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              [Picture] The Difference Between Those With An Art Degree And Those Without

              I Just ran across and funny picture on 9gag.com. I didn’t go to school for photography so it’s easy for me to pick on the system. What do you guys think? Is paying to go to school for 4 years to learn photography worth it?

              artfunny1 [Picture] The Difference Between Those With An Art Degree And Those Without

              November 7, 2011
              Lee Morris
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              • http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall

                ha and not to mention the overhand grip!

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1492020186 Thomas Woodson

                Pre-college I absolutely hated the education system and didn’t see any need for me to get a liberal arts education. Now with graduation a semester away, I can’t thank myself enough for sticking through it all. Words cannot express how important the experience has been for me, and has shaped my art in ways I couldn’t even imagine. School isn’t right for everyone, it’s pretty damn tough on me, but studying the humanities, art history, and the world around me has taught me more than any graphic design or photography class has.

                Basically an inquisitive nature and self reflection are all you need to grow as an artist from what I’ve seen, school is just one method of unlocking those things.

              • http://www.facebook.com/paintballftw James Robertson

                One’s right…

                the other’s acute.
                                                                                                  Bazinga.

              • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2JNQJTFQYUTDICR5STZABVVI54 Michael

                Why isn’t she falling over? Or do they teach anti-gravity in art school…

              • http://www.rlmorris.com Lee Morris

                I don’t regret going to College at all, it was the time of my life. But I learned 99.9% of everything I use for my career once I got out of school and into the real world. 

              • http://twitter.com/LevyMoroshan Levy Moroshan

                You’re better off investing the school money in some gear and working your butt off.  I’ve got assistants that went to a very well known photography schools and still put out mediocre work.  It’s more about determination and persistence.  BTW – I have a degree in biology and never went to photography school.  And I still shoot big name clients. :)

              • Rick Bennett

                Unless you’re going to free-lance, you pretty much need to have a degree to get any job paying more than $10/hour (in the US). Do you need to go to art school to shoot weddings or senior portraits? No way.

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=823125853 Paul Kremer

                Not commenting on the main issue, that picture is misleading. If the girl were 5 inches shorter, she wouldn’t have to bend like that to get that angle, would she? I could take the same picture of a professional photographer who just happens to have the right angle standing at a 90-degree right angle snapping a shot and write “tourist,” couldn’t I? 

                The point should be that the art student is adjusting to find the right angle for the shot she wants. This picture is making it seem like the angle of her body is what is relevant. It should be showing what she is doing in relationship to the subject, not focusing on the angle of the photographer’s body. A shorter subject might have to stand on a stool to get that same angle.  

              • http://www.facebook.com/CodyWaynePhotography Cody Wayne Bridges

                I never went to school nor do I ever feel the need to. What can a school teach you that the internet cant these days, as well as networking and talking with other photographers. Most photographers that we admire never went to school for it as well. In fact most of them got a degree in something completely different. School can teach you the tech aspect, but you cant teach art! You ether have the eye for it, or you don’t. Photography skills are gained by experience and situations we learn from. I even have graduates coming up and asking me for help as if they never learned a thing. So in all you can put yourself in debt paying off school loans and spending hours on end at school, or you can put yourself in debt investing in your craft and spending countless hours putting yourself out there and making yourself noticed! The End.

              • http://twitter.com/geofflister Geoff Lister

                I’m at a major research university and have taken exactly one fine art course. I will never take another (the school’s focus is on the cutting edge/performance art, it’s weird).

                I’m plodding through a business degree part-time now, working at the school paper full-time. I have learned more about business and management working for the paper.

                To be fair, I never would have pushed myself into sports photography and photoj without going to school, never would have learned design or how to work a 60 hour week, go to class, study and keep up on a Friday night.

                Without University, I’d recommend it to anyone, but not in photography. Go get a poli-sci degree.

              • http://twitter.com/Antovega Anto Vega

                Not so smart post.

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000013742481 Glenn Marsh

                Talent can not be taught and some people here can not recognize a joke..

              • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/LK2UNCY2F3B2EI5BIE6NNFE33Q Brian

                I went to school for Image Arts (New Media – there was about a year of photography) and I find this hilarious.

              • http://www.facebook.com/derrel.hoshing Relzlife Ho-Shing

                first of all, they’re both standing on their feet… FAIL!!!!!!!

              • http://www.facebook.com/paintballftw James Robertson

                Guys, stop analyzing the shit out of the photo, you’re starting to sound like art majors…

              • Faisal Manzoor

                Going school or college is like a holding a hand of your father.

                Once you get in practical life you on your own.
                How many of people here implement those which u learn from school or college ? 

