My Biggest Regret As A Photography Student 

What do you think about studying photography? Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?

I went to college to study photography in my 50's. I found the education I recieved there was priceless. I met some wonderful people there and learned more from the other students than I did from the lecturers. I went in with a good knowledge base, but it was the act of mixing with other creative people that I liked most. To be able to sit and have someone understand my vision was fantastic. I would go again if I could find a college that would take me. I went on to run a successful photography studio for many years and retired some time ago and now practice photography as a hobby.

Refreshing to watch someone with a well-informed point of view speaking straight to camera with no distracting music or wacky mannerisms - 13.34 minutes well spent!!

I think the best thing about photography is that it's a lifelong journey, pretty much as music is, you become a better photographer not just by learning new tricks, but by becoming a "better person" that can analyze a situation better to find the true meaning you want to convey through your images (and ultimately through a single image).

I have been involved with photographing for over 50 years. Early in my attempts to be a "serious art" photographer, I learned my 'equipment does not a photographer make" lesson. I had an advanced camera (a Petri SLR) and a friend of mine had an old Kodak 127 box camera. We went out shooting. In summary my shots with the "more sophisticated camera/lens" were all wasted. My friend had many really beautiful shots to look at and admire. She had vision and was a photographer and I was a snapshooter with "fancy" gear. That lesson has never left me: an artist with a trashy outfit makes art but a snapshooter with a Leica is still a snapshooter. I'm still trying to learn to see but I have much fancier gear now. So my failures are just more spectacular in very sharp with high resolution.

At nearly 61 I finished a 3 year course of photography. I’d been taking pictures on and off for years, I knew I could do better but didn’t know how, so I signed up for a 3 year course, I was introduced to different genres that I’d never considered. I was criticised by my tutors and importantly my fellow students. I was taken out of my comfort zone and shown what I was capable of. My tutors were inspirational. At 60 odd I thought I was pretty much the finished article, but I was wrong, I grew as a both a photographer and as a person. Able to see things differently. Understand the power of an image. I loved my three years.

The problem with most art/photo schools is they don’t teach the business of photography and how to get clients. I was at a small school in the 90s but learned the business from assisting other photographers and later from other types of business people.

I remember asking my father if I could go to art college to do photography . Of course he asked why and I retorted something silly like I wanted to learn how to talk to girls . Anyway, between becoming a very successful chemist and later going off to teach teenagers , then graduates and undergraduates , until completing my law studies and heading a very successful legal career , I attending photography school and enjoyed being in an environment of likeminded students . After a number of years building my business I switched to academia and ended up teaching before switching to practicing law. What had that to do with photography you might ask. Photography taught me a number of things. How to read people and put them at ease . It enabled me to take complex issues and put them in simple terms that others could understand and a confidence to publicly speak , which is essential in giving a speech , regardless of your audience . If it did nothing else, it enabled me to meet my wife and give one of the very best father of the bride speeches for both of my daughters . I still take out my camera wherever I go and in the process of teaching my grandsons to look with their eyes and see what is going on around them.

Alex, This video is spot on. I could not have scripted this story any better. I graduated from Brooks Institute 37 years ago. I've been watching your channel for a while now, and for the most part, our stories about photography seem to have taken the same path. Keep creating this fantastic content. - Peter P.s. After 35 years in this business I am learning something new every day and My best picture is the next one, Until I make it, once that image has been made my best is still the next one.

Being one of the non-traditional photographers and mostly self-taught I did miss out on the exposure to many great photographers. Thank you for sharing and inspiring us to take a closer look at the works of others. My spores are growing...happy you are a "fungi" to watch and learn from.

ive never heard anyone at photo school talk like you do...... it was about the technical skills that i wanted so that i could apply my own vision with skill. not to repeat whats already been done..... but to add a repeatable process to my own art.

I don’t understand people who would thumbs down your videos. They always inspire me to learn more, be more creative, and generally to see the world in strange new ways.

