A rant

[windrider86]

I got roped into attending a photography group meeting tonight. OMG what a disaster.The gal who is heading it asked everyone to bring an image about spring but no flowers. Cool beans, I took some macro shots of a slinky, you know a spring! She decided I get a D- because it wasnt original. Um ok
I guess the subject of the evening was depth of field, which the subject never came up. Then she is trying to teach everyone all the ins and outs of film for which no one shoots film and was frankly, even giving wrong info on that. Then got mad at me when I suggested a more organized setting.
She tells us after looking at an image that was done in black and white with um blue flowers. You know the whole selected color thing and informed everyone how in depth this process is. Coming from a woman who doesnt even own a computer.
I wanted to reach out and strangled her when an older gent showed up and brought a couple of really old snapshots and made the poor guy so uncomfortable that he left.
Next they discuss a photo walk but no one is supposed to bring cameras, its all about walking and looking for wildlife, make sense to you? Um. no
I dunno, I guess I felt bad for the people who came and wanted to learn. I was embaressed to even be there.
Could be am just moody tho. They have been flashing the whole Columbine Massacre deal on tv all day. I was there working at a property right across the street when it happened. I had kids hiding in my office. Prety horrid.
Ok, enough of my rant, thanks for lsitening

[falafelicious]

Sounds like a complete mess. The very fact that they grade the photos make me wary to begin with. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have handled it as tactfully or quietly as you seem to have

[windrider86]

I tried to make light of it, for the sake of the folks that were there. I am reasonably sure I wont be returning.
I mean she was even telling people who brought in stuff like a part of a cactus but it was so blurry you couldnt tell what it was, how great it was.

[falafelicious]

Originally Posted by windrider86

I tried to make light of it, for the sake of the folks that were there. I am reasonably sure I wont be returning.
I mean she was even telling people who brought in stuff like a part of a cactus but it was so blurry you couldnt tell what it was, how great it was.

LOL well at least you know not to put any stock in what she had to say about your slinky then! I find it helpful when people are obviously off their rockers so you can completely disregard what they have to say and just take it for its comedic value

[jiminyClickit]

windrider86,

I don't drink, but I'm thinking about starting.

There will always be people in your life like that, and how they affect you is still a matter of choice. But choosing to not be affected is very, very hard, when they are leading a group. The older gent may have done the one most effective thing many people do - leave the meeting (room, building, organization, whatever).

It's unlikely that woman checked her facts with anyone, or rehearsed her lesson beforehand with a friend. Even more unlikely there was anything anyone could have done to show her the errors of her ways then and there. About the only thing I might have done is wait until after that meeting to speak with her alone, so her guard was down, and suggest the ways in which her information may have lead others astray. Second to that, a letter, with facts and sources, but no blame or anger, might be more likely to get her attention and some result.

You know how you felt about the TV exposure of the significant anniversary? Maybe she had a connection to Columbine, too. Or was just having one of those really lousy days. That's what I mean about having a choice - you can blame her, and feel a little better after a rant. Or you can look a little closer, and try to see why a person might do what she did. Insecure young person? Excited novice? Over-ambitious beginner?

If you haven't already, maybe a call to one of your friends who was close to Columbine?

[candleman]

i think you should exose her stupidity.. seriously. correct her when she's wrong, she shouldnt be in that position if she's so.. um... hopeless.

sorry to hear about the whole bad mood/columbine thing.. thats pretty huge.
i dont blame you for being a bit edgy.

anyway,
nothing wrong with providing fact if she's teaching falacy.
or if you're not confrontational just make a few leading statements then throw in a little question, just to force her to justify the snot she's just spouted.

[milosh]

Windrider86, sorry to hear you had such a bad session, and about your Columbine experience.

I agree with JiminyClickit. I think we generaly shouldn't judge someone based on our first experience. As a first step I would try what you did, then I would try to approach her after the class, as JiminyClickit said, when her guard is down.
If she admits that something about her teaching could be improved, then you need to wait and see if she does that.
But, if she continues to be cocky and smart about everything, then I would spend a whole night thinking about different ways to get back to her.

The point is, on some days we are less tollerant than on some other days. That, combined with someone's behaviour (who maybe also has a bad day) can lead to wrong conclusions about that person. We need to step back and try to sistematically examine why is someone behaving like that, in other words to help them. Maybe someone is scared of what they are doing, and maybe they're just showing of.

Cheers

[oldwolf]

Sorry to hear that windy.

It was a group here in the Springs was it?

[dcclark]

I was going to type something until I read JiminyClickit's response -- he said what I wanted to, but better. Let it pass, and perhaps don't go back for a while.

[windrider86]

Thanks guys. However, sorry to say this isnt her first time leading this group. She actually started it and has been leading it for several months now. I did attend the very first one, at her request, and chalked up the being disorganized and unkowledgable to it being the first meeting. Now several meetings into it, I see it has gotten worse.
I just hope it doesnt taint the folks who are trying to learn.
Wolf, no it isnt in Springs, down here in Trinidad. Altho I do try and attend the Creative Photographers Group Meetings when I can. Now, they are a fantastic group!!!