Hello all. I visit seldom - would like to see more pictures and at a more generous size. Talking about a site devoted to british Photographic History.
I would like to tell a story which shows perhaps why Ifor is a legendary teacher.
We was nearing the end of my first year and it was Thursday morning at 11 am. CRIT.
We sat in a semi circle and the pictures sat before us that were going to be criticised by Ifor.
Pictures we printed 20X16 inches, mounted of our best work of the week. He often spoke
about all of them and sometimes dwelled on a few only.
This crit had a theme. He had passed by all the pictures the previous week and gave us
a roasting about having limited imagination. He had asked for pictures that would
get some attention. So here we were. Lots of contrasty shots, one breast and dramatic
lighting lined up for inspection.
He lingered here and there and made kindly witticisms about some and then he picked
up Nigel Trow's winner skull. It was lit from beneath, surrounded by dark objects - maybe
even an axe ... a great attention getter. Ifor passed it in front of each of us closer t When he
finished he asked
"who feels good?" nobody moved.
He put the picture gently back and talked about it being well executed, a bit tattyand then he
asked us a question.
"Who doesn't want attention? now there a number of things you can do going down Guildford
High Street to get it. You could say good day to all the ladies - oh well gentlemen too if you
must, you can twirl your umbrella and smile merrily at the passers by or you could dress like
a tramp, unwashed and shamble down the high street with your fly undone. Now which sort
of attention do you want to get for yourself I ask you?"
We all bristled as students do. I think it's an example of how he taught - pretty much word
for word only tamer- he was not a PC man. .
Hope everyone enjoys it.
PS All the details about ifor and Joy, his wife also a fine teacher elsewhere o this site.
Jackie Mackay ex student.
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