Jonathan Knight
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Go to a good school that can give you a broad education. I've never understood going to some of these private, overpriced, way over hyped *cough* *cough* Brooks Institute *cough* when they teach you very little about photography and doesn't really get you ahead of anyone else when you are applying for jobs before you graduate.
(from a post a few weeks ago) It applies pretty well to your situation and most everyone's situation.
Anyway, I suggest people look into things more than just "the education." Missouri has very strong publications but at the same time, with so many photographers the experience gained, as far as I can see with talking to a few people at the Mizzou/KSU game a few weeks ago, isn't what it's all cracked up to be. As a freshman and sophomore you are really struggling to get anything published and (this may be a little off) you are only taking assignments from a 3 hour block in which you are supposed to be in the Photo Office. Now, by your junior and senior year these things may change. Also, the two Mizzou/KSU games I have traveled to, I have seen about 7 MU photographers on the floor. (Regardless of the absolutely ridiculous nature of that and thinking about all the spots they are taking away from working professionals) it seems like that would be a situation as a freshman or sophomore I wouldn't want to be in. Yes, competition is good, but at the same time, I would rather have a fairly good shot at getting a shot published and feeling a little less "pressure" than knowing 7 of my counterparts are getting the same exact shots and the Editor may as well end up playing favorites in the final edit.
Let's look at another situation: I currently am a freshman at Kansas State University. Known in the past for having very strong student publications and a photo staff , I looked at going to a school that I knew I would love attending no matter where my major ended up landing. (7 relatives have gone to Kansas State including my mom, dad, brother, sister. I have been to K-State probably 500 times before I ever stepped foot on campus as a student). I have worked as a Staff Photographer since September after a 6 week "Freelance" process (it varies, though. The quickest in recent history has been 3 weeks and one person made it on staff after 2 years....). The freelance process is a proving ground for all photographers. You must get 10 photos published in 2 weeks in order to make it on staff (between the Yearbook and Newspaper). Seems easy, but it's really very challenging and when you make it on staff you know you are a proven photographer. Anyway, I made on staff after being a freelancer for about about 6 weeks and have since had about 15 photo assignments per week including shooting D1 basketball (and Michael Beasley) every game since December, including 4 away games. The best thing about being at K-State for me, is that (to take a quote from a co-worker): You get what you put into it. No matter what year you are, what major you are, what kind of gear you have, if you go out there and make good photos everyday, you will be rewarded with experience, knowledge and the satisfaction of seeing your work in the paper.
To me, as a freshman or sophomore at Mizzou it seems that it would be very easy to get discouraged only have a few select assignments a week and getting published only a few times a week. At other schools (like Kansas State) it's what YOU put into it and how much YOU decide to get out of it. No rules, no Editors, or anything else has dictated where and when you get that first "big" assignment. If you prove your worth, you get the assignment.
I would suggest that you look into schools that allow you to work and do what you want to do at this point in your life. For me, I knew I was ready to enter a college campus and jump right into taking big responsibilities (like having the lead package 6 weeks after going to college) in Photojournalism.
I am by no means saying Mizzou is a bad school or a bad place to go to college, but I think many times "younger" people (okay...Im a year older than you) think that, "Oh, it's Mizzou Photo J school, I want to go there." Without really evaluating WHAT they want: A piece of paper that says "I received an education from Mizzou PhotoJ school"? Or a portfolio built over 4 years of making photos at 100s of assignments all over the campus and the state?
(I freelance for multiple publications in the area, too...so something else to keep in mind when looking at schools. What other work opportunities in the area are there for me?)
So I guess to answer your question: Yes, I initially went to school for Photography....but NOT a photography degree of any kind. I have sense moved into Landscape Architecture (for a number of reasons).
Edited on May 10, 2008 at 04:10 AM
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