lovelylyn Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

Last school year I let a friends daughter use my canon k2 rebel film camera for her photography class. I had purchased it for my daughter 8 yr ago thinking we"d sale it to someone the next year. They made the transition to digital the next year so I kept it. I was surprised when my friend said she needed a film camera as it's the same school district my daughter attended. Due to some re districting her daughter was transferred to a different school and wants to continue learning photography. I spoke with her teacher there to find out what and if she needed her own camera. I was shocked at his reply, you guessed it no more than a smart phone. Turns out the class is more about photo manipulation and special effects then learning true skills. Is this the norm or have budget cuts gone way to far in my neck of the woods?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

As the saying goes, "That depends." Composition is a big part of picture-taking, so that might get some attention. Once the picture is taken, though, post processing is where the magic happens. I could post a dozen different pictures here and ask for help in improving them, and it wouldn't matter what camera had taken them. It seems your daughter will be taking a post processing class, which will probably be more valuable than learning about f/stops and shutter speeds, which is much simpler.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

I don't think it has anything to do with budget cuts, but more to do with whats out there. Almost every child today from the age of six has one in there hand. I think it's becoming more of a birth right then anything else.

Some of the smart phones today are actually quite good and depending on the software the class is using can be probably more beneficial than using film.

From some of the works I've seen on here, lack of PP skills is perhaps more beneficial then what camera is in there hands. Just my Two Cents.

bjprovo Loc: Northeast CT

In the school where I teach, the art teacher is starting a new photography class. he has asked if I will come in as a guest speaker a few times. He really doesn't know much about using a camera or taking photos but he is an expert in Photoshop. Maybe this is the new trend.

lovelylyn Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

I understand that portion of it Jerry but shouldn't there be a foundation on which to build I mean I hear this all the time on here how raw images allow for more freedom in post, shooting in manual mode allows for more creative shots, the list could go on. Although she learned much of this last year. He informed me that the beginning and advanced class were combined. Suppose these student want to pursue as a career won't colleges and photography schools expect them to know at lest the basics of a dslr? Or has the dslr picked out its spot in the museum already.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You're absolutely right. Apparently this class isn't for the foundations. DSLR or mirrorless, there are still a lot of controls and settings to understand. Maybe she'll find another course to cover that. Online is one good source.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Just my thoughts- If the teacher will use the cell phone to teach what a photo is, perspective, "the rules" of composition, framing, etc, then any camera will do. Furthermore, scince they already have a "camera" the cell phone will ,pehaps, find the ones that want to move on to a "real" camera

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I think this is fast becoming the norm.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

:thumbup: :thumbup:
I think you are right. That is probably why the cell phone is used. They have the equipment, they are probably already interested in getting pictures (or selfies at least).

It is like a gateway drug. Get them hooked on the soft stuff and move them up to the hard stuff, like what you can do with greater resolution, later. Next thing you know they all have GAS!

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

That seems to be the direction that "photography" is headed. Take a snap shot and use post to try to turn it in to a photograph.

Lukie Miller Loc: St. Charles, Illinois

I teach and create curriculum for a high school photography program. Although I can teach both traditional and digital, what we are finding is that digital has taken over photography in numerous ways: most professionals use digital cameras; sources for traditional cameras, supplies and maintenance services are disappearing from the marketplace; a camera is just a tool, what really matters is the mind that uses it (composition, content and using the tool well) ... skills that can be taught easier on digital cameras; and finally, students need to understand post-production and image output if they are to use their photos for anything other than web posts.

When I taught traditional I would ask former students if they were using their photos skills. The answer was always "no" because they lacked access to supplies and labs. When they would return to my classes after just a summer break, they had forgotten most of the traditional skills they had learned. I felt I was wasting their precious time focusing on traditional photography, regardless of how much fun it was to work in the wet lab. Now I teach much more digital and my students are finding paying jobs photographing celebrations, babies, graduations, even weddings. Their work appears in the school yearbook and they win prizes and contests. That tells me that digital skills are the direction to go in.

Finally, post-production skills require a lot of teaching to master. Students are not short-changed or taught "photography-lite" when a program is based on digital skills. After all, a camera is merely a tool. What really matters is the mind of the photographer.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I taught basic photography back in the mid 70's. I also taught history, geog, etc for another 33+ years.

If I were to teach today I would go digital and offer film as a side thing, if I had a darkroom. But today a school really doesn't need a darkroom. A classroom with computers, projector, printers if budget allows, PP software and a studio area (use drama class's area/stage and the drama students as models in coop with drama teacher, in fact you could add video for the budding film makers)
Start with basics of composition, get them hooked and then go into exposure triangle and advanced techniques. Add lighting and other side skills as needed, or even have a supply of teaching videos and make those things independent study for the interested. Basic PP, if the school has a computer lab and resident geek/expert do a coop for PP, since as noted above there are computer experts who are great at PP but not photographers themselves.
As budget allows aquire a few advanced camers, lenses and accessories for speciality areas like macro. Use those for class demo/lab assignments and on a sort of library checkout basis. Also use them for advanced students to do projects for the school and other teachers. Put on exhibits or even shows in the aud to showcase their work on a regular basis. Say midterm and finals time.
As time goes on you will have a cadre of interested/skilled students and even former students available for projects, special classes, field trips, guest presentations. Also bring in any teachers or other staff who have interest/expertise to help. And of course create a good relationship with local professionals and photo shops, if any. "Back when" in 74/75 when I taught that class and for several years when I sponsored the photo club on other campuses I got a lot of materials from Kodak who had an education program that loaned out films, slide shows etc. Does anyone have that now? A local camera shop also sponsored a traveling multimedia show Kodak did with multiple slide projectors and a state of the art control panel run by two or three engineers and a flock of assistants (local college photo students, I think) manning the projectors to change slide trays during the show. It was spectacular, customers from the shop and multiple highschools and colleges filled a fairly large auditorium with students to watch it.

lovelylyn Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

I was not referring to film as basic skill I was referring to digital but more than a cell phone. Just that tha class is based on post production Lukie.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

Wait, you can learn about light and composition with a smart phone. Those are worthy skill sets, in fact the best skill sets. I know of so many who have exceptional equipment but don't know light and composition, shapes, textures, leading lines, etc.

This is high school, right? Why make the kids invest in any equipment at all? Learning how to post process is also very important. Again, I know many with DSLR's and they shoot jpeg and don't process at all. I am not worried with the teacher's approach. I think they are all in good hands.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Skills? What's that?