Do you agree with this idea?

I was at school today, and showed a variety of my photographs as an overall view of the types of things that I shoot. I showed several models that Ive worked with, some of my paintball images, some of my automotive images, and some of my product/still life stuff.

The response that I got from the professor was along these lines: The fact that I shoot alot of cars devalues my work as a photographer/artist. Taking photographs of cars is "cheesy."

Now I never claimed that I was an artist, or that any of my photographs were to be taken as fine art. But does shooting automobiles devalue other things that I do? The professor was basically like, these are amazing portraits, but the automotive shots make devalues the others.

Is there a fine line between "art" and commercial photography? Can you be both? Cause I certainly thought so, but Im told otherwise....

Your "professor" is full of himself.

JMHO...

The guy's an idiot and needs to get laid.

This guy is actually a gal and we've been butting heads all semester. Its going to be a LONG, bumpy ride. Thats for sure

Primm wrote in post #3924645
Your "professor" is full of himself.

JMHO...

Ugh-Greed.


Photogrpahy is art, and art is very subjective. I don't understand how you 'devalue' photography by shooting a subject that she doesn't agree with. This makes no sense to me.

If you heavily photoshopped your images, then I can see her having a problem. But her beef with your car pictures is unwarranted, in my opinion.

Tell her to eat some humble pie.

EDIT: changed 'he' to 'she'.

I guess she wouldn't approve of my pic's of the motorcycles and the loosely clad women i did for some friends. She needs to teach finger painting instead of telling students what they are shooting is worthless. pos

Any of you guys old enough to remember the addage?

Those that can do, do
Those that can't do, teach

Sometimes it's true.

what a moronic thing to say. you should drop his class.

It's an opinion of one person. I agree with what's been said above, and definitely what chauncey said. So much for being a professor... I though they were supposed to inspire students and promote creativity... doesn't seem like it in this case.

Primm wrote in post #3924645
Your "professor" is full of himself.

JMHO...

Well, she's full of something organic and biodegradable.

Shultsjh wrote in post #3925099
It's an opinion of one person. I agree with what's been said above, and definitely what chauncey said. So much for being a professor... I though they were supposed to inspire students and promote creativity... doesn't seem like it in this case.

These days, the primary goal of almost any professor is to gain tenure. Many find students to be a nuisance.

A stick?

20droger wrote in post #3925122
Well, she's full of something organic and biodegradable.

Shultsjh wrote in post #3925141
A stick?

If that's what springs to your mind.

Does she favor female students over male students? Maybe she secretly wants to be splayed across one of those cars you've photographed.

The professor at my school things digital is incapable of being considered art (for the most part, but I get the feeling she is coming around slowly).

That said, as others have mentioned, art is subjective. It isn't like a game of baseball where the team with the most runs wins. I have run into this problem in contests etc. If you like your work then that is all that matters in the long run.