Photographers Oath to swear in Basic Photo Students.

[Robert Langham]

I need to call upon the photographic horsepower and expertise of our community....I'm a lowly adjunct at Tyler Junior College who has taught a couple sections of basic photo for years. My courses have a reputation of being a lot of work but a lot of fun at the same time. I think I may start to administer an oath to all the basic photo students before issuing the first assignment. Any ideas? I already tell them that what happens in basic photo STAYS in Basic Photo, make visitors leave the room before talking about restricted knowledge, et, et. Wonder what an oath like that would have in it?

Probably swear them in making the whole class hold a Canon in one hand and raise the other, but maybe should link them all together and swear them in on my Deardorff.



Thanks in advance for all the suggestions!

[Light Guru]

I found this on google.
http://www.petapixel.com/2011/10/10/...-photographer/
But I think it could use some updating. I would definitely add "I will never take a photo of a pregnant woman where a set of hands on the belly is shaped like a hart."

[Kimberly Anderson]

I tell my students that they need to be prepared to have two things happen to them:

1. You will get more picky.
2. You will become more of a snob.

If they're not ready to accept those two conditions I show them the door. So far no one has ever left. At the final critique I ask them if they have indeed become more picky and more of a snob, they all agree that it is exactly what has happened.

Keep the bar high!

[adelorenzo]

What constitutes 'restricted knowledge' in photography?

[BrianShaw]

The oath should inlcude:

1. photograph with wanton abandon
2. don't show crap
3. share knowledge freely - both artistic and technical

Oh, and a solemn oath has no value if made on a Canon... must be Nikon. And if using Deardorf for anything excpet piktur takin, that should be the secret initiation. A group of photo students holding hands, singing Kumbaya whilst prancing naked in counter-clockwise direction.

[Robert Langham]

If you don't know....I'm not sure I can say! I almost always clear the room of tourists when I talk about the six things that are going to happen when you take a photograph whether you want them to or not. Plus just tips like using a polarizer....often.

[photobymike]

Really ..... an oath? I love the "restricted knowledge" part As far as models are concerned.... they always wanted to "hide the hotdog" after the shoot.....

[Robert Langham]

There should be a video of the swearing in posted when it happens.

[Robert Langham]

I, _________of my own free will and without compulsion, swear and promise to image to the limits of my imagination, to Nikon and cellphone with abandon and respect, to download, darkroom, share and question my perceptions and process in a relentless pursuit of two-dimensional excellence and revelation. So help me Anne Frank.

Just mushing something together.......

[Robert Langham]

There are two types of photographers: The ones who relentlessly seek their personal vision and those who only want young women to take their shirts off. Don't be the wrong type!