MoMA Seeing through photographs

sirch

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Somewhere on here a week or two ago someone pointed out the MOMA Seeing through photographs course - https://www.coursera.org/learn/photography I was going to reply to that original thread but I can't find it now so I have started this one. I have done the first few weeks of the course and it seems pretty good, the little 10 question tests do make me put in the effort I find.

I was just wondering if anyone else is doing the course and how it is going for them?
 
I must have missed the previous mention of this, but I took a look at it prompted by your post, and have just signed up for it. Something useful to do with my 4 hours a day commuting on the trains!
I'll add comments to this thread once I've done a bit of the course. Thanks for bringing it up Chris
 
That was my thread here. I have started, and did the first week and then went on holiday! Back home now so going to catch up this week. Like what I I've done so far.
 
Somewhere on here a week or two ago someone pointed out the MOMA Seeing through photographs course - https://www.coursera.org/learn/photography I was going to reply to that original thread but I can't find it now so I have started this one. I have done the first few weeks of the course and it seems pretty good, the little 10 question tests do make me put in the effort I find.

I was just wondering if anyone else is doing the course and how it is going for them?

Yep, based on the earlier post, I have just completed the first week and starting the second one. I'm enjoying it so far, though wish it was little more international, and less American.

I don't understand their estimated times. I think they said 10 minutes for the reading. and it took me about 10 hours (including making notes, and looking at the photographs) and I only looked at the required reading. But at least I found the test easy.

Week 2 looks more complicated.

Is anyone paying for it to get the certificate: I'm not.
 
Yes, I thought the timings were off, I suspect an algorithm calculates them based on the amount of content on the coursera page, so a link to a 100 page book only gets counted as the text in the link and not the book content. I haven't paid either and have been rushing through it a bit so I've just completed week 4.

I agree about it being heavily American and MOMA focussed but then that is the material she has access to so it’s to be expected, and it’s pretty good for free. I also find the emphasis in the content does not necessarily reflect what the final questions will be. So there could be quite a bit about one photographer in the content but then a few questions on someone else in the test. I guess that may be intentional to make sure you have done the reading as well but as you say notes on everything seem to be fairly important, which is no bad thing really. It’s certainly a serious course
 
@Bythesea, @myotis should we ask the mods to merge this thread into the other one? I think it would be good to have a bit of an ongoing chat for this course and it might be easier to keep it all together. Or we could just continue this thread and if anyone posts in the other, direct them here?
 
@Bythesea, @myotis should we ask the mods to merge this thread into the other one? I think it would be good to have a bit of an ongoing chat for this course and it might be easier to keep it all together. Or we could just continue this thread and if anyone posts in the other, direct them here?
If that is easy to do, it would seem to make sense
 
Yes, I thought the timings were off, I suspect an algorithm calculates them based on the amount of content on the coursera page, so a link to a 100 page book only gets counted as the text in the link and not the book content. I haven't paid either and have been rushing through it a bit so I've just completed week 4.

I agree about it being heavily American and MOMA focussed but then that is the material she has access to so it’s to be expected, and it’s pretty good for free. I also find the emphasis in the content does not necessarily reflect what the final questions will be. So there could be quite a bit about one photographer in the content but then a few questions on someone else in the test. I guess that may be intentional to make sure you have done the reading as well but as you say notes on everything seem to be fairly important, which is no bad thing really. It’s certainly a serious course

Yes, that could well be the reason for the timings, and its' reasonable enough that its American focussed, and the importance of MoMa is worth the discussion, but I would have liked to have seen a bit of a mention of the Linked Ring and Pictorialism in the UK that pre-dated the photo-secession in the US
 
Just had a look at the link to the site and ALARM BELLS rang very loudly. Loads of woffle about the course etc but NO mention of the cost of the course. Any product that doesn't show what it cost or can show where it can be fond in a web site I would not touch with a barge pole.

It does say you can apply for financial aid

So what does that tell you? it is damn expensive



.

PAYS TO READ THE SMALL PRINT FIRST AND UNDERSTAND IT. I had a look and to be honest it scared me the rights to which they lay claim to.
Before signing up DO look at their terms first
 
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Just had a look at the link to the site and ALARM BELLS rang very loudly. Loads of woffle about the course etc but NO mention of the cost of the course. Any product that doesn't show what it cost or can show where it can be fond in a web site I would not touch with a barge pole.

