Posted by John Mumaw on February 19, 2014 at 1:49 AM
Looking to break on through to new levels with your photography?
Then listen to the introductory speech at The Arcanum and prepare to 'level up'.
Posted by Sarah Marino on February 19, 2014 at 5:37 AM
I find it really shocking that this kind of thing actually gets brought to fruition and people sign up. It seriously seems like a pyramid scheme, with the Sphere 2 information held in secret until you get past Sphere 1. One of our friends described it perfectly: "I've always wanted to combine my love of photography, Harry Potter, World of Warcraft, and Amway. We live in amazing times!" And, the thought of wearing Google Glass in the field while my Master instructs me sounds like a futuristic nightmare.
Posted by Bob Falcone on February 19, 2014 at 5:45 AM
Oh gawd...
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 19, 2014 at 2:16 PM
HUGE egos preying on those with no/low self-esteem.
I still can't believe that this isn't some kind of joke.
Posted by Bret Edge on February 19, 2014 at 3:12 PM
Digital warlock? Leveling up? This is the single most ridiculous thing I've seen in a long time.
Posted by Morris McClung on February 19, 2014 at 3:31 PM
It's actually brilliant marketing. Look at their catch words.....warlock, magic, Hogwarts, leveling up, sphere, and many others. All very appealing to this youngest generation of adults.
Of course, there are already sphere 2 masters, so the question begs how did they advance so quickly when this is in it's inception? Who decides what level you start at? And, just how much does that cost to start at that level? Do I have to buy Google glass? How can I when they aren't available?
Yeah, it's a pyramid scheme with the initial group being at the beginning with everyone else joining paying them, and so on and so forth. Ridiculous.
Yet, I predict they will have success because they are appealing to the younger generation with promises of quick leveling-up to mastery. No doubt some would benefit from instant tutelage, but most would not. And, it's a little creepy to have someone looking over their shoulder no matter where they are.
Another question would be if someone is guiding you during your composition, exposure choices, shutter speed choices, and all of the other choices we make, whose capture is it?
I would advise not to drink this Kool-Aid.
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 19, 2014 at 5:51 PM
Yes, Master.
Posted by Jared Warren on February 19, 2014 at 7:28 PM
Brilliant marketing indeed. Frankly, I would not be surprised at all to see large numbers of "apprentices" sign up. As a psychologist by profession, I see a lot of components built in to their model that could attract and hold on to a decent segment of the photography enthusiast market. Knowing only what I've read on their main pages, consider the selling points: a strong sense of shared community, the appearance of exclusivity, "objective" measures of skill development (leveling up), a dash of mystery/intrigue, the promise of becoming a "master" photographer, all wrapped in a slick marketing package.
For every seasoned photographer who sees and dismisses this out of hand, I suspect there are dozens if not hundreds of serious beginners and enthusiasts who would gladly pay for what this "academy" is offering. And for quite a while, they could very well feel like they're getting everything they need. After all, it's serving many of the same functions as a forum like NPN (feedback, sense of community in shared interests, networking, etc). I'd predict the breakdown in the model will be the "masters"; hard to see at first glance what the incentive would be to keep good mentors. $$$? If they got that worked out (pyramid scheme or otherwise), watch out. It's easy to imagine enthusiasts choosing to pay a modest monthly fee for regular feedback and "assignments" from a photography "master" before they fork over $1500 for a workshop. Pretty slick business model if you ask me.
So, in spite of how laughable it might look to seasoned artists on this forum, this could have legs. And could you imagine this?: "Reach Level 25 and you unlock a coveted secret photography location!!!" No longer a laughing matter.
John, will you be my Master?
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 19, 2014 at 8:04 PM
What kind of "weight" would a "Harry Potter Master of Photography" title hold? Would it get you jobs? Would it help you sell prints? Would it earn you the envy of all your friends? What is ethical about a pyramid scheme? Does "magic" replace study and skill? And who decides who the "Masters" are? What are their credentials? Are they really Masters of their craft? Or just good marketers? Looks like smoke and mirrors to me.
