From: Christina Z. Anderson (zphoto@montana.net)
Date: 12/15/02-12:31:16 PM Z
<big snip> Out of curiosity, are these students also required to write about
their
> work?
>
> Darryl
Darryl,
Yes, they are required to write a sort of statement of intent or
purpose at the beginning of the semester that includes such things as
subject matter, technique, content, audience, influences. This particular
student did so, and was very concise in his wording. Maybe from what you
say it would be good to have them write an *end* statement. I also like the
way you handle critique (the big part I snipped, here).
BTW, I'm collecting all these suggestions/opinions into a sheet and
going to discuss it with my fellow professors this week (they probably get
sick of me talking about "THE LIST"). I also collected some stuff on the
Japanese culture and its way of communicating. I also need to collect some
more info on Zen. I want to open dialogue with them about a very crucial
part of teaching photography. Obviously this interchange between myself and
the other professor has been profitable because it hit home enough with the
students so that they are all talking about it--the hot topic of the week.
It is good that I go to grad school this next fall for two years (if some
place accepts me), leave teaching for a while, and hash these issues out
there, too.
Interesting, I went to the final show last night, brought my kids, and
you know what comment they made when viewing this student's work? They
said, "I feel like I want to place a bed in front of them and just rest and
contemplate." One of them, the 18 yr old, said it was her favorite work in
the show. The essence of this man's work is beautiful. Montana
landscapes--he is able to capture Montana, how it feels to me, much the same
way as Russell Chatham does--muted colors on most, every one has delicate
detail but nothing bold, no *mountains* to speak of unless they are small
and in the distance (this in itself is unusual in that our valley is
surrounded by dramatic mountains!), cows/deer and trees are all little
teeny. One pic, my fave, had a little row of antelope on the horizon, so
small and silhouetted you could barely discern them, in a mostly
monchromatic wheat field and sky all the same sort of warm wheaty color.
One was a quite bright green (for this student) grassy field with little
teeny dandelion fuzzies sprinkled thruout. Small, delicate, understated,
muted. Skies always have content. Horizon is usually straight, little above
or below the middle of the picture. In essence, no bold drama here in line,
shape, color, subject.
Chris
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : 01/31/03-09:31:25 AM Z CST