Teachers limiting your photography

Crimson-Canon · 07-03-2009, 05:43 PM

The title is a "true story", I was told several times by my art teachers that some of my photos were not pleasing to look at, and that I should return to my "cute photos" as she called them. Here's some background on WHY she said this. I was, at the time, going to a Christian School, what I took a photo of was this:

"It is a cute shot", I told her. She then gave me a rather distasteful look and told me "Those are two MALE manikins and I will not have THAT in my classroom!" Now, I understand what she was saying, but art is art. The title of the photo is now "Love in Universal". Because I believe everyone has the right to be in love with whomever they choose. And it shouldn't be limited by color, race, or gender. I believe that to be true with any kind of art too. (photography, drawing, digital art, anything.)

I have had a lot of different teachers tell me what I could and could not show in the art room. Even though they always say "the sky's the limit". having this come from an authority figure really got me down about my art work, causing me to have almost a two year long dry spell. I stopped drawing, taking photos and doing anything that involved art. I now am out of school and back to the full swing of things concerning my art, and photography.

Has anyone else experienced a teacher, or maybe even someone close to you telling you to limit your talent?

**DeadEye** · 07-03-2009, 06:00 PM

Ummm well my wife (yep the boss) asked me to not be making nude art in the basement. Yep that limits things. So now I gotta do the nudes outside.

J/K

D.E.

JerryPH · 07-03-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Crimson-Canon

She then gave me a rather distasteful look and told me "Those are two MALE manikins and I will not have THAT in my classroom!"

Hrmm... in what universe does she live where wooden mannequins of ANY kind have ANY gender?

Did you ask her to show you the female mannequin box, you know, the ones with breasts and female gennitalia? You would be interested in redoing the shot.

Tell her to get a life... lol

That said, there is a difference between being limited by a teacher and not listening to someone who understands and can deliver the basics with excellence in a manner that *can* help you.

**KmH** · 07-03-2009, 08:35 PM

"almost a two year dry spell." ?

Christian school !

Amazing.

Crimson-Canon · 07-03-2009, 10:07 PM

Dry spell meaning I wasn't inspired by anything, and I didn't want to doodle, or take pictures, of any kind. I just kind of stopped with my art all together.. ;[

rufus5150 · 07-03-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JerryPH

Hrmm... in what universe does she live where wooden mannequins of ANY kind have ANY gender?

Actually, those wood model mannequins traditionally have two very distinct genders. I have one of each and no, they're by no means anatomically correct, but standing next to one another, you can tell which one is definitely meant to represent the male and which one is definitely meant to represent the female.

It still doesn't mean she's not being ridiculous. Assuming it's only a homosexual relationship depicted is a pretty narrow minded. Familial, fraternal, etc, all types of same-sex bonds are expressed with embracing depicted in the photo.

Knowing me, though, I'd probably have retitled it "Brokebirch Mountain".

Whatever you do, don't allow one person to get you down like that. Take the Dalai Lama's tack on it: thank them for allowing you to encounter and overcome suffering, learn from the experience and move on.

**tnvol** · 07-04-2009, 02:18 AM

I agree with what you are saying and I dont have a problem with the picture, but a christian school probably isnt the place to look for a favorable opinion of a picture with two "male" subjects embracing each other. I dont know if the reaction you got was the one you were going for but I dont see how you could have expected anything else given your audience.

Crimson-Canon · 07-04-2009, 03:45 PM

Well, I was an Honor's Art Student. I created my own contract and was told I had no limits hence the "Sky's the limit" reference. I was told to take photos that are very common in an art room, and make people see them in a different light. No other instructions were told to me. So that's what I did. I showed the photo to other teachers, and they all loved it. None of them noticed they were "male". When I pointed it out, a lot of them still liked the photo, saying " it was tasteful, and not over done." "Subtle and heart-warming". Oh well, guess you'll always run into people who don't see eye to eye with you. That's a part of life. it's just hard for me because I love and respect a lot of Art teachers. Just don't understand how someone can judge art so harshly sometimes.