If this is really what appeals to the younger generation, I think we may be in some serious trouble.
Posted by D J Kuklinski on February 19, 2014 at 11:31 PM
Brought to you by Trey Ratcliff, the Master of gawd-awful HDR.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 20, 2014 at 12:28 AM
Interesting responses. Especially concerning the marketing. Brilliant, but just plain wrong. Just like Scientology.
One of the saddest sights was seeing several photographers that I used to respect listed as Sphere 2-Level 20 'Masters'.
Jared,
Sure...why not? But, can you truly level up?
Phil,
I hope to see you at Joaquin's place in Durango on May 1.
Posted by Jared Warren on February 20, 2014 at 4:10 AM
It does look like a pyramid scheme. What will be truly "wrong" is if beginners who don't know any better go there for the promised feedback, community, skill development, etc., and end up paying $30 a month for fluff and drivel from a "master" just mailing it in (who might have been a Level 1 apprentice 6 months ago). The marketing gimmicks will bring in enough newbies, and the "leveling up" will probably keep enough of them there long enough to make it viable. [Tangent: using the "level-up" gimmick from the gaming scene is slick; Did you know that the 18-34 year-old male demographic now spends more hours per week playing video games than 12-17 year-old boys? And many of those men actually have jobs and buy expensive dSLRs.]
But what do I care now that John Mumaw is my Master?!
Jared (Level 4 Photographic Padowan Apprentice)
Posted by Kurt Bowman on February 21, 2014 at 2:16 AM
John, your reply to the posts took the words right out of my mouth. My very first thought was...is Ron L Hubbard still alive or something? This sounds like Scientology to me...and felt VERY cult like. I just get older and the world just keeps getting stranger...
Posted by Stan Rose on February 21, 2014 at 6:31 PM
huh...im a bit verklempt.
The fundamental idea is sound, which is why this might actally appeal to folks. Master-apprentice is a great way to learn. One problem is that the true masters are usually too involved in their own thing to be messing with weird schemes like this. On the other hand, it is so hard to make money as an artist that i think it drives some truly talented folks to desperation in an attempt to pay the bills--and those who can't do, teach.
I agree with Kurt, the world is getting stranger. I really learned this last week while trying to get rid of some of my father's estate--the younger generation has lost touch with the tangible, and is stuck in this virtual world where traditionally important things just vanish into the ether. All too often, it seems now that people are doing things simply becaue they have the technology to do them, without any though of whether there's any value to what they're doing.
That said--yes, please John, sign up so i can study under the Great One.
Posted by Rod Hanna on February 21, 2014 at 11:10 PM
John,
Did you receive my email about an invitation?
Rod
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 22, 2014 at 1:13 AM
I think what really turns me off about this is that I see it as nothing more than a marketing gimmick with no real substance.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 22, 2014 at 2:22 AM
Jared, I fully agree with your evaluation.
I looked a little more into the details of the program and what it takes to "level up". I feel advancement based on comprehensive online image critiques of mini portfolios is a sound approach. You can also learn a great deal from the archived critiques of others. If I could ignore the gaming jargon and marketing hype it might actually be a cost effective approach at only $30 per month.
The assumption, of course, is that you have a competent "Master" in your specialty. Unfortunately, you don't get to select your master. They select you.
Also, I can't see how the "Masters" are getting compensated enough to justify what could involve a significant amount of their time. Even if they get the ENTIRE monthly fee, that's only $600 for each 20 person group, and I seriously doubt they get anywhere near 100%. So, unless the "Masters" are doing this for grins, the quality of instructors and instruction will suffer.
On one of his podcasts, Ratcliff commented about an enthusiastic "apprentice" who is rapidly advancing through the levels and aspires to be a "Master". That sends up all kinds of red flags, including "pyramid scheme".
So, Master John, thanks for pointing this out. It will be fun to see how it evolves over the next year.
