Bloody Students!

Get a lot of students asking for info/advice/help/work exp – you get the picture.

Anyway, I do try to help if I can but draw the line at writing their coursework for them. Got this yesterday:

“hi. i am currently studying A level photography, and as a part of my course i have chosen to do a in deph study on your work, which is original and of a very high quality. I would be extremly grateful if you could tell me a bit about yourself and your style of photography.

thank you for your cooperation”

hannah

Which I felt was a bit too close to “do my homework for me” and responded thus said:

“I don’t mind helping students but would ask that you narrow it down to specific questions, that don’t require an essay as a reply.”

>>>>>>

Ok, it’s a little brusque on my part I admit but even so I wasn’t expecting:

“forget it i’ll study someone who is less obnoxious and arrogant thanks”

Been a while since I was called ‘obnoxious and arrogant’ so I thought I’d share the moment.

>>>>>>>>

this is, of course, the sort of thing that led to a conversation on th EP-UK photo lists, lately:

From: “Alan Wylie”

Subject: Bloody ‘students’!

“Don’t ask for help or advice as a smack in the mouth often offends!” . Alan Wylie, Photographer

* * * * * *

He’s gone off about them asking for help, doing work cheap, for free, and sometimes, me thinks, he has a point.

* * * * * *

This is what’s happening to me!

So, have now contructed the following response

“Yes, well, there you are!

I currently get between 70 – 100 messages a week asking for work for free. Students, mags, media and individuals, non-profit making organisations, all expect me to support everyone else’s projects. Very few have the thought on what might be involved for me to accomplish this. I just get told about their own problems.

I know no-one I’m likely to deal with has much money, but I resent the assumption by people, that I have! Further, because of my continued commitment to these subjects, means that I remain ‘unemployable’ in ‘ordinary’ work. This is all I get.

Further, my bank and suppliers are not at all interested in any of the above.

The first twenty years of my work, I’ve taken it on the chin, the last ten years, as this has continued, has been a downright pain. It is a shame that people cannot see the value of the work and what it costs me. Hence the liabilities remain with me!

‘Sustainability’ is a watchword of the environmental movement. I look for advice on how I should sustain my work, when I have liabilities to others:

· Equipment costs

· Equipment maintenance

· Photographic materials

· Processing

· Computing for scanning and the website

· Website maintenance fees

· Running of a small office

· Servicing of overdraft

· Still paying for my student loans from university

· A wish to continue supporting charities involved with travellers, their education, law and medicine

· My family doing without, ‘cos of the above.

So, in sum then, I quite understand your situation, but few understand mine.

The project has cost me thousands over time, I have borrowed and still owe (including my student loan). For being an expert in this field, I do feel poorly treated. Hope this explains the situation.”

* * * * * *

On sending the above, it usually means I don’t hear from them again ……. ! Shame really, since in many cases, in time, they will be in a similar situation.