A couple weeks ago, I got a call from our local 4-H chapter asking me if I would be interested in being one of the judges in the photography department for our local county fair. All of a sudden, I was feeling like I needed to go out and buy a tight black t-shirt and have my friends call me Simon Cowell...I may or may not have even pictured myself passing some harsh critique in an English accent. Just sayin'.
When I was reading over the information, it stated that I would be interviewing the students and discussing their pictures with them...um, what?! No one had mentioned the word "interviewing" to me! You mean I'm actually supposed to sound like I know what I'm talking about? What if I can't think of anything to ask them? When I told my sisters about this, they said, "Isn't that your thing? Interviewing people?" Hmm, suddenly my Artist of the Month and Dinner Date features weren't sounding so silly to me.
As I got to the fairgrounds, it all moved quickly. I was given my instructions and was told that each project would be demonstrating a lesson they had learned on photography, and a brief summary of that lesson would be taped to the back of their picture. Great.
The first student sits down and shows me his project. I quickly scan the back to see the project lesson was "Bird's eye. Bug's eye." I quickly surmised (like any normal human would) that it means they're taking pictures of bird's eyes and bug's eyes...right?! Weird though, 'cause his pictures were of a barn...so I'm looking really closely to see if I can see birds through the windows of the barn or bugs in the cracks of the wood...nope. No birds or bugs. Well, he had great angles and good composition, so I "excused" the fact that I didn't see any birds or bugs.
Next project...Bird's eye. Bug's eye...okay, no problem...wait a second, these are pictures of cats and dogs. Again, weird. But we're supposed to be encouraging, so I say to the student, "This looks great! So you were trying to take pictures of your animal's eyes?"..................blank stare.............."Yeah, for your project? You were trying to capture their eyes? I bet it was difficult to find bird's eyes and bug's eyes. It was creative to use your animals instead!" She nodded very hesitantly...and I'm thinking, "She must be shy".
Third project...Bird's eye. Bug's eye...really?! Why is this lesson so popular? I hope I see some bird's or bugs in this next project...nope. None. That's when I thought, "I may be missing something here...I should read through this lesson"...
Moral of the story...never assume. Turns out that "Bird's eye. Bug's eye" is their catchy title for a lesson on using different angles...some from above like what a bird's eye would see and some from below...like what a bug's eye would see.
Yikes. Lesson learned.
13 comments:
That's so funny, Tami. A friend of mine is taking photography classes and as I was looking through his photos, I noticed some titled bug's eye and some bird's eye...I'd never heard it called that before... (guess you hadn't either :))
hehe. i love your stories!!
:) love it, and I also love that you post at 7am when you post... something to look forward to in the am!
that is SO funny. :)
Tami, I am so excited that you judged at the 4-H Show. I coordinate the 4-H program in a different county and your county called me asking for recommendations. I told them about this awesome photographer whose blog I follow :) and suggested they give you a call. I'm glad they did. I am sure the kids learned a ton from you! Thanks for volunteering and sharing your story!
Tam, this was so funny. I actually burst out laughing at one point...you are so silly!
"vballsetter",
I thought it was you! When people asked how I was called, I said I wasn't sure but I knew that there's a 4H leader who reads my blog because she and her students participate in my contests and (even though I haven't met you) it seemed "like her" to pass my name along! Don't you like how I feel like I know you? ;) Thanks for doing that!!! It was so fun to meet all those young photographers and other judges! Great day!!
this was so funny tam...i love that you just assumed that it would mean taking pictures of animals' eyes. it's so funny that you asked the girl that question!!
Ha! I remember doing photography in 4-H....To soothe you're ego, I don't remember my judges at all...just the pics I took and the ribbons I got.
Booxy
Hilarious! When you told me you were judging, I was hoping there would be a good story : ) Oh, Tami, you make me laugh!
Alister
Oh. My.
HILARIOUS!!!
hilarious. that's exactly how i feel when people write me for advice. i always feel like saying, "I don't know! I never learned any of this stuff! I just do it!"
Hahaha! Tami this is so funny! It sounds like something my mom would do!! :-)
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