You DO NOT need formal schooling to learn the aesthetics of photography- there's enough out there to lean through: photobooks, exhibits, online... It can definitely help as far as darkroom/photoshop/studio lighting technical skills are concerned- which can also be learned in a studio/assistant environment.

I keep a small playlist of the best photography videos I find; the few with real insight, life lessons, things that make an impact. It's taken years to save a few dozen. I discovered your channel an hour ago. I've seen three of your videos total, and I've had to add every single one to that playlist. That says it all :)

Hello, I found this by accident but was completely drawn in by what you was saying. I like that you're talking to us and not at us if you understand what I mean. Anyway, I'm going to explore what else you have on your channel now. :-)

Some good work on there Alex. I never got around to doing uni, I am sure doing a BA in photography would have been fun but I have enjoyed working with other photographers. And yes you never stop learning.

You are my new favorite channel. THANK YOU for being so real & so different from the rest of the channels. You truly put value into my photography & my day. No other channel makes these kind of videos

Excellent video, Alex; it was nice to see so much of your own excellent work.

Thank you for sharing your road traveled in photography. I agree.... there’s always something to learn and improve upon. Great video

This has been missing on you tube for quite a while, a great addition. Been a professional photographer for most of my life and find your take on things interesting, dovetails perfectly with my interests and experience. Cheers !

So glad I discovered your channel. Wow! Small world indeed. I was at PTA Tech studying Film- & Video-Technology in ‘92-‘95. I remember the building where you guys studied at the ‘old campus’. I knew there was a reason why I enjoyed your talks! I was lucky enough to have studied photography as a school subject (National School of the Arts), so I had 3 years of photography study in the late ‘80s before going to Film school after my national service. Those where the days! I still miss the smell of the fixative in the darkroom. Sigh. I think it certainly made a difference. Like you said; being surrounded by likeminded people. It makes a difference when you have people around you that think the same way and have similar aspirations. Ironically, these days you can find people like that in online forums and the like. Times have changed. Yes, my discipline was slightly different and concentrated more on ‘moving pictures’, but we always used ‘the frame’ as reference. -Keep up the good work. Inspirational to say the least. Regards from Vietnam.

Wow! I’m so glad RU-vid recommended this video! You have brought back so many memories of being interviewed by Harold and Bertie and studying at Pretoria Technikon Photo School in the mid 90s!

What a great video. I feel being surrounded by others that are as passionate about the craft makes such a difference. Back in the 90s, I had a casual interest in photography until I met an enthusiastic photography tutor while studying a different subject entirely. It was his enthusiasm for the subject and love of art that resonated with me, not to mention allowing access to the darkroom and studio long after all the other students had gone home. I'm certain because of him I'm working in this field today, I'd love to be able to thank him in person but sadly he is no longer with us.

I studied at the University of RU-vid (..probably watched 1000s of videos) but first at the Enthusiasm of First Baby timed with a First Camera Cellphone College, ..then got my Phd at the Trying to Get a Bird Taking Flight Academy while (walking for years in a nature reserve), which randomly led to being asked to shoot Beach Weddings for an Events Company. Learning is a life project for all of us hopefully, but not necessarily formal training I think.. it has made me feel my pics get s l o w l y better. Seeing with fresh eyes and enthusiasm and connection is the key to enjoying and getting better, as you point out so well. ps Thanks for the Great videos Alex, am really appreciating learning many of your thoughtful ideas! Thanks!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and advice...I am 77 yrs and still learning...only a hobbyist but just love taking pics.. cheers..😀

Just recently found your channel and wanted to say the sound is much better in this video than in earlier ones. I look forward to learning more of the work of other photographers, so I'm likely to visit again. :-) BTW, I haven't studied photography formally.

Can I just say I appreciate the videos you make and the effort you put into them! Thank you!

This is a cracking channel Alex. I like your approach to the videos, and the fact you don't shout "What's happening, RU-vid!" at the start of every film helps a lot. Your films, commentary and the photos you use really give food for thought. Thanks

Thank you! I have been feeling a bit 'unworthy' lately. This video definitely renewed my enthusiasm for photography.

