Lennybird
05-08-2009, 06:43 PM
Hey guys,
[edit]: first and foremost, I apologize if this is the wrong thread to put this. I deemed this board the seemingly most appropriate.]
I'm going to try and make this as precise as possible without wasteful fluff.
I like art. I love it. I love sound production, I love drawing (as bad as I am), 3D animation, video, music, writing (stories, novels, etc), theatre, and finally - Photography. I've really taken to photography for a few reasons, but I want to make sure the reality of photography fits my perception of it. But first, you have to understand where I'm coming from.
My background: I am a graduating Senior homeschooler this year in Phoenix, Arizona. I moved to Arizona with my family last January and was disappointed to find out that Arizona's homeschool program is far worse than Pennsylvania. If I would've stayed in PA for just two more years, I would've received a state sponsored, accredited high school diploma instead of what I must now do: take the GED...
I'm as humble and modest as I possibly be; I don't take to arrogance or pompous pride, but I need to give you an idea of what I've been told that I am and what I believe what kind of person I am myself, so don't take this the wrong way: About half way through the age of fifteen when moving in with my sister and brother in-law due to family problems, I realized I needed to get my act together (I'm disappointed it took me so long). My mom was going through too hard of a time for a good many years to help me out, so my sister and brother in-law took up the role and really pushed me along. Well that period ended in an unfortunate way, I still have the self-motivation, but not the guidance. Separated from me, my sister and brother in-law are still diligently trying to help me, but it's difficult with a feud going on. They wish for me to move in with them and that they'd be able to help me out more in preparation for school; and, no offense to them, but I don't want to cause more family problems and wish to be off on my own as soon as I can. Seemingly more-so than the average graduating high school senior.
So in short, I'm a persistant, determined, disciplined kid with no guidance and a knack for being a jack of all trades and a master of none. All the stated art forms above I've dabbled in and put some amount of time into each, but I'm not particularly great at any of them. I've drawn my own conclusion and sort of had a paradigm shift in thinking, realizing that this world is no place for Jacks of all Trades. With DaVinci as a role model, I was trying to defy that classified persona and prove that you can be a master in many subjects. But no matter what, you're taking time away from one subject to give to another when you could've learned even more about the first. Even DaVinci would've been a better painter if that's all he did, or a better Architecht, or a better sculptor, etc.
It's moreso the case today with such high competition in every field. Hardly any jobs are looking for a person who is decent at a lot of things. A lot of jobs do, however want a complete and utter specialist. Nowhere does this seem more apparent than in the Art & Entertainment industry.
In anything I can do, I try to overachieve. My philosophy is that the higher your own expectations, the better the result. I was shooting for best employee at Target and got it, I'm shooting for Eagle scout and will have it in less than a month. But in all honesty, my self confidence is sub-par. Perhaps a side-effect of homeschooling - not being able to see grades and compare yourself to anyone else leaves you wondering where you truly are. It's something I'm working on and have become a lot better at - self confidence.
Guidance is huge for me. In one respect, I love doing things on my own. I've developed a respect for personal responsibility, so in anything I do - I try to do on my own before asking for help. Not because I'm selfish, but because I feel that I should be able to do it on my own to become a more efficient person and not to leach off of others. But at this point, as far as a career is concerned, I understand direct guidance is the best way I learn. I have confidence in myself that once I'm in a school or college, I will have the motivation to not party, but to study. To do exactly as the professors tell me and get it done, for I know what investing means. I'm confident in my ability to learn fast from others, but this leaves me in a predicament where I'm stubbornly self responsible and utterly alone with little help from my parents or anybody else. So all these decisions I make, I'm making them. I'm not being influenced by anyone else; but this in causes me to be cautious because I know I'm inexperienced and lack much understanding of the outside world. So I'm trying to deeply analyze my decisions and get as much feedback as possible to make sure I'm on the right track.
Okay, that's over with, so onto the direct questions:
1.) Photojournalism: What is it really like? What can I expect? What is the worst case scenario, and what is the best? What are your suggestions?
My goal is to make enough money to survive (comfortably) and travel. I want to travel. Being homeschooled has brought about a craving for the polar opposite of what I usually do - stay in exactly one spot with little outside world involvement. I like world news and love seeing photos from around the world to put it simply. I like documentaries on world issues, such as Current TV's vanguard journalist reports. I especially like the collage of photos that the Boston Globe does in their, "The Big Picture" blogs. Likewise with BBC's Daily Pictures. What I wouldn't do to be in the middle of a protest riot snapping pictures from my entry level DSLR.
2.) What school? As stated, I'm in Phoenix, Arizona right now. I'm willing to travel about two states in any direction to attend a good photo journalism school.
3.) To take my previous question further, I've heard a lot of photographers saying that, it is up to you to see how far you go - meaning it doesn't matter a whole lot which school you go to for photojournalism - be it a prestigious art school, or a state university - rather, your own dedication is far more important.
4.) I believe I have a good shot at becoming a portrait photographer at a portrait studio in my Target store. They give you photography classes free of charge and I would think it would be a great thing to have on your resume at my age as well as to put on a college school application. Would you advise me to do it? It's ultimately not what I want to do, but at least it would be a job that I'd be learning photography techniques starting out as I am inexperienced.
5.) I was thinking another way to gain experience, get some photos for a portfolio, and maybe even make couple bucks is to get a Canon EF-S 100-400mm IS lens and do sports for the local little league. I've heard that can work out pretty well. Regardless, I am planning on saving for that $1200 lens (it will be a while), but do you recommend doing so? Would my money be better spent elsewhere? I still need to get a UV filter and I've heard mixed things about polarized filters - do you recommend them?