              • http://www.facebook.com/scott.mains Scott Mains

                To be fair. I am doing my second year of Photography at university. While most of the first year was technical practice this second year is about the marketing and the business side of things. I believe the real difference between those with a degree and those without is the “Terms & Conditions” of a contract. To many amateurs still thinking they can get casual work and risk losing a lot without having the paperwork to support it. 

              • http://www.facebook.com/davidjorozco David J. Orozco

                haha It’s a joke Paul.

              • http://www.facebook.com/davidjorozco David J. Orozco

                Personally I don’t think it is. Your better off finding a mentor or photographer you admire and pay him to assist him for 4 months and I would be willing to bet that if photography is your passion, and you have a talent for it that you will learn more assisting than anything. Otherwise your better off not “investing the money in good gear” but saving it and buy an old 35mm film camera, a 50mm lens, and film and shoot for at least a year with only that to learn basics and also patience. Disclaimer: I am not an “old film fart” just a 20 year old who loves film.

              • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tomas-Piliponis/100000675654670 Tomas Piliponis

                I started to earn my “bread and butter” from photography after 3 years past since I took my first camera in my hands. But in my country to earn serious money (above average) you must to have “a paper” (Diploma of Higher Education). Unless, of course, you are wedding photographer who takes “sweet” pictures… So, right now I am final year photography student in one of the most respectable art academy in my country and after all those three years I learned almost nothing that I didn’t known already. But since you (in most cases) can’t fight against “system”, you do what you have to do…

              • Robert Simpson

                People get so caught up in their own pompousity and self-worth when it comes to their oh-so-damn-important ‘degrees’ that they forget that it’s supposed to be about *education* and not *qualification*.  You go to college to learn, not just for a silly little hipster piece of paper to waggle over your head to proclaim your brilliance to the masses of have-not’s.

                I happen to work in a somewhat rare & highly desirable IT niche -people are always asking me about what qualification will get them in to the industry and in to a job like mine. I have to keep telling people that it’s not about qualifications – it’s about ability and experience, and if you have to work for free as an apprentice or intern to get the experience, then THAT’S where you should be spending your precious four years.

                Who would you chose to shoot your wedding? A first time shooter with a piece of paper and no real experience, or a first time shooter with 4 years of experience as a photographers assistant? 

              • http://twitter.com/BLKPXLS BLK PXLS

                I went to school for graphic design.I wish I had saved that money and bought  all the gear I needed using books and magazines on my own.  You cant teach creativity. Thats why we have a lot of people with “creative”degrees who cant find jobs because their portfolio is filled with copies of the current trend. They are not artists, they just went to art school. 

              • http://twitter.com/BLKPXLS BLK PXLS

                If you look close the “Art graduate” is shooting on auto mode…. LOL

              • http://www.robloud.com Rob Loud

                The overhand grip is the worst!

              • Chris Szulwach

                I’ll just say that my assistant went to photography school, I didn’t.  I make a lot more money in photography than he does.

              • http://www.rlmorris.com Lee Morris

                I took courses like this in college as well but now looking back it seems like I could have just asked a photographer that I was working for to look at his contract and that would have been sufficient. I have no doubt that your courses are better than mine though, as I didn’t actually go to school for photography. 

              • http://www.facebook.com/nyajtimauteyaaj Nyaj Timautes Yaaj

                yes i agree

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1828060700 Jonathan Cheek

                I would argue in favor of an “art” degree not a “photography” degree. This art form is very requires a technical understanding that not many people want to put the time into. You can learn these skills, techniques, and principles just by doing a simple Google search.  It’s also true that you can’t learn creativity. But going to a good art school is going to teach you something that most people overlook. They will teach you how keep being creative. Good art teachers realize artists don’t always feel “creative”, so how do you keep fresh when your vision is required of you and your “just not feeling it?” A good art school will teach you what environment you should be in, what habits you need to keep, what kind of things you should research, what kind of people you should be around, and also how to fail. I have seen “uncreative people” take these things to heart and by doing so, they have taught THEMSELVES how to be creative.

              • http://www.facebook.com/people/Wyatt-Michalek/505028910 Wyatt Michalek

                Well the juxtaposition of  the two….ah fuck it! Made me chuckle. END.

              • http://twitter.com/Elena_Jasic Elena Jasic

                One of these two people is clearly in more debt then the other. 

              • Mike M

                Is that a reversed hood? 

                Obviously art school is totally worth it.

              • Anonymous

                While you can definitely work as a photographer without a degree, the degree opens up doors that are not commonly open for a young person trying to work as a photographer. Find me a 22 year old “making it” as a fashion photographer. You won’t find one. But you will find 22 year old with degrees with strong portfolios making their way into the industry 4 years ahead of anyone else without a degree. Those four years may make the difference in their bank account, some won’t. Its all a gamble. Then again you could also go to work for Kodak or Fuji with a college degree, where your portfolio won’t cut it.