Well said. Thank you for talking about your studies. I received a degree in fine art, then learned photography on my own.

Thank you very much for sharing your videos, I absolutely love your work and find it and you very inspiring!

An interesting debate. I studied photography from 2003 until 2012. We worked inclusively in b&w darkroom.tjough some of us moved into alternative processes. My best prints are still b&w taken on an ancient Pentax.

What you said at 7:06 made me think about the education we can get in school. I came to realize it could be the same mindset when it comes to education as for the photography equipment. Maybe this is what is going on in student's mind. I'm in a photography school already and I've been surrounded by great minds, no more urge to find out what techniques/mystery I could miss on Internet. I've got enough on my plate at the moment and I'm being well taken care of already, just like all the equipment I can access.

This is a great series for me! I was in a theatre school in Chicago, in the 70’s....... and used to hang out with my roommate who was a photography student at the Art Institute. I learned some things from him about film types... and in those days shot mostly Ektachrome 64, or 100, in a borrowed Minolta SRT 101, and a tripod that I bought, and still have. I had fallen in love with the fantasy architecture of movie palaces of the 1920’s. I’d get permission from the owners to spent time inside these magnificent, if not tired by then, structures..... of which Chicago had many of the best. I didn’t really know what I was doing...... but despite vast spaces, low light, and inexperience...... most of them turned out!? People have told me I have a good eye, so I then bought a Nikon Nikomat FTN, from a friend who managed a camera store..... $350.00 in 1985, for an already 20 year old camera. But after being my companion all through England, Paris, and across the US, I still have, and use it. I guess that we never stop looking, and capturing...... searching for that “ special” photograph. Today, my favorite joy is sharing, and teaching young people about the joys of film photography and cameras. We never stop learning, do we...... thanks for this very useful series!! Just off to try a new to me large format 50’s Press camera

Such a wonderful and encouraging video, Alex. Many thanks! Pablo

Loved photography school and I wish I could go back in time and do it all over again.

Great story ,love the photos. Thanks for sharing:)

I have been an avid amateur photographer for more than 30 years. I am entirely self-taught and never attended photography school or any formal training. Consequently, there are great gaps in my photo education, especially in the past masters. I really enjoy your channel and it has provided me with many needed insights. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!

An excellent topic to discuss! Schools and colleges do give you connections and opportunities that are often not available to everyone. You also can become completely absorbed by photography and produce a good body of work to demonstrate your abilities. I attended university as a mature student in 2003 and decided to work as hard as I could. I had a life as well - I played in a band, went surfing, had a girlfriend, earned money repairing cameras - but I also worked hard so that when I graduated I wouldn't have that thought of 'what if...'. Whatever grade I got was the grade I deserved. The side benefit was that other students and lecturers took you seriously and gave you more of their time and help and advice. The other bit of advice whether in school or not is to explore every opportunity. Opportunities are attached to people, so meet as many people as you can, listen to what they say as it may inspire or benefit you.

"Muk en druk" hahahaha Well done. Haven`t heard that in a while. I discovered your channel a week or two ago. I used to follow The Art of Photography for deeper topics about photography but Ted Forbes has sold his soul to camera reviews now. Please, please keep these videos coming. They are absolutely informative and thought-provoking.

Good to know more about you and about Photography.

Think its the first time ive seen your work. Some really nice stuff. Great vid. Got into photography when i turned 50. Was so scared of all the numbers and the talk.. Not the greatest at reading manuals ect bit of dyslexia. But youtube was my saviour. Thanks to guys like yourself im flying all over the place with camera in hand. Thanks for sharing. 👌👍

This is a very apposite timing of discovering this video. I am in the process of looking at the judging and training carried out in a UK region of camera clubs. The educational background of judges changes their perspectives of what a good image is. In considering how to train and support judges and work with the regional association brings up the questioner their education, photographic perspectives, and as you pointed out training in technique vs the art.