AlexColeman · 07-04-2009, 04:01 PM

Thats reading into the photo far too much.

Lol@ BrokeBirch Mountain.

ann · 07-04-2009, 04:14 PM

i would agree with alex,
in my class i would be much more concerned with the "light' or what ever is on the ceiling, and suggesting to move them more to the right.

would never cross my mind that this is a gender photo.

Crimson-Canon · 07-04-2009, 04:20 PM

Yeah, it's a sprinkler system in the background. Lol. It kind of looks like a blurry heart over one of their heads. Hehe. I could always photoshop it out..

Jon_Are · 07-05-2009, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Lol@ BrokeBirch Mountain.

I was thinking OakBack Mountain, but hey, it's all good.

Jon

fwellers · 07-05-2009, 05:27 AM

Well all you had to do in order to satisfy your narrow minded art teacher was to caption it. "The Road to Hell".

Garbz · 07-05-2009, 05:58 AM

Pull out a pencil and draw boobs on one of them. If she complains say "Hey it's an art class"

Or else get a new teacher. She has a problem.

FriedChicken · 07-05-2009, 07:42 AM

Quote:

She has a problem.

Nah... she is the problem.

07-03-2009, 05:43 PM	#1
Crimson-Canon TPF Noob! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 9 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Teachers limiting your photography The title is a "true story", I was told several times by my art teachers that some of my photos were not pleasing to look at, and that I should return to my "cute photos" as she called them. Here's some background on WHY she said this. I was, at the time, going to a Christian School, what I took a photo of was this: "It is a cute shot", I told her. She then gave me a rather distasteful look and told me "Those are two MALE manikins and I will not have THAT in my classroom!" Now, I understand what she was saying, but art is art. The title of the photo is now "Love in Universal". Because I believe everyone has the right to be in love with whomever they choose. And it shouldn't be limited by color, race, or gender. I believe that to be true with any kind of art too. (photography, drawing, digital art, anything.) I have had a lot of different teachers tell me what I could and could not show in the art room. Even though they always say "the sky's the limit". having this come from an authority figure really got me down about my art work, causing me to have almost a two year long dry spell. I stopped drawing, taking photos and doing anything that involved art. I now am out of school and back to the full swing of things concerning my art, and photography. Has anyone else experienced a teacher, or maybe even someone close to you telling you to limit your talent?

07-03-2009, 06:00 PM	#2
DeadEye I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 873 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Gallery: (6)	Ummm well my wife (yep the boss) asked me to not be making nude art in the basement. Yep that limits things. So now I gotta do the nudes outside. J/K D.E. __________________ .

07-03-2009, 06:51 PM	#3
JerryPH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 6,070 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 29 Times in 27 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by Crimson-Canon She then gave me a rather distasteful look and told me "Those are two MALE manikins and I will not have THAT in my classroom!" Hrmm... in what universe does she live where wooden mannequins of ANY kind have ANY gender? Did you ask her to show you the female mannequin box, you know, the ones with breasts and female gennitalia? You would be interested in redoing the shot. Tell her to get a life... lol That said, there is a difference between being limited by a teacher and not listening to someone who understands and can deliver the basics with excellence in a manner that can help you. __________________ I've left for greener pastures. Please don't PM me (no joke!).

07-03-2009, 08:35 PM	#4
KmH Image Maker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,826 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 211 Times in 202 Posts My Gallery: (0)	"almost a two year dry spell." ? Christian school ! Amazing. __________________ FOR SALE (3/8/10-UPDATED): Nikon AF-S 70-300 mm VR G ...........................................: Nikon D60 w/grip Keith. . . .NAPP member - referral link: https://www.photoshopuser.com/signup...xq&code=friend "Most advanced amateur photographers are better photographers, than most professional photographers". - tomrit Zenfolio? Referral code - TEY-M6D-6DG You save $5 when you sign up and I get a $5 credit.

