Do you or would you help others with their photography?

[ABERS]

Howard

Having an RPS distinction or photos published or exhibited does not mean that one has the ability to mentor anyone, it just means that one's photography has caught the eye of someone somewhere. It does not confer the right or ability to hold forth on anyone else's photography.

Perhaps Andy should write a job description.

[StephenBatey]

Well, you for a start Alan, and perhaps other RPS accredited or published individuals.

I wouldn't dare to presume to comment 

Isn't that either limiting or even counterproductive?

There are many excellent photographers who have never joined the RPS (as a matter of interest, how many people outside the UK are members?). Additionally, what do you mean by published? Magazines and books will cater to a particular market that may not be the area of interest to an aspiring photographer. I've seen a lot of rubbish printed in magazines (by my standards. Argue with that if you wish; but unless I'm sui generis then this will apply to others appreciation of the work as well).

Even more, does the ability (even if we concede it) to produce great photographs guarantee the ability to teach? Dare I even suggest that the temptation to the tutor might be to produce other photographers in the same image; and if others have a different way of looking that is in marked contrast (and even antipathetical) to the tutor's, does the tutor's ability to produce great images in his style and vision translate into an ability to help others produce great work in a totally different way? I don't mean would you employ Karsh of Ottawa to teach landscape photography; I mean more along the lines of using Cindy Sherman to help you when your chosen "style" is more f/64?

Counterproductive, because popular demands will ensure a certain conformity of style. I've seen horrors in camera club exhibitions that would appear to be the house style; bad habits and poorly conceived work that seems to be inevitably taught and encouraged.

[Beaux Reflets]

Howard

Having an RPS distinction or photos published or exhibited does not mean that one has the ability to mentor anyone, it just means that one's photography has caught the eye of someone somewhere. It does not confer the right or ability to hold forth on anyone else's photography.

Perhaps Andy should write a job description.

A job description is not applicable, nor any Degree or certificate in qualification. Those seeking a Mentor would approach photographer's who they naturally consider may help them progress with the development of their photographic journey

And the CC Mentor Directory just a list providing names of those prepared to assist if the are selected chosen or asked.



Can I start one with a A in alphabetical order Alan - nudge  ?

[Jediboy]

For what it's worth, I think that Andy makes a good point here. Sounds like a good idea.

[jinky]

I`ve always worked on the basis ( in whatever job) of feeling anyone can talk to me about how I have done something and liked to think that when I worked i n different teams I could go to others. In the main this approach served me well and whether it was in my youth and community work or my photography I have at times benefited from sound advice / steers. Sometimes it has challenged me, other times backed up what I am doing and then again I have been met with silence or even rejection due to being busy etc. No matter  you just carry on. In my youth work I was twice selected as some kind of mentor. Once for general training  I had to do an NVQ in being a work based assessor and then develop a training course with a team and once as a supposed specialist in developing anti racist youth work projects. Both I felt were terrible because they  were formulaic and set up one as the expert and others as the learners. I had to adapt what I did  / how I worked to get anything out of the "courses" for myself and the "trainees" and those being mentored. I prefer the simpler approach of simply asking someone whose work you have admired "how did you do that?", how could I develop that style etc. I`m not sure at all about a registered mentor scheme on such a sit ( well I am sure really what I think  )

[ABERS]

Can I start one with a A in alphabetical order Alan - nudge  ?

That sounds like a good idea, A is for Andy!

Working on the principle of Once Bitten Twice Shy I think I said way back in the thread that I got involved in something akin to this back in the days of the DCM forum and spent the best part of 4 or 5 months exchanging twice daily emails with someone up North. Never again.

I eventually buckled and quite rudely ended the liaison by suggesting that his work, like mine, could do with some radical cropping, preferably diagonally!

Sorry A for Andy.

[Hinfrance]

Ooh this is getting complicated.

As you say Alan, qualifications etc mean that someone's stuff has caught someone else's eye, but it is acknowledgement of a recognition of skill. I agree it does not make the holder of such pieces of paper either infallible or capable of coaching, but it does indicate a level of competence. As you quite rightly noticed that observation had an element of tongue in cheekness.

I would be prepared to answer technical queries that are within my ken, but certainly would not pontificate on artistic merit. If someone wants to know what knobs to twiddle then maybe I might know, but would a picture look better cropped (even diagonally), then no comment.

I suspect that most of my advice would consist of debunking the idea that anything can be fixed in editing. I learned a long time ago as a musician that any engineer who says 'we can fix that in the mix' is a damned liar. Getting things right at the outset is the key to success.

A for Andy it is then 

[ABERS]

There are many excellent photographers who have never joined the RPS (as a matter of interest, how many people outside the UK are members?). photography;

Agreed the RPS isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Membership of the RPS is currently 11,000 give or take a few, it fluctuates from month to month, of which 1103 are overseas members. Not too sure where this fits in to the discussion. 

[StephenBatey]

Membership of the RPS is currently 11,000 give or take a few, it fluctuates from month to month, of which 1103 are overseas members. Not too sure where this fits in to the discussion. 

My point was that I thought that there were at least some non-UK based forum members, and in any case the forum can be accessed world wide (except for states that impose censorship). Hence, restricting/limiting the definition of "photographers eligible to act as mentors" at least in part to a UK based organisation was, well, insular.

[ABERS]

Where worldwide the RPS has a presence can be seen here

http://www.rps.org/

Go to the bottom lefthand corner of the page where you will see a drop down list 'Region and Overseas Chapters'.

So if you find youself in Quanzhou in need of a bit of mentoring, Bob's your uncle! 

P.S. The Events section may be of interest.

http://www.rps.org/events/

[spikeyjen]

aren't we all making this a little bit clinical.. I'm not a member of RPS but I am a member of APS (as an international member that means Australian Photographic Society), that doesn't mean anything other than I am a member.
I just wonder what the harm is in a little support, positive feedback, or constructive critique..

I used to enjoy the 'up' and 'down' critique on DCW, and I think everyone has something to offer, even just to say you like the image. You don't have to have letters, qualifications, awards to your name to be able to support another photographer.

[Beaux Reflets]

aren't we all making this a little bit clinical.. I'm not a member of RPS but I am a member of APS (as an international member that means Australian Photographic Society), that doesn't mean anything other than I am a member.
I just wonder what the harm is in a little support, positive feedback, or constructive critique..

I used to enjoy the 'up' and 'down' critique on DCW, and I think everyone has something to offer, even just to say you like the image. You don't have to have letters, qualifications, awards to your name to be able to support another photographer.

A bit of fun and constructive spice in life has to be good   

Once there is enough interest in and from volunteers it may be worth having a list of names of the members who are willing to mentor and or critique