It does say you can apply for financial aid

So what does that tell you? it is damn expensive

Not sure where you were looking, but I can't remember needing to make any effort to find it was around $50 ( I can't remember exactly now, but I think it was $47) if you want a certificate and free if you don't. I chose the free option.
 
Thanks @sirch and @Bythesea I have just enrolled and hope to comment further as I progress. Appears a worthwhile exercise if only to help my giving crit on the forum.
 
Not sure where you were looking, but I can't remember needing to make any effort to find it was around $50 ( I can't remember exactly now, but I think it was $47) if you want a certificate and free if you don't. I chose the free option.

i could not find it in the link Chris (OP) posted
 
i could not find it in the link Chris (OP) posted

OK, it seems you need to hit the enrol button to get the price (there is a pop up with details that appears). As I was only ever intending doing the free version, I must have jumped straight to the enrol, where I then saw the price.

I agree, that now having searched a couple of courses, they do not appear to give any prices until you hit the enrol button, something which is no incredibly common I find, and which I agree is also incredibly annoying.

Coursera are a well established organisation with inks to several academic institutions, so it would be nice to see prices, even if all the courses have some form of free versions available. I did some free statistics courses with them many years ago.
 
Thanks @sirch and @Bythesea I have just enrolled and hope to comment further as I progress. Appears a worthwhile exercise if only to help my giving crit on the forum.
As I said I'm on week 4 and I'm finding it very worthwhile although it probably only has a very oblique influence on giving crit.
 
As I said I'm on week 4 and I'm finding it very worthwhile although it probably only has a very oblique influence on giving crit.
To me it is all educational Chris and interesting and no one can learn to much! I might not agree with some of the information I have been reading so far but it is always good to seek out things against our own confirmation bias in my opinion. I hope it does help with the 52 crit, because I really struggle with it, but if it does not it certainly will not be time wasted I think.:)
 
@sirch, @Tori_T - I am happy for the other thread to be locked and have a redirect to here. This one has the more sensible title :)
 
Well I have spent a few hours doing the first weeks course ( it has kept me occupied during a period of time when I cannot move about much) and found it very interesting, I answered the ten questions at the end and found them fair except question one. My argument is that you cannot make a True/False statement about an entirely subjective subject. All the other questions suggest "in the opinion off" or "So and so states" but in the case of question one it ask's for a true or false answer which is entirely in the opinion of the one being questioned and so cannot be answered true or false apart from that persons perspective. I am not going to write what that question is since it will open the debate to those who are not really interested in the course and just want an argument.
 
I answered the ten questions at the end and found them fair except question one. .
There is a student forum where you can discuss the questions, and other things, if you wish. When I had a look there was some discussion on the question already there.
 
There is a student forum where you can discuss the questions, and other things, if you wish. When I had a look there was some discussion on the question already there.
Found it Graham and have asked the question? Thanks for your help.
 
My ramblings on the subject


I have a "thing" about courses- lectures- photographic clubs-or anything to do with learning from other people. Yes on here looking at criticisms on photos is interesting, but to my mind here is only one way to learn, and that is go out and do it for yourself.

Of course I like most have made horrendous mistakes but learning from them is the best way.

I just cannot see what is hard in setting yourself different subjects to photograph and targets to reach. one can specialise of course in a particular one and have a working knowledge of others.

People ask me why I am rather " anti" the above! well all I can say is all the great artists develop their own style which is instantly recognisable, all those that try and copy are hardly if ever mentioned. The only saving grace is you can get letters after you name to help in obtaining work.

Take for example doing a photographic course. How many times has the same thing been taught in previous courses? every time i suspect, so you are only doing what many others have done before. So how are you going to stand out from the crowd? you are not.

Techniques can be easily found (if really needed) via the internet and cost nothing, that is one way to discover your best photographic skills

The big question is "Are you satisfied with your photographs" Leave that for you to decide.

Ramblings over
Bet that will bring some comments :whistle:
 
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...all I can say is all the great artists develop their own style which is instantly recognisable, all those that try and copy are hardly if ever mentioned.
And they usually develop their style by looking at other people's work, copying it to varying degrees as a stepping stone to creating something different, as well as from making work of their own. There is a distinction between copying and being influenced by.

