THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE

10
Studio Photographers
Virtually any town (and all cities) have professional studio photographers
whose services may include portraiture, advertising, print restoration or corporate
promotions. The first step to taking advantage of this resource would
be to arrange a presentation or field trip, inviting one or more photographers
to visit the class and discuss their work or to host the class in the studio or
on location.
Additional variations might include arranging for small groups of students
to spend an extended period of time observing a professional photographer
at work. It may also be possible to set up workshops in which
students can refine their darkroom skills, learn about studio lighting
or receive specialized instruction in some other aspect of professional
photography.
Local photographers may also be willing to serve as judges for photographic
competitions or as a panel to critique student work on a regular basis.
Depending on the size of your class and the number of professional photographers
in your area, you may be able to organize "mentor sessions," in
which several students meet with a local photographer for specialized instruction,
critiques and advice. One advantage of this kind of activity is that it
would expose students to a variety of perspectives, promoting a broad awareness
of photographic opinion and stimulating discussion.
Finally, don't forget the wedding photographers, nature photographers,
technical photographers, print retouchers, lab technicians, camera repair
shops, antique dealers and others who may have specialized skills or information
to offer your class. A close inspection of the Yellow Pages may be
the best place to start a busy year of informative presentations and field trips.
Galleries and Exhibits
Though the number of art galleries and exhibits featuring photography will
vary according to your region and the size of your community, there is an
excellent chance that you will have access to some resources along this line.
If not, you may be able to create them.
One emerging trend is for restaurants to use the work of local artists and
photographers to decorate their walls. If this is common in your community,
it is yet another way of locating photographers who might be willing to assist
you in some of the ways outlined above. A nature photographer, for example,
would be another good choice for a class presentation and may also be
open to escorting your class on a field trip to a local scenic area.
If none of the restaurants in your community currently include photographs
in their decor, perhaps you can persuade them to start — using the