Hi Alex as other posties have animated, I have also being watching your channel for quite along period now, and can not express enough how grateful I am for you starting this channel in filling the void of creative, stimulating thought provoking content, which I needed to readdress and ignite my passion for photography. I have always practiced the art-form, as like yourself I attended Art College in the late 70s early 80s I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments about a creative fulfillment in studying at college, if I could have that time back I would do it all again. I specialized in commercial photography in the last two years and as you say we wanted for nothing the college had everything locked up in that store. Brilliant. Thanks again for starting this channel and bringing us great photographers. What about bringing us some photographers who created brilliant photographic adds from the 80s etc. Benson and hedges add campaign springs to mind, although I don't know if they had a free rein or influenced by Art Directors. There must be loads of content out there. Keep up the good work Alex.

The best channel on essence of photography so far.

Same applies to painting sculpting and all other artistic processes. I know there are plenty of self taught artist. I am one as a painter although I've also done some photography in the past. But I believe that school would have helped me quite a lot instead of struggling in learning almost all by myself. I was lucky that an important artist was my mentor for a while. He gave me very good inputs but still a lot of stones to grind it just by myself taking a lot of time and energy.

Alex, dit was nou sommer net plain lekker om na die video te kyk. Dankie.

I've been taking photos since I was a teen. At 66, I'm still hoping to become a photographer some day. Your channel is a great help. Thank you!

Good video. When I was going to photography school, I also used a Canon A-1. At that time I had dreams of becoming a newspaper photographer, but health issues forced me to leave the city so that dream never became a reality, though I never stopped enjoying photography.

Wow! Canon A-1 & 50mm was my 1st serious kit for photos beyond souvenir snapshots. Soon switched lens to Tokina 70-210, which I used exclusively for several years. Fun to hear about these old friends.

I am in a similar 'boat' as you. When i talk about photography, i am usually the only one in the conversation, who studied the subject (P.E. Technikon / 4 year course) . . . i feel most of the time a disconnect (for lack of a better word) with the rest in the conversation. I miss those 4 years dearly. And the Hasselblad 503CW. Would LOVE to hear more about your student days !!!!!!!

Really enjoying your analysis of the craft..

This is a great bit of advice for anyone considering a career in photography. I have been a working photographer for over 30 years. I started out by going to a photography school part-time, while working in a camera shop. After three years of part time study a job came up in the darkroom of a major newspaper group and it became too difficult to continue my studies while working varying shifts, so I dropped out of the photo school. But what I had learned in those first three years is basically what you talked about from your first year - all the principles of the chemistry and physics involved in film photography, learning about composition and lighting, etc. But also that mixing bowl of experiences talking with the lecturers and other students, exchanging ideas and starting to formulate my photography. When I started photography school I had the intention of becoming an advertising and corporate photographer. When I got the job on the newspaper everything changed and I became devoted to photojournalism/documentary photography. I have never really regretted dropping out of the photo course, as I have had a very interesting and varied career in photojournalism, but I greatly appreciate what I learned when I was studying. Those basic principles have stayed with me and helped me often in my work by having a good technical background. Switching to digital equipment in 2003 was a revelation in the working sense, because of being able to see the results immediately and the enormous cost savings. But, I believe that the technical knowledge I acquired in photo school, combined with 20+ years' experience on the job, meant that even shooting digital I can shoot efficiently and have very little wastage. With the vast majority of students today only ever working in the digital medium, I am encouraged to see some photo schools still provide an analogue component in their courses, so that today's students get a better understanding of these basic principles on how light reacts with a medium and how to think about your photography, rather than just chimping it.

I am 70 years old now and I still have fond memories of photography school. I graduated from photography school in 1978 so it was before computers and the internet.

Great content! Thanks!

