Raymond Bleesz
10-Jan-2001, 12:15
In reviewing D. Paramore's enlightening question re: teaching in yesterday's pos t,and responses, I would like to expand upon the subject, perhaps take a tangent or two & end with a question.
The responses which came forth yesterday were great. Perhaps Doug's question hit a raw nerve. There were contributors who's names I have not encountered before.
Most of the posts deal on a daily basis with cognitive material, such as "how to " or "what", the act of "doing". My own recent post was such--what's the differe nce between 2 enlarging lenses? as an example. Very few posts deal with the affe ctive domain of learning--that being the "feelies", one's values, one's beliefs, and certainly this area is very hard to measure/evaluate as compared to the cog nitive domain where we can "measure" our progress with technical proficiency.
Look at the photo publications out there--They are for the most part dealing wit h how to, the act of doing, buy this camera, this lens, etc. And the workshops l ikewise--pay big bucks at Palm Beach and you can rub elbows with Annie or John & perhaps become a "photographer" or perhaps wear a Domke vest and that will help in attaining our vision of ourselves. There are very few Minor White's out ther e today,not ony teaching but raising esoteric & metaphysical questions. Ever sin ce the movie, "Blow Up", there has been a rocket like interest in photography wi th the general public which is ok, however, the dues one must pay to become a ph otographer are overlooked. Buy a Nikon or Leica and I'm a photographer mentality is very dangerous. I certainly have paid dearly in one form or another to get w here I'm at now as a photographer/educator---Weltschmerz, angst, monies, divorce, etc.. And I'm still learning & what to learn more, it's precious to me. In studying the Ancient Gre eks, the teacher student role was a major contribution to western thought--the C itizen of the State had an obligation to ask questions, and in doing so, learn. I certainly would like to be a full time student again. I also believe, in this internet age, our very successful commercial & fine art photographers such as th e Annie's & John's should be contributuing more to forums such as this--it's the ir obligation, yet rarely do I see their names or their posts. Which brings me o ff the rambling & on to my question.
In my introduction, I stated that I saw new names, contributors, etc.. Does anyone have any idea how many of us are tuning into this forum?--photograph ers, commercial & fine art, young & old, curators of photography, educators, pho to editors and the like????? And if your from Geneva or Brazil or from Vail, Col orado???? How far & wide is this forum reaching????
With respect to you all, Raymond A. Bleesz
The responses which came forth yesterday were great. Perhaps Doug's question hit a raw nerve. There were contributors who's names I have not encountered before.
Most of the posts deal on a daily basis with cognitive material, such as "how to " or "what", the act of "doing". My own recent post was such--what's the differe nce between 2 enlarging lenses? as an example. Very few posts deal with the affe ctive domain of learning--that being the "feelies", one's values, one's beliefs, and certainly this area is very hard to measure/evaluate as compared to the cog nitive domain where we can "measure" our progress with technical proficiency.
Look at the photo publications out there--They are for the most part dealing wit h how to, the act of doing, buy this camera, this lens, etc. And the workshops l ikewise--pay big bucks at Palm Beach and you can rub elbows with Annie or John & perhaps become a "photographer" or perhaps wear a Domke vest and that will help in attaining our vision of ourselves. There are very few Minor White's out ther e today,not ony teaching but raising esoteric & metaphysical questions. Ever sin ce the movie, "Blow Up", there has been a rocket like interest in photography wi th the general public which is ok, however, the dues one must pay to become a ph otographer are overlooked. Buy a Nikon or Leica and I'm a photographer mentality is very dangerous. I certainly have paid dearly in one form or another to get w here I'm at now as a photographer/educator---Weltschmerz, angst, monies, divorce, etc.. And I'm still learning & what to learn more, it's precious to me. In studying the Ancient Gre eks, the teacher student role was a major contribution to western thought--the C itizen of the State had an obligation to ask questions, and in doing so, learn. I certainly would like to be a full time student again. I also believe, in this internet age, our very successful commercial & fine art photographers such as th e Annie's & John's should be contributuing more to forums such as this--it's the ir obligation, yet rarely do I see their names or their posts. Which brings me o ff the rambling & on to my question.
In my introduction, I stated that I saw new names, contributors, etc.. Does anyone have any idea how many of us are tuning into this forum?--photograph ers, commercial & fine art, young & old, curators of photography, educators, pho to editors and the like????? And if your from Geneva or Brazil or from Vail, Col orado???? How far & wide is this forum reaching????
With respect to you all, Raymond A. Bleesz