The photographic news

• Bandzählung: 35.1891
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1891
• Sprache: Englisch
• Signatur: F 135
• Vorlage: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Rechtehinweis: Public Domain Mark 1.0
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-db-id1780948042-189100009
• PURL: http://digital.slub-dresden.de/id1780948042-18910000
• OAI: oai:de:slub-dresden:db:id-1780948042-18910000
• Sammlungen: LDP: Historische Bestände der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Sammlungen: Fotografie
• Strukturtyp: Band

• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Strukturtyp: Ausgabe

350 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [May 8, 1891. TECHNICAL SCHOOLS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.* BY MAX JAFFE. THE objection will now be raised that technical schools, which have been organised on the basis of production, will injure the photographic profession by attracting part of their profits. This may be unhesitatingly denied. One must consider that in all cases in which something is to be done for the public good, the nature of the benefit demands that, from one quarter or another, sacrifices must be made. Moreover, the sacrifice which will be imposed on the photographic profession is insignificant when expressed in figures, because photographic technical schools, for many reasons, can only be found in big towns ; consequently, the loss of profit will distribute itself over many institutions, and will be scarcely perceived by individuals. On the other hand, the advantages which good schools will afford our profession will soon become apparent. From the above discussion, the conclusion is to be drawn that thoroughly instructed, capable scholars can very seldom be produced by photographic technical schools with academical methods, even when they are really well conducted, and provided with the best instructors. Scholars issuing from them will not be clear on the subject of how much knowledge and power they possess ; some will even cherish the delusion that they have acquired all that is worth knowing, and will start off to make— with what they know—an independent living. It is quite another thing with regard to the schools where the students are taught practical work. The scholar who has just left one will be perfectly aware that he has acquired a certain amount of capability, and already knows a little ; but that this little is unimportant beside that which he must know and be able to do in order to organise and manage a studio. Therefore, he will be much more inclined to endeavour to gather for himself fresh experiences through service in a business studio; consequently, techni cal workmanship, which has had a suitable pre-education, will be conveyed to the existing studios, and that there is a great need of this is well known to all professional people. In time it will, perhaps, come to pass that the visiting of photographic technical schools will be more and more regarded as a necessity by those whose education has been provided in entirely empirical ways, and who find they have to withdraw in favour of those who have received artistic, scientific, and practical instruction. We will not discuss the handling of individual instruc tion. Only the fact is to be pointed out that scholars, in exactly the same way as assistants in a business studio, have to do certain work, proposed to the school, under the responsible guidance of technical men, who preside over the educational course as teachers. Better and more effectually a scholar can prove his right to practise, and his proficiency, by reference to serviceable work performed by himself, than by splendid certificates and exhibitions. How much time the scholar shall devote to the educa tional course depends principally upon which and how many branches he wishes to undertake. Two years ought to be considered the least period to be given by those young people who arc inscribed as regular scholars. The educational course should be accessible to strangers, to the possessors of studios, and also to their assistants, and opportunity should be offered to continue their edu cation in this or that branch. + Continued from page 318. Whether, and how far, photographic technical schools will be contemporaneously called upon to serve as experi mental institutions we will not discuss here. We will state, however, that we should hold it advisable to admit scholars who have half completed their education, and who wish to try new methods. If this were not done, scholars would be easily misled to amateur practice, and there is the danger of their carrying this amateurism into their later business practice. The teacher must, in every lesson he gives, be it in the form of an exposition, or in the conducting of practical demonstration, so throw himself into his work that the scholar will gain the impression that he possesses a wealth of knowledge. The drawing studios, as well as the lecture rooms, and the laboratories in which the subordinate sciences are taught, must stand open to the scholar during the whole length of his school course. Although, in the educational course, the professional men are considered to occupy the principal place, the artists, as well as the scientific men who are engaged in the school, should be allowed free licence, in order to prove their powers of stimulating and instructing in every direction. Art, science, and pro fessional practice must have representatives united in a harmonious co-operation, if photographic technical schools are to prosper. In the foregoing we have striven, on the strength of our personal observations, to portray the manner in which photographic technical schools must be created, and to show how the desired ends can really be attained. We are well aware that we have but superficially touched, in a sketchy manner, on much that merited a closer con sideration, as we were mindful of the narrow space which the form of a journal affords us. Nevertheless, we hope to have another opportunity to engage in a further dis cussion of such points at some future date. If we contemplate the position of the photographic pro fession in these days from a commercial point of view, we find that its vocations are becoming more and more narrowed in many directions. This is in consequence of the fact that thousands photograph, not as professional business men, but for scientific and artistic purposes, and also for pleasure, and these, as far as their technical and material means allow them, meet their requirements by their own exertions. Considering the prominent position which, in the widest sense of the word, photography occupies in modern civilised life, it is a question of uni versal interest that they who manage a business of this kind shall be not pressed back, but that they shall be sup ported and helped forward. The better education of young people who devote themselves to photography can’ be regarded as an available means to the purpose, for proper technical schools would materially contribute to 1 the elevation of our profession. [We regret that, owing to a slight error, our esteemed correspondent, Herr Max Jaffe, was made to say (page' 299, Photographic News): “Only a total reformation of our modern methods of instruction would be of the slightest use.” The sentence should have been rendered, “ Only a total reformation of our modern business methods would be of the slightest use.”—ED.]. PHOTOGRAPHIC Club.—Subject for May 13th, “ New Hand- Cameras”; May 20th, “ Hand-Camera Possibilities.” .Satur day outing, May 9th, Dagenham ; train from Fenchurch Street at 2.32 ; meet at Dagenham Station 3.15.