I am thoroughly enjoying your channel! One of my pet peeves are videos of 'Best" lens, Tripod, Backpacks etc! There is no such thing! Best for me is totally different than you or anyone else! Best for me is what suits my personal needs. I've been an avid photographer for over 50 years; often times not picking up a camera for years due to my unhappiness with my outcomes. I had an ah ya moment about five years ago; after struggling for years with my work. I started shooting strictly for myself AND interpreting what l see to my liking. If I like it...great....if you like it....an added bonus! I do not photograph for anyone else but me. I do not photograph reality (what is that anyway) but get drawn to rocks, trees, water, buildings etc. I very often only show a piece of a whole; and often I print in black & white. I believe in the concept that my process ends in the print & not a digital file on my computer or iPhone! Should you want to see my work...let me know and I'll send you a link to my website.

..even our regrets! Oh you make me laugh; different times though, how everything seeeems.. to have changed :-) Thanks again, love it!

Awe. This video suddenly showed up here in youtube today, and I'm happy because I just got graduated and passed my National assesment for Photography National certification II. And it's true, formal training even if it's vocational or short course is such a nice experience. I'm just so happy right now! congratulations to me! 🥺🥺❣️

"... this idea that kit isn't really what makes your photography better ..." Truer words are rarely said on RU-vid photography videos! You were fortunate to learn that lesson very early and before you had spent lots of money on kit because the magazines (and internet nowadays) convinced you that the next shiny bit of kit would improve your photography.

I attended the Art Institute of Seattle taking the photo courses. Started 1996 and I remember having the same feeling being with other like minded photography and Art students for the first time.

Thanks for the comments on the 'importance' of the latest equipment. For at least thirty years, maybe more, I used Minoltas with a normal lens and wore out at least six of the bodies. That lens forced you to get close and interact with your subject instead of standing half a mile away with your 500 mm lens in a pack of other voyeurs with long lenses, especially when photographing pretty or scantily clad women.

Good observations and comments. My experience of photo/art college was similar, very mixed, some good some bad. I had been photographing since I was very little but knew nothing about making a living from it. College was my key, my way in. We learnt all the technical photo stuff, processed and printed b/w, colour neg and transparency, got to use all sorts of cameras and lighting, had class lessons in design and general studies as well as photography. It was a broad ranging college of commercial arts, so I was able to spend time in other departments such as fashion, where I met my future wife. I had very little art education previously, art lessons at secondary school were never taken very seriously, so this broad experience was invaluable. It was very slow sometimes, so you had to be self-motivated. I very quickly started working part time in professional photo dealers, thereby meeting professional photographers and by my second year was starting to assist, so by the time I finished the course I had plenty of work lined up. College was a mixed bag, not perfect by any means but good for me in many ways. Cheers.

The thing I find is that you are talking about a different type of learning than what most people do online. You are talking about soaking in a field, finding passion, inspiration and growing in a abundant medium. Now learning is about finding out things. If you happen to have a passion, or curiosity, you satisfy it, and then move on. It's instant, there's no soaking. Hard to see any way you can soak now, without it being your livelihood.

Very interesting, I love watching your videos. Thank you 👍

I've always said that the best thing that ever happened to my photography is that I didn't take photography classes at our regional university. I have been involved in photography for many years and also as a staff member running a local art gallery. What I have noticed about sponsoring local juried photography shows is that I can pick out the work of all of the entrants who studied photography at the university. It bears the unmistakable (boring) influence of their photography professor. I think I escaped this rubber stamp style by going out on my own and shooting everything that interested me. Lots of general interest things such as landscapes, city scapes, people with umbrellas in bad weather, plus many, many weddings (I needed the money); portraits ( both human and animal); full length magazine articles in color and b&w, and anything else that interested me. All the while doing my best to improve the quality and style of the work I was doing. I always tried to compare my work to the works professional photographers whose work I admired, but at the same time developing my on style. I did 35mm; medium format; and 4x5 film for 46 years. I've only shot digital for the last 17 years and I love it. I'll be 80 years old next month and I still have the burn to make better than good photographs. But, I do wish I had had the opportunity to go to a real photography school. I'm sure my progress would have been much faster. But I don't regret getting a degree in BA and Marketing rather than photography at our university.

