THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE

port 1 Teaching with The Photographic Eye
EDITORIAL PHILOSOPHY AND STRUCTURE
The Photographic Eye is essentially intended to serve as a catalyst. Solemn
pronouncements about "right" and "wrong" ways of doing things have been
studiously avoided, in the hope of stimulating discussion, exploration and
discovery. Both the content and style of the text are designed to support the
teacher's and students' insights and experience, so each class can define its
own orientation, priorities, preferences and goals.
In keeping with this approach, the bulk of the technical data (including a
chapter on color photography) has been placed in the appendices — not
because it is unimportant, but so each teacher may decide when to introduce
specific skills. A historical survey and the basic workings of the camera are
at the front, to provide a foundation. Both are deliberately brief, so students
may begin producing photographs as quickly as possible.
This is very much a hands-on course, for the simple reason that information
is far more likely to "stick" when learned through practical application,
rather than through abstract theorizing. Depending on class structure
and available resources, teachers may wish to augment the assignments provided
in the text with research projects and other activities which do not
require the use of a camera or darkroom. However, we believe the knowledge
gained in these ways will be more meaningful (and therefore be more
effectively retained) if integrated with a regular routine in which students
are challenged to fulfill specific photographic tasks.