I Need Photo Help

[tinkbutt]

I am a recent graduate with a BFA in photography and applied for MFA now I know it is a competitive program (only 12-15 accepted per year) but unfortunately I didn't get in ....... now I find it hard to want to pick up my camera because deep down I do feel like a failure!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't know who said it (?Frank Sinatra), but the saying "Success is the best revenge" comes to mind.

And so does a quote from one of my kids' favorite movies, Cool Runnings. Darice Banyon asks Irving Blitzer why he cheated in the Olympic Games. And Irving says something about he thought winning was everything, but then he tells Darice what he learned was, "If you're not a winner without it [a gold medal], you'll never be one with it".

Sure it's disappointing to not get chosen for something you wanted. But the road of life is full of twists and turns that take us to some surprising places, some of which we had no intention of going. That doesn't make them less worthwhile necessarily, just different.

Be proud of the degree you earned. Go out now and do what you know and love. And if it's meant to be that someday you get into the MFA program, then you will. In the meantime, prove to yourself how good you are, MFA or No MFA.

 

[MICKEY88]

well if you can't force yourself to pick up your camera, you could always send it to me, I'll use it...LOL

seriously though.

although I don't think you're a failure by any means,

keep in mind that our dear friend Walt Disney, had a few failed business ventures before he became the success that he was

 

[Master Mason]

I am a recent graduate with a BFA in photography and applied for MFA now I know it is a competitive program (only 12-15 accepted per year) but unfortunately I didn't get in ....... now I find it hard to want to pick up my camera because deep down I do feel like a failure!!!

I am not sure what your goals are, but I can assure you that I have never once asked a photographer if they had a degree in photography. You can either take good pictures or you can't. If you can, then having or not having a piece of paper doesn't mean anything.

If getting the Masters is important to something you want to do, then find out why you were not accepted, and work on improving that.

If taking pictures is your passion, then go take pictures, don't worry about what anyone else has to say about it.

 

[tinkbutt]

thank you I did want to teach eventually but I guess now is the time to do

Tomorrow I'll be out shooting thanks

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Found it:

RATING PG-13

QUOTE --Derice, a gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. --Hey Coach...how will I know if Im enough? --When you cross that finish line you'll know.

MOVIE TITLE Cool Runnings - 1993

 

[Abby's Dad]

I am a recent graduate with a BFA in photography and applied for MFA now I know it is a competitive program (only 12-15 accepted per year) but unfortunately I didn't get in ....... now I find it hard to want to pick up my camera because deep down I do feel like a failure!!!

Many years back I was kind of into artsy-fartsy photography, and acceptances into exhibitions and the like were very important to me, until the exhibition where I didn't receive any kind of awards, and the first place award went to a black and white photograph of a plate of spaghetti - very sharp, very well exposed, but still, just a plate of spaghetti (no sauce). That person won the award - but didn't sell a single one of their photographs. On the other hand, I sold every piece that I had hung, as well as what I had out in the car. There are many ways to validate what you do, and academic degrees are only one means. You went into this presumably because you enjoy it, let it continue to be an expression of who you are.

 

[jann1033]

I am a recent graduate with a BFA in photography and applied for MFA now I know it is a competitive program (only 12-15 accepted per year) but unfortunately I didn't get in ....... now I find it hard to want to pick up my camera because deep down I do feel like a failure!!!

like a very wise person just told me( initials =dvcjen ) "art is such a subjective thing"( paraphrased)

think of all the people who go through programs and end up selling pizza( not that there is anything wrong with selling pizza just they probably didn't get a degree to do it) so work with what you have,

maybe re-apply if you still have the goal to teach.( although there is that old saying about those who can't do teach... )

a few peoples opinions are just their opinions, maybe right maybe wrong, not written in stone.