I wish I had studied photography. Not really knowing what to do with myself, I went straight from school into the Civil Service, having been told that I wasn't intelligent enough to go to university. I hated it, but I was a "job for life", so I tried to stick it out. After 20 years, I had a sort of breakdown and left to learn to be a chef and work in that industry; I've always considered myself a creative person. Then a twist of fate led me to South America to live. I had always admired the wonderful photos in magazines like National Geographic, and five years ago, I bought myself a DSLR. This has had a profound effect on my life: I can't over-emphasize the pleasure I get from learning about and practising this wonderful art - I so wish I had done it years ago. I've always been a bit of an autodidact, which is just as well as, at 60 years old, I don't see myself going to photography school.

The only master I ever heard about who attained his nirvana, so to say, was Artie Shaw. He was, I believe, the greatest clarinet player who ever lived. In 1954, at age 44, he put it down and never really played again in the 50 more years he lived. He said, "I have taken the clarinet as far as anyone can possibly go. To continue playing would be a disservice." As for formal education myself, I always envy people like you who have that as a foundation. The only foundation I have is one I cobbled together reading books, talking with photographers and working at it. Once I realized I had a good eye for composition, I started doing wedding photography -- on my own, none of that second shooter stuff or anything; I was just in business one day! But my foundation often feels sort of wobbly; I fear what I might be missing!

Cool and this was an eye opener.

Excellent video 👍🏽 @thephotographiceye !!!💯 🙌🏽 📷 Just subscribed ✅

When great photographers die , do they go into bulb mode ?

Thankyou once again! I really like your videos.

Back in the day, my parents would not allow me to go to art school or learn photography, as they could not see it as a way for me to make a living. When I finally broke free of that constraint I read everything I could find and studied the old masters as the only schools around at that time, were overseas (1980) I painted for a living initially, had 2 one-man exhibitions, and sold 39 out of 45 paintings in my first year. That opened the door to me to enter the film industry, where I have had a successful 35 years working Internationally making TV commercials, documentaries, and drama for television and film. Now post Covid I am reinventing myself as a photographer capturing imagery. What I love about what you have said, is it's all about the passion and the desire to create. I believe many schools and online courses are just conduits for those people who want to make money, nothing more. I teach one on one with a select few, and the changes I see with them far outweigh an online course or a weekend retreat with a group of others. I believe if you want to separate yourself from the masses and be unique, you have to share of your heart and emotion, not what may be technically correct. Every celebrity, artist, musician, and politician that I have met and worked with, share this philosophy, you can too. You just have to put the time and effort into it!

I was always unsure about this ,if getting graduated in photography would be worthy or not , thankfully I'm a bit more sure now ,i know what I love and how to get it ! Thank you sir

Interesting, I love hearing people's story. Myself I wanted to be a photographer (my father was a photographer so I was born into it) but, left it too late to get into the art college so did Physics A levels and read all the books in the art college library. Later when I did my Art Foundation it was more general art based. They told me to put away my Rolleiflex and gave me a cheap polaroid; it was very mind expanding. But, i was more influenced by painters like Brancusi, Paul Nash and the photographer Jan Dibbets. Afterwards it came time to decide and I chose Physics; after all I had a lab job. However i never lost the desire to continue in Art. Nowadays I am retired and mostly do Photography but I am still mostly inspired by painters; my panoramic street photos are heavily influenced by Breugal. I try and put on at least one show a year in my virtual world gallery. Its where I get my excitement - winks

First time on you channel, and I really like what you see. And knowing, that I was in RSA around the time you’ve studied, makes me a bit sad, that I didn’t go to the school too. Thank you 🙏 🙏🙏

Really nice photography!

Sounds like North Metropolitan TAFE, Western Australia. In the store I have seen a Phase One, in the dark room some LF gear.

I used a Canon A1 back in film day,s superb kit. Now use Olympus EM1, found equally superb. Had 2 Uni course,s here in the UK, found them to basic and gimmicky, the best advice is to join a local camera club and learn from "old hand,s".

Thanks for sharing.

