Student of Photography - ERASMUS

Making pictures is a very simple act. There is no great secret in photography…schools are a bunch of crap. You just need practice and application of what you’ve learned. My absolute conviction is that if you are working reasonably well the only important thing is to keep shooting…it doesn’t matter whether you are making money or not. Keep working, because as you go through the process of working things begin to happen. -Elliott Erwitt

I would ask myself (yourself) what language,culture you were interested in.Then go there.
If not ask yourself where you’d like to live for a while.go for the longest period possible.it’s not worth it otherwise.
See who’s teaching at the various courses, then research.
In my experience about 2% of university profs are really mind awakening.
Pot luck as to where/if you find them.

I have absolutely no idea about any of the schools you have listed, but I want to comment on the value of a formal education. I’m sure, like the post from Emanuel, you will get a lot of these replies. I agree with them to an extent, but do not let ideas like this ruin your attitude. Many professional photographers are, for the most part, self-taught. Many of them are brillant documentarians. But education is crucial as well. Shooting everyday is great, but having technique drilled into your head and being under the pressure of regular peer critiques is extremely valuable. If asked to comprise a list of the top photojournalists in the world, many of the LS members would come up with the same 25 or 50 people. Making pictures is a simple act, but so is slamming your fist into a piano. It takes a lot of work to become good at it. And like learning to play the piano, an education can make all the difference. I think many photographers would disagree with me, but I believe the art of making strong documentary photographs can be taught and learned. It’s not some innate quality some people have and some people don’t.

“schools are a bunch of crap”

i disagree…
in light of the recent ethics violations in mind, I would argue that schools have never been more important. I don’t believe you need to go to school to learn how to take good pictures, but schools give you the opportunity to dedicate a massive amount of time to learning the craft without having to hold a fulltime job or try to make ends meet. Student loans are a pain in the ass, but a formal education is an invaluable experience. Secondly, in a journalism program they pound ethics into your head (or at least they should). Maybe younger photographers will have a better understanding of the do’s and don’ts of photojournalism if they had a formal education. Thirdly, the constant critique/criticism/encouragement from faculty and students in acadamia is unmatched in my opinion. The relationships and contacts made throughout your education have become invaluable for me and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I think Emanuel makes a good point. I would look more into where you want to spend one year. I was an Erasmus myself, and it was one of the best years in my life. I would not worry too much about the school. Go to the city that interests you the most and spend the whole year taking photos and having fun, and then go take the exams.

From the cities you mention, I clearly vote for Madrid. You will have a blast (but I am biased; it’s my hometown). I studied at the Complutense. One of the biggest Universities in the world …

I can tell you that even if I haven´t studied in Madrid I have a lot of colleagues that did it. I imagine that you´d attend there the Sciences of the Information Faculty: Audiovisual Communication http://www.ucm.es/info/cavp1/CAVP1/licenciatura.htm In this link you have the info of all the subjects, with the name of the teacher so it will be easy to google them. As you can see there is not a lot about photo in this degree, as it is intended to be something about all means of visual (and audio) communication.

About the School in Valencia, first thing to say is that is much more specialized in photo: they have professional formation to become a photographer, though there are not university studies in photo: but here you will find much more students and teachers engaged with photography. I can tell you at least about Enrique Algarra who is the coordinator of the studies in photo and he is a nice guy who works hard for the school. Also there are a bunch of students that finish at this school and are doing some interesting works for example: www.sergiobelinchon,com

http://www.easdvalencia.com/english/education/photo.htm

By the way, the city of Valencia, though smaller than Madrid, is incredible and just a couple of hours from Barcelona. There you will find IVAM http://www.ivam.es/ a Museum of Modern Art, that used to be doing interesting things in photo (but not contemporary) and with a library with photo section.

About what studying photography is concerned, at least that, I have to admit that we  have still a long way to go  in Spain, and libraries always difficult to find.... despite the big PhotoEspaña photofestival in June.

I think that going to school is important.I learned a lot from a few excellent professors, and quite a bit from a lot of good ones.
However, There’s one thing uni taught me.There’s nothing I can’t learn on my own.
Having time to study is probably one of the biggest gifts someone can have.
Unfortunately Many universities seem to think that your time is theirs alone,setting ridiculous amounts of tasks,projects to do at home.
The luxury of doing nothing is greatly undervalued (read stevenson’s ode to idleness).
Why can’t you study in your free time if you have a job?

As far as taking good pictures and schooling. there is a correlation in my mind i.e.the study of the history of photography.even more importantly the history of art.
But it’s nothing you can’t learn by yourself.
As far as ethics goes. It seems ridiculous to have someone tell you what is ethical and what isn’t.read the professional guidelines,read case histories.
Read some philosophy.Make up your own mind.Standards change through time.

