Welcome to “Between the Lens and Me”
Exploring the world of literature in photography and a Journey toward a personal MFA in Photography
“Photography is a profound corner that sits in between literature and film”
- Lewis Balz
Exploring the world of books in and on photography seems natural to me. The kind of photography I want to practice is literary—as pretentious as that might sound—and I've found what seems like an immense fountain of photographers and writers to draw upon.
What is a “Personal” MFA?
I thought about MFA programs and what they offer, but honestly, they're expensive. My impression is that MFA programs are more geared to a path of professionalization than I'm likely interested in. So, I've set out to create what I think of as a "personal" MFA program, where, along with targeted courses and workshops, I develop a discipline of study and practice that I think does a good job of a well-rounded education.
I've created a curriculum from reviewing programs and thinking through the elements that I wanted to master. It is organized along the following lines:
- Art & Appreciation
- History
- Science & Craft
- Thought
I will list books and other resources I've discovered along the way, along with a journal, including what I've just started, a series called Down the Rabbit Hole.
I believe in the power of good teachers and I believe in the necessity of daily practice. I don't think this would be near complete without the valuable guidance of instructors: Courses and Workshops.
“This willingness continually to revise one’s own location in order to place oneself in the path of beauty is the basic impulse underlying education. One submits oneself to other minds (teachers) in order to increase the chance that one will be looking in the right direction when a comet makes its sweep through a certain patch of sky.”
- Elaine Scarry, On Beauty and Being Just
A note on the name
“Between the Lens and Me” is at once a nod to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ wonderful and meaningful book and that sense of something deeply personal about having a camera in hand.
Books Mentioned
Books are linked to the author or publisher, when available, or otherwise used-bookstore or the Internet Archive.
Elaine Scarry
TA-NEHISI COATES