I sometimes I wish I had studied in a more formal sense, but then I know that I learn much better on my own at my own speed. However, qualifications, sadly in my opinion, as I think your work should speak for itself, do go a long way if you want to further your career.

Thank you for this video

On a much smaller scale, I completed an A-Level course when I was about 52 years old and I enjoyed it very much. Now though, I've found myself in the position of being disabled with regards to walking and standing. I was wondering, do you have any tips for people like me.?

Best photography RU-vid video I have seen.

After a set of very poor science-based A-level results, I almost applied to do a degree in photography. I loved photography, but I lacked all confidence to put together a portfolio, which was necessary for acceptance onto the program. Instead, I worked in computing for five years before eventually leaving a good salary to study philosophy - because I loved that too, and had a hunch i was good at it. I did well, getting a first, and, like you, loved being around so many people interested in what I was interested in - having fun playing with ideas. So I did a masters at Cambridge and then a PhD in Canada. I'm a philosophy professor now, but I do wonder - what might have been?

So again I go down the rabbit hole, though with this hole the Wizard is at the entrance pointing in the direction that may help you see OZ. Today may now be gone so I will see you tomorrow, thanks for the journey. Tony Australia

School teaches technology, but creativity is all on YOU!

I completely relate to your feelings of regret for not being a better student. I do too feel regret for not focusing and excelling in my studies at the university. How do you deal with the regret of not taking the advantage of time which is not a renewable element of life.?

I swear there's nothing I regret more than not taking advantage of everything I had in my photography school. Four full-time semesters for two years. Academically I did what was required and got my A's but, creatively I almost wasn't really there. I wish I had more conversations with my peers. I wish I took more use with the large format cameras, the full studio, the complete darkroom, the computer lab and the printers. I wish I became completely saturated in it all and produced better work than simply what was required. Stress is hard especially as a single father of three all while going to school 20min away from home everyday but, I feel like I could have became better faster & gotten so much more, had I really let myself be there psychologically instead of just physically.

I'm currently doing a photography Masters degree and loving it, don't get me wrong its hard work - especially with COVID (haven't had face to face sessions in 3 months).

Yes,it matters. Maybe not the grand scheme, but the essence is in the details. Of someone is talentend for photography he or she will be a good photographer. As with many things in live, the secret is in the details. A good education will help to see en to understand that details. It will help you to make from even a good photo a beter photo.

I would love to see you collaborate on a video, or series of videos, with Sean Tucker. I'm sure you know of him and his channel, and you have a lot in common with him..

Thank you.

Thank you

Yep thats why I say to noobs that joining a club is one of the best things to do to learn the basics and get you started.

Where can I become a photography student and how much does it cost. I am a retired pensioner and disabled and live in Somerset.

I have a diploma in photography. I took this course, because I wanted to learn more about photography. I had read so many books on this subject that I already knew everything about photography. It is worth having any type of diploma on any subject. It's part of an education. It certifies that you completed a course. I did.

this channel is wonderful, i will share

I regret going to school and setting my goal to be famous through photography because it broke something in my relationship with photography that I am actively rebuilding little by little

Again very nice video friend. Greetings to you

I almost didn't watch this video. I thought why? School was so long ago! This very resistance made me conclude, "Ok, now you have to watch it!" I'm glad I did! I graduated from my photography diploma course almost 33 years ago (many of us seem to be the same age here) and I quite simply couldn't have had my career without it. I wanted to be news photographer/photojournalist. At that time, no one in Canada would even vaguely entertain hiring you unless you could demonstrate real proficiency through your portfolio, tear sheets and work experience. If you didn't have those, you needed a photography diploma, or degree. The idea of working meaningfully in the industry as an apprentice, without experience, or education was beyond laughable. Today, it's even worse, simply because there is no such thing as a "job" in photography anymore. Of course most photographic disciplines can be learned outside of a school setting. Thousands and thousands of people have photography careers without having had a formal education, but an education from a good photo school can greatly reduce the learning curve and the amount of time needed to get to a professional level. Sadly, as I start my 34th year in the industry, I can not recommend a photography career to anyone.