Thank you so much for responding. This is a bit overwhelming for me, but I'm excited ;-)
-Jake
[edit]: first and foremost, I apologize if this is the wrong thread to put this. I deemed this board the seemingly most appropriate.]
I'm going to try and make this as precise as possible without wasteful fluff.
I like art. I love it. I love sound production, I love drawing (as bad as I am), 3D animation, video, music, writing (stories, novels, etc), theatre, and finally - Photography. I've really taken to photography for a few reasons, but I want to make sure the reality of photography fits my perception of it. But first, you have to understand where I'm coming from.
My background: I am a graduating Senior homeschooler this year in Phoenix, Arizona. I moved to Arizona with my family last January and was disappointed to find out that Arizona's homeschool program is far worse than Pennsylvania. If I would've stayed in PA for just two more years, I would've received a state sponsored, accredited high school diploma instead of what I must now do: take the GED...
I'm as humble and modest as I possibly be; I don't take to arrogance or pompous pride, but I need to give you an idea of what I've been told that I am and what I believe what kind of person I am myself, so don't take this the wrong way: About half way through the age of fifteen when moving in with my sister and brother in-law due to family problems, I realized I needed to get my act together (I'm disappointed it took me so long). My mom was going through too hard of a time for a good many years to help me out, so my sister and brother in-law took up the role and really pushed me along. Well that period ended in an unfortunate way, I still have the self-motivation, but not the guidance. Separated from me, my sister and brother in-law are still diligently trying to help me, but it's difficult with a feud going on. They wish for me to move in with them and that they'd be able to help me out more in preparation for school; and, no offense to them, but I don't want to cause more family problems and wish to be off on my own as soon as I can. Seemingly more-so than the average graduating high school senior.
So in short, I'm a persistant, determined, disciplined kid with no guidance and a knack for being a jack of all trades and a master of none. All the stated art forms above I've dabbled in and put some amount of time into each, but I'm not particularly great at any of them. I've drawn my own conclusion and sort of had a paradigm shift in thinking, realizing that this world is no place for Jacks of all Trades. With DaVinci as a role model, I was trying to defy that classified persona and prove that you can be a master in many subjects. But no matter what, you're taking time away from one subject to give to another when you could've learned even more about the first. Even DaVinci would've been a better painter if that's all he did, or a better Architecht, or a better sculptor, etc.
It's moreso the case today with such high competition in every field. Hardly any jobs are looking for a person who is decent at a lot of things. A lot of jobs do, however want a complete and utter specialist. Nowhere does this seem more apparent than in the Art & Entertainment industry.
In anything I can do, I try to overachieve. My philosophy is that the higher your own expectations, the better the result. I was shooting for best employee at Target and got it, I'm shooting for Eagle scout and will have it in less than a month. But in all honesty, my self confidence is sub-par. Perhaps a side-effect of homeschooling - not being able to see grades and compare yourself to anyone else leaves you wondering where you truly are. It's something I'm working on and have become a lot better at - self confidence.
Guidance is huge for me. In one respect, I love doing things on my own. I've developed a respect for personal responsibility, so in anything I do - I try to do on my own before asking for help. Not because I'm selfish, but because I feel that I should be able to do it on my own to become a more efficient person and not to leach off of others. But at this point, as far as a career is concerned, I understand direct guidance is the best way I learn. I have confidence in myself that once I'm in a school or college, I will have the motivation to not party, but to study. To do exactly as the professors tell me and get it done, for I know what investing means. I'm confident in my ability to learn fast from others, but this leaves me in a predicament where I'm stubbornly self responsible and utterly alone with little help from my parents or anybody else. So all these decisions I make, I'm making them. I'm not being influenced by anyone else; but this in causes me to be cautious because I know I'm inexperienced and lack much understanding of the outside world. So I'm trying to deeply analyze my decisions and get as much feedback as possible to make sure I'm on the right track.
Okay, that's over with, so onto the direct questions:
1.) Photojournalism: What is it really like? What can I expect? What is the worst case scenario, and what is the best? What are your suggestions?
My goal is to make enough money to survive (comfortably) and travel. I want to travel. Being homeschooled has brought about a craving for the polar opposite of what I usually do - stay in exactly one spot with little outside world involvement. I like world news and love seeing photos from around the world to put it simply. I like documentaries on world issues, such as Current TV's vanguard journalist reports. I especially like the collage of photos that the Boston Globe does in their, "The Big Picture" blogs. Likewise with BBC's Daily Pictures. What I wouldn't do to be in the middle of a protest riot snapping pictures from my entry level DSLR.
2.) What school? As stated, I'm in Phoenix, Arizona right now. I'm willing to travel about two states in any direction to attend a good photo journalism school.
3.) To take my previous question further, I've heard a lot of photographers saying that, it is up to you to see how far you go - meaning it doesn't matter a whole lot which school you go to for photojournalism - be it a prestigious art school, or a state university - rather, your own dedication is far more important.
4.) I believe I have a good shot at becoming a portrait photographer at a portrait studio in my Target store. They give you photography classes free of charge and I would think it would be a great thing to have on your resume at my age as well as to put on a college school application. Would you advise me to do it? It's ultimately not what I want to do, but at least it would be a job that I'd be learning photography techniques starting out as I am inexperienced.
5.) I was thinking another way to gain experience, get some photos for a portfolio, and maybe even make couple bucks is to get a Canon EF-S 100-400mm IS lens and do sports for the local little league. I've heard that can work out pretty well. Regardless, I am planning on saving for that $1200 lens (it will be a while), but do you recommend doing so? Would my money be better spent elsewhere? I still need to get a UV filter and I've heard mixed things about polarized filters - do you recommend them?
Thank you so much for responding. This is a bit overwhelming for me, but I'm excited ;-)
-Jake