Discussion
16 repliesThen listen to the introductory speech at The Arcanum and prepare to 'level up'.
I still can't believe that this isn't some kind of joke.
Of course, there are already sphere 2 masters, so the question begs how did they advance so quickly when this is in it's inception? Who decides what level you start at? And, just how much does that cost to start at that level? Do I have to buy Google glass? How can I when they aren't available?
Yeah, it's a pyramid scheme with the initial group being at the beginning with everyone else joining paying them, and so on and so forth. Ridiculous.
Yet, I predict they will have success because they are appealing to the younger generation with promises of quick leveling-up to mastery. No doubt some would benefit from instant tutelage, but most would not. And, it's a little creepy to have someone looking over their shoulder no matter where they are.
Another question would be if someone is guiding you during your composition, exposure choices, shutter speed choices, and all of the other choices we make, whose capture is it?
I would advise not to drink this Kool-Aid.
For every seasoned photographer who sees and dismisses this out of hand, I suspect there are dozens if not hundreds of serious beginners and enthusiasts who would gladly pay for what this "academy" is offering. And for quite a while, they could very well feel like they're getting everything they need. After all, it's serving many of the same functions as a forum like NPN (feedback, sense of community in shared interests, networking, etc). I'd predict the breakdown in the model will be the "masters"; hard to see at first glance what the incentive would be to keep good mentors. $$$? If they got that worked out (pyramid scheme or otherwise), watch out. It's easy to imagine enthusiasts choosing to pay a modest monthly fee for regular feedback and "assignments" from a photography "master" before they fork over $1500 for a workshop. Pretty slick business model if you ask me.
So, in spite of how laughable it might look to seasoned artists on this forum, this could have legs. And could you imagine this?: "Reach Level 25 and you unlock a coveted secret photography location!!!" No longer a laughing matter.
John, will you be my Master?
If this is really what appeals to the younger generation, I think we may be in some serious trouble.
One of the saddest sights was seeing several photographers that I used to respect listed as Sphere 2-Level 20 'Masters'.
Jared,
Sure...why not? But, can you truly level up?
Phil,
I hope to see you at Joaquin's place in Durango on May 1.
But what do I care now that John Mumaw is my Master?!
Jared (Level 4 Photographic Padowan Apprentice)
The fundamental idea is sound, which is why this might actally appeal to folks. Master-apprentice is a great way to learn. One problem is that the true masters are usually too involved in their own thing to be messing with weird schemes like this. On the other hand, it is so hard to make money as an artist that i think it drives some truly talented folks to desperation in an attempt to pay the bills--and those who can't do, teach.
I agree with Kurt, the world is getting stranger. I really learned this last week while trying to get rid of some of my father's estate--the younger generation has lost touch with the tangible, and is stuck in this virtual world where traditionally important things just vanish into the ether. All too often, it seems now that people are doing things simply becaue they have the technology to do them, without any though of whether there's any value to what they're doing.
That said--yes, please John, sign up so i can study under the Great One.
Did you receive my email about an invitation?
Rod
I looked a little more into the details of the program and what it takes to "level up". I feel advancement based on comprehensive online image critiques of mini portfolios is a sound approach. You can also learn a great deal from the archived critiques of others. If I could ignore the gaming jargon and marketing hype it might actually be a cost effective approach at only $30 per month.
The assumption, of course, is that you have a competent "Master" in your specialty. Unfortunately, you don't get to select your master. They select you.
Also, I can't see how the "Masters" are getting compensated enough to justify what could involve a significant amount of their time. Even if they get the ENTIRE monthly fee, that's only $600 for each 20 person group, and I seriously doubt they get anywhere near 100%. So, unless the "Masters" are doing this for grins, the quality of instructors and instruction will suffer.
On one of his podcasts, Ratcliff commented about an enthusiastic "apprentice" who is rapidly advancing through the levels and aspires to be a "Master". That sends up all kinds of red flags, including "pyramid scheme".
So, Master John, thanks for pointing this out. It will be fun to see how it evolves over the next year.