different places around the yard. Her subject was
in different positions. The only part that followed the instructions was that
she printed out her work. The class responded to the colors of her work in
excitement. They were drawn to it. As my teacher said “let’s pretend that it is
in black and white and focus on the image and what she could do better” the
next comment to follow was “I really like the colors of the garden and how it
brings out her subject.” Did you really not just hear the words that came out
of his mouth? He is done with the color. He wants to know about composition,
about lighting, about anything other than the color that is not supposed to be
there in the first place.
Let’s just say, we never got off the color wheel.
I presented mine next. I was eager to hear feedback. I
wanted to know what I could do better, what did they notice that I didn’t, how
did they feel, what parts they didn’t like. I put my simple contact sheet up next
to my one black and white photo. The response was neither good nor bad. Nor was
it helpful. No one said anything without exaggerated prompting from my
professor. They commented on my model (good, she deserves to be complimented,
she is beautiful.) They mentioned my good use of shadow, but did not know what
parts were shadowed or why it was good. It wasn’t like they didn’t like it or
they did – they were just dead in the eyes, not involved, not wanting to be
there. I took down my photographs with no helpful hints except more variation,
which was also a positive reaction to my work.
I did a full circle.
Although no one had anything to say about mine, I was still
eager to see other people’s work and learn from their experience.
The pieces to follow were in color, some were moved
subjects, some were edited on Photoshop to boost the contrast. None of them
followed the instructions like we were asked.
I felt bad as my teacher causally said “did I not say to put
them in black and white” or “it’s the first time so I can see why you would
make that mistake.”
When confronted about their pieces mistakes, lies fled like
rivers. “Is this natural lighting?” “Yeah, it’s outside. I did use a reflector,
but that’s it.” I do not know much about using my camera to it’s full
possibility yet, but I know that you cannot get flawless skin and backdrops
with perfect white/black contrast in natural light in the middle of Union
Square with a plastic reflector.
Tim knew this too, but he didn’t say a thing. How could he?
His class had played him.
They took his assignment, his tips, his time, and threw it
in the bottom of their though pile.
I would hate to have been him, because I hated being in the
class.
I know this is my chance to shine. Be the one who does it
right, blah blah blah. That doesn’t matter if no one else can put any effort
in.
I cannot imagine thinking how the students in my classes
act. If you do not want this, then please do not waste my time. If you are
unprepared, do not show up. Your money is getting deposited weather you are
there warming a seat or you are home being “busy.” Please, do not come unless
your attitude toward the class is positive and you want to be there. The school
could care less if you showed up. We are no longer in high school. We pay to be
here. We go to colleges and university not because we have to, but because we
want to. If you do not want to put a little effort in, get out. It’s week three
and you have already proven you do not have the motivation to succeed in this
program. Stop wasting your parents money, stop wasting your professors energy,
stop wasting my time.
Grow up or get out.
Wow.
I feel better.
Goodnight.
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