Photographer Graciela Iturbide studied film before taking up photography.
-
What is your dream job?
The path that many people take in establishing their career is rarely a straight one. The interviews on this site are with working professionals. To help students who are scrutinizing college & university programs and comparing internships, we have asked these professionals about their education, the changes they are seeing in their industry and what advice they would give to students who ultimately want to work in their field.
-
Nonfiction Writer
Sallie Tisdale
My one writing teacher (who remains a friend today) simply told me to get out of Dodge. “You’re a writer, what are you waiting for?” But it took several more years before I was willing to start failing.
-
Electrical Engineer
Thomas Chapman
I’ve found that very few people work directly in the field they studied in college, but those esoteric courses in philosophy, history, political science, and English plant little seeds in your brain that are often recalled in unconscious thought. … Nobody learns the skill sets they need in college or trade schools. They will learn the skills on the job, over time, but they have to know how to learn.
-
Cinematographer & Photographer
Jeff Gatesman
Haskel Wexler taught me the dichotomy of working as a cinematographer when he said, “Some days you make art, and some days you make a paycheck.”
-
Fit Engineer
Cindy F.
My first job included interning with a gentleman who had learned old-fashioned dress-making and tailoring, before transferring into ready-to-wear later in life. He knew couture, but was incredibly practical about using modern production methods. He taught me how to draft a tailored jacket from measurements alone. A skill that allows me to do all patterns from scratch if necessary.
What makes the ordinary extraordinary
On this website you will find interviews with successful professionals working in a wide variety of occupations, from art, filmmaking and design fields to areas of financial services, medicine and engineering, among others. The consistency that we have noticed is that these working professionals have not only mastered the current technological and programming tools now standard in their industry but they are also proficient in the traditional (non-digital) crafts of their trade. Few professions are dependent on a single concept or tool; while it is important to be able to work with and incorporate new technology, success in many areas still relies on a working knowledge of historical precedents, creativity and, above all, hands-on experience.
Use the Search Box (below) to find interviews in a field of interest, or you can browse the archive here.
The Most Talented People in the World Blog is open to educators and professionals who wish to discuss changes in working methods, technology, knowledge and know-how, as is relevant to the classroom or the workplace. (Instructions on how to register.)
The News & Articles page of this site includes profiles & documentaries on creative individuals, issues affecting productivity, and research studies in education.
-
Professionals of Photography
Apr 16th, 2014 | No Comments
-
A New Direction
Apr 1st, 2014 | No Comments
-
Professional Women
Jul 16th, 2012 | No Comments
-
An Array of Engineers
Jun 21st, 2012 | No Comments
-
Filmmaking & Photography
May 20th, 2012 | No Comments
-
From Volunteer to Employee
Apr 19th, 2012 | No Comments
The Questions Education Reformers Aren’t Asking
TRUTHDIG | By MIKE ROSE
… no one in power is asking the more fundamental questions like: What is the purpose of education in a democracy, and are our reforms enhancing—or possibly restricting—that purpose?
Arts Education and Cognitive Development
AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS
Neuroscientists from seven universities across the country used brain imaging studies and behavioral assessments to advance our understanding of the effects of music, dance, and drama education onother types of learning. The findings from their coordinated three-year study suggest that children motivated in the arts develop attention skills and strategies for memory retrieval that also apply to other academic subject areas.
PressPausePlay (Documentary Film)
HOUSE OF RADON
The digital revolution of the last decade has unleashed creativity and talent in an unprecedented way, with unlimited opportunities. But does democratized culture mean better art or is true talent instead drowned out?
(Hosted by Vimeo – 01:21:00)