People who never look at the work of others tend to produce crap because their knowledge and experience is severely restricted.

End of rant.
 
Dave

One cannot help but not look at others work . Posters - adverts - magazines even shop widow displays and on sides of buses, even on the internet when browsing,. You can't walk down a high street without being bombarded with other peoples work. some of that "rubs" off or should do if interested in photography even subconsciously
 
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Techniques can be easily found (if really needed) via the internet and cost nothing, that is one way to discover your best photographic skills

Is that not exactly what anyone doing this course is doing, learning a different technique from the internet for nothing?

I have a feeling that I may not agree with a lot of what is taught on this course, but that is ok, it is so easy in this day and age to only seek the opinion that agrees with my own opinions. I actively seek out the opinions of those I disagree with, because I accept they might be right and I might be wrong.
 
We all have to do what we consider is right or suitable, I have no qualms about that. What I posted was my own personal view point
 
Dave

One cannot help but not look at others work . Posters - adverts - magazines even shop widow displays and on sides of buses, even on the internet when browsing,. You can't walk down a high street without being bombarded with other peoples work. some of that "rubs" off or should do if interested in photography even subconsciously
Agreed.

But why not actively look at great work too?

Think I'll sign up for this course myself now!
 
What is great work to some is absolute rubbish to others, for example i can't get my head around abstract art, looks as if someone got paint tins and emptied them onto canvas.
 
My ramblings on the subject


I have a "thing" about courses- lectures- photographic clubs-or anything to do with learning from other people. Yes on here looking at criticisms on photos is interesting, but to my mind here is only one way to learn, and that is go out and do it for yourself.

Of course I like most have made horrendous mistakes but learning from them is the best way.

I just cannot see what is hard in setting yourself different subjects to photograph and targets to reach. one can specialise of course in a particular one and have a working knowledge of others.

People ask me why I am rather " anti" the above! well all I can say is all the great artists develop their own style which is instantly recognisable, all those that try and copy are hardly if ever mentioned. The only saving grace is you can get letters after you name to help in obtaining work.

Take for example doing a photographic course. How many times has the same thing been taught in previous courses? every time i suspect, so you are only doing what many others have done before. So how are you going to stand out from the crowd? you are not.

Techniques can be easily found (if really needed) via the internet and cost nothing, that is one way to discover your best photographic skills

The big question is "Are you satisfied with your photographs" Leave that for you to decide.

Ramblings over
Bet that will bring some comments :whistle:

Can we see some of your work?
 
Can we see some of your work?

here you are then as requested

16qtZDT.jpg


Azura and Britannia
Not the usual type of shots of ships ,to me this shows not only how big but also an impressive they are up close. If those make an impact in a picture I don't know what does

umfS15E.jpg


blow hole
6FV83XG.jpg

Scotney Castle

XxLoAl5.jpg


i don't do portraits as I know my skill limits and not really interested anyway
 
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Not bad for self taught????

Well I am happy with them anyway
That really is all that matters, most of the favourite shots I have taken everyone else hates!:)
 
Well, I'm about half way through week 2's content. I'm finding the content a little repetitive this week, but the emphasis of the distinction between fine art photography vs amateur vs commercial vs scientific is valid and fairly well drawn. I liked the ideas of Vik Muniz in paraphrasing Steichen's clouds using mundane floor tiles and cutout paper circle.
I think it's an interesting course, to provoke thought. I've paid for it because I am happy to contribute to MOMA and like that they make this sort of content available; I don't care if I'm subsidising other users - I can afford it, maybe some can't.
 
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I have now finished all 6 parts apart from the final project which I doubt I will do TBH because it is "peer reviewed" and you also have to review a number of others to finally pass the course. In general I thought it was a very good introduction albeit very MoMA/American focused which is to be expected especially since they provided it for free.
 
I have now finished all 6 parts apart from the final project which I doubt I will do TBH because it is "peer reviewed" and you also have to review a number of others to finally pass the course. In general I thought it was a very good introduction albeit very MoMA/American focused which is to be expected especially since they provided it for free.
I'm just starting week 4, so actually taking a week per module. I am really enjoying it and even though I am "relatively" well read in the course subject matter, its forcing me to think a bit harder about things than I had maybe done in the past.
 
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