07-03-2009, 11:36 PM	#6
rufus5150 TPF Junkie! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,429 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 20 Times in 20 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by JerryPH Hrmm... in what universe does she live where wooden mannequins of ANY kind have ANY gender? Actually, those wood model mannequins traditionally have two very distinct genders. I have one of each and no, they're by no means anatomically correct, but standing next to one another, you can tell which one is definitely meant to represent the male and which one is definitely meant to represent the female. It still doesn't mean she's not being ridiculous. Assuming it's only a homosexual relationship depicted is a pretty narrow minded. Familial, fraternal, etc, all types of same-sex bonds are expressed with embracing depicted in the photo. Knowing me, though, I'd probably have retitled it "Brokebirch Mountain". Whatever you do, don't allow one person to get you down like that. Take the Dalai Lama's tack on it: thank them for allowing you to encounter and overcome suffering, learn from the experience and move on. __________________ NAPP, PPA

07-03-2009, 10:07 PM	#5
Crimson-Canon TPF Noob! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 9 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Dry spell meaning I wasn't inspired by anything, and I didn't want to doodle, or take pictures, of any kind. I just kind of stopped with my art all together.. ;[

07-04-2009, 02:18 AM	#7
tnvol Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 112 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I agree with what you are saying and I dont have a problem with the picture, but a christian school probably isnt the place to look for a favorable opinion of a picture with two "male" subjects embracing each other. I dont know if the reaction you got was the one you were going for but I dont see how you could have expected anything else given your audience.

07-04-2009, 03:45 PM	#8
Crimson-Canon TPF Noob! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 9 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Well, I was an Honor's Art Student. I created my own contract and was told I had no limits hence the "Sky's the limit" reference. I was told to take photos that are very common in an art room, and make people see them in a different light. No other instructions were told to me. So that's what I did. I showed the photo to other teachers, and they all loved it. None of them noticed they were "male". When I pointed it out, a lot of them still liked the photo, saying " it was tasteful, and not over done." "Subtle and heart-warming". Oh well, guess you'll always run into people who don't see eye to eye with you. That's a part of life. it's just hard for me because I love and respect a lot of Art teachers. Just don't understand how someone can judge art so harshly sometimes.

07-04-2009, 04:01 PM	#9
AlexColeman TPF Junkie! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,598 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Thats reading into the photo far too much. Lol@ BrokeBirch Mountain. __________________ New:: D3S 17-35, 50 1.4, 70-200, 105 Macro

07-04-2009, 04:14 PM	#10
ann TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,403 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts My Gallery: (0)	i would agree with alex, in my class i would be much more concerned with the "light' or what ever is on the ceiling, and suggesting to move them more to the right. would never cross my mind that this is a gender photo.

07-04-2009, 04:20 PM	#11
Crimson-Canon TPF Noob! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 9 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Yeah, it's a sprinkler system in the background. Lol. It kind of looks like a blurry heart over one of their heads. Hehe. I could always photoshop it out.. __________________ I'm just a girl with a camera, ready for anything. My goal is to inspire and create. Having fun along the way is a perk.

07-05-2009, 04:58 AM	#12
Jon_Are I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 603 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Lol@ BrokeBirch Mountain. I was thinking OakBack Mountain, but hey, it's all good. Jon __________________ Nikon D80 Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5 - 4.5 Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 Sigma 10-20mm f/4 - 5.6 Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Nikon SB-80 Speedlight x 2 Lens cap One time, this guy handed me a picture of him, he said, "Here's a picture of me when I was younger." Dude, every picture is of you when you were younger. - Mitch Hedberg

07-05-2009, 05:27 AM	#13
fwellers I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern VA Posts: 355 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Well all you had to do in order to satisfy your narrow minded art teacher was to caption it. "The Road to Hell".

07-05-2009, 05:58 AM	#14
Garbz TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 7,466 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 82 Times in 78 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Pull out a pencil and draw boobs on one of them. If she complains say "Hey it's an art class" Or else get a new teacher. She has a problem. __________________ "I am always satisfied with the best." -Oscar Wilde Larger versions always on flickr Best photos in my gallery Proud Supporter of The Pact

07-05-2009, 07:42 AM	#15
FriedChicken I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 507 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: She has a problem. Nah... she is the problem.

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