There is also the fact that there are many dark sides to uni.
I remember a few bastards who seemed to take glee in making 18 year old girls cry.Political agendas, religious agendas.power struggles between faculties and rectorate, lack of funds, or abundance.
Bored teachers,demotivated teachers,alcoholized teachers,plain ignorant teachers, uncommunicative teachers.Some excellent human beings as well, a few excellent teachers,people who really open your eyes,your mind.
Above all the absolute worst thing about the three universities I went to was the idea they unconsciously or consciously put into your head that the end, the scope of teaching was the exam.
Dangerous and stupid to motivate people in this way.

Making people do things for a reward,telling them there isn’t time.or not being able to allocate much time to taking different paths is dangerous.
You start learning things for the exam,instead of learning things for yourself.

All In all I met many wonderful people in my higher education studies.Learned a great deal,had access to huge resources.
Probably would do it again.
But from there to say it was necessary-no way.All I needed to know for photography or for life was there coming out of secondary education.

Uni is good,if you can, go, would be my advice to anybody.But it’s not necessary. Your indipendence is more important.
There are a lot of frustrated individuals in the University system.This is due to lack of career opportunities, low pay,huge cuts in government funding,overcrowding, fall in the prestige of higher education.
Remember, a lot of them didn’t actually want to teach,they wanted to do research,but there are some teaching hours allocated to them.Some find teaching fun and worthwhile.Others seem to find it a waste of time.

Just scratch below the surface,it’s all there, in some places more than others.

Hey @ all,

thanks for your answers! I don´t think that schools are a bunch of crap. I think, if you have a good teacher, he can teach you something or help you to choose the best pictures of one topic. But it´s right that you can actually only teach yourself taking good pictures… So I will choose the University in the city I am the most interested in. Thats Madrid or Brussels, I´m not already shure about that…

Thank you all about your advices, I will keep them in my mind!

Alice

Alice, that’s what I said.there a few good teachers you can learn a lot from.Many teachers you can learn something from,and some it’s best to avoid.But that’s true of almost anything.

Schools are a bunch of crap as Erwitt said. Teachers aren’t.

Alice,
St Lukas in Brussels is a very good school with a lot of equipment and well organized. I would also check out La Cambre, more “arty” but a very very nice school…
I can put you in touch with the head of the photo section there, just PM me if you are interested.
One of my former students just spent a year in Barcelona, I can put you in touch with him as well…
B.

Technically, you can teach yourself photography. Schools give you the chance to be exposed to other like minded and bright individuals and, to me, can give you a better broader world view, regardless of what you study. I personally think schools are a good thing because they allow you a chance to grow in a way you otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
I should disclose that I have gotten an undergraduate degree in advertising and am beginning a master’s program in photojournalism this year. I am not doing this program so I can get a job … I see it is an opportunity be more aware of things I wouldn’t be if I just strictly worked as a photographer.

Remember to make use of the variety of people and cultures available at universities, and don’t focus too hard on your major or you’ll miss a lot of the learning you could be doing in the university environment. And if you’re lucky you can even learn alot about photography from a great teacher.

I would recommed the London College of Printing if you have lots of money. Training and education is the best way forward however it is extremly difficult to make a living as a Photo Journalist. Yes its true you can pick up lots of skills at College and it is a great place to open up without risk of ridicule and try out new things.Its good also to have contacts in the business and stay in touch with your classmates.

I really would like to the “La Chambre” or to London as well, but I just can choose between the schools that I´ve written in my first post.
So I´ll just need to choose between Madrid and Brussel, because I find those cities the most interesting. If you have any informations about the schools, I would be glad if you can give them to me!

Thank for all your answers

Alice

screw it come to New Zealand and take photos of sheep and sunsets. Its cheap to Euro 1= 2 NZD so why not we need more good looking belgium girls down here.

Alice,
La Cambre is definitely part of the Erasmus program and you should be able to get in there…
I will be back in Belgium later today (Friday), I can put you in touch with the head of the photo section,
B.

Alice, as far as school is concerned they can only help you in theoritical part like ethics and all.. But the actual part of photography can never be taught. This is wat i have experienced. There is a lot which must be signalled by the eye to the brain and both must work together to achieve a great photograph. Colleges do play a role but not much as u expected them to play. Practice makes a man perfect (to some extent). Thanx..

Thats right, I think so as well. But nevertheless teacher can help you to help yourself. They can tell you whats good and what isn´t and why. They can help you to prepare yourself for the time after your studies… So thats why I´m looking for a good school whit good teachers. But I know that I must learn the actual part of photography by myself!

I believe you, Bruno, that La Cambre is part of the Ersamus programm. But maybe there´s no place for students from my university. Because it´s not in the list of the universities which I can choose.

Alice,
I suggest you send me details (name of your present school, which year you are in, name of the responsible teacher) by PM or email.
I can check that easily with la Cambre directly, I was teaching there until last year…
B.

Alice, Bruno. Let us know how it turns out! (hehe)