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1214611319 Crosby Ignasher

                well as someone who got accepted into art school last tuesday and is going, i have to learn towards its worth it

              • http://www.facebook.com/RayTuquero Raymond Tuquero

                I graduated back in 2005 with a degree from the Art Institute of Dallas. 

                Having been in the field since then, I find there are ups and downs for having a degree. I would have to say that I did indeed learn a good amount from the school, but I do agree with Lee’s earlier comments here, about the fact that a good amount of my skill comes from the Real World outside of school.

                But to me, school is a stepping stone to point you in the right direction. Sure without a degree I would have eventually gotten to where I am now, but with the degree I have been able to leap a bit forward ahead of fighting to show people I knew what I was doing.

                I have found that this is an on-going debate, and I stand in the middle, because I don’t think there is enough pro or cons to win either side. Some people need it, and some people dont. It’s not a gift of talent from birth … it’s a dedication. If you don’t have the dedication, neither path will get you anywhere.

                Raymond

              • Simon Bredhead

                Seems like a lot of sour grapes here. each author offers his or her own anecdotal experience. Not every student will be able to work as a photographer, while there are a number of shitty pro’s about. I thinking learning is important, not the paper. Sometimes school helps get past the silly mistakes, so you can move on the to the important stuff. Maybe stop the generalizing.

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=847470423 Louis Rafael Rosenthal

                the difference between art grad photographer and photographer without an art degree might be more interesting ….in europe art schools have a very strong “trash art” or “shock art” tendency… (don’t know of a correct word for it)

              • Anonymous

                BULLOCKS!! to an art/photography degree!!! I have never had anyone not hire me for never finishing college. Yes, it is important to know what the hell you are doing with a camera/photoshop. I started out working many hours in a darkroom before graduating from high school. I did do a year of art school in Italy(all manual drawing), no photography in 1991. In 1996 I did a Masters Photoshop Workshop at the University of South Carolina(photoshop 4, not CS4). No art degree and No photography degree. And I have said NO many times to jobs, most recently after being insulted by NYC Metrosource Magazine (budget of 200$ for 10 photos)

              • Anonymous

                http://winterson.com/2005/09/extreme-photo-taking.html

                What about them asian photographers and their crazy stance?

              • http://www.facebook.com/gvanniekerk Gillian van Niekerk

                where I studied photography the comments might be: is that a prime lens?
                Anyone who is serious about their craft will value study, be it at an institution or mentorship.

              • http://kenntam.com Kenn Tam

                When shooting with heavier systems/lens combinations where a vertical grip isn’t present, I often use an overhand grip.  It’s easier on my fragile asian wrist.  :)

              • Anonymous

                I was working professionally before I decided to study it at University just so I had a degree behind me. I soon realised it was pointless and patronising and left to go and earn some money. No regrets.

                How many phots have been turned down for a job because they don’t have a qualification? None that I know of. 

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=712322265 Robert Potter

                Twenty years ago I studied a BTEC Photography Design course (full time two years) in the U.K., they don’t just teach the arty bit. The course is made up of photography (composition, lighting, post, etc) , video, graphic design, a small bit of art history, marketing and business administration. Looking back the photography / video bit was pretty so-so but the other parts have really helped me in my current photography business.

              • http://www.facebook.com/eric.filson Eric Filson

                lol, I saw the image and before reading any text I thought to myself…. Is FS 9gaging now?! Epic…

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=823125853 Paul Kremer

                Ah, I must have missed it. In my experience, jokes are supposed to be funny. ;)

              • http://www.facebook.com/josephlhorvath Joe Horvath

                You said exactly what I was thinking. I went to “art school” myself and the first thing that I realized is that I only had to do very mediocre work to get the grades that I wanted. The other thing that I realized is that it was a great opportunity to get feedback on my work, and be around other “creative” minded people. I was forced to do things that I would never have wanted to do on my own and I realize that this helped me become a better rounded artist. I wouldn’t say that I was necessarily more creative at the end of it all, but I knew a lot more about how to channel that creativity and how to be productive. 

              • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GSHJHWXD6DOLLYWHHGWCHR3Q24 Patrick

                So much brainwash has been done….lol

              • http://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.lowman Jeff Lowman

                I got a photojournalism degree from Arizona State University, the only thing that has done for me is build a reputation, starting point for client base, and access to resources that wouldn’t be available to me if I hadn’t gone.  Degree takes up a nice 8×10 size frame space on my wall too :D 

              • http://twitter.com/jojomamangun jojo mamangun

                it’s not what you shoot, it how you shoot it. that is art!

                :)

              • Anonymous

                I think you went to the wrong school.

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504835674 Michael Girardi

                Same. Only after I got out of college did it hit me how little I know about my profession and what I’m doing.

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