72 images 6 comments!!!

[clarence]

This post just reminded me of a general, off-topic comment I wanted to make about the gallery and scanning.

The gallery lets you look at a lot of photos placed side-by-side at once. What's painfully obvious to me is that the contrast within each picture between black and white tones can be vastly different. What I mean is that many pictures look washed out, while others have a rich range of tones from dark to bright.

Surely this cannot be the result of over/under- exposure/development. I wonder how many of us has a properly calibrated monitor (I certainly never did calibrate mine), and if it's possible to do so without purchasing a Spyder or some other piece of hardware or software.

This is one reason why I was never really into digital photography: the medium is filtered through the monitors of the audience, and you can never be sure if they're seeing what you want them to see, no matter how much time and money you spend calibrating your own monitor.

Clarence

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Paul you make a good point and if anything this thread has prompted me to edit and reload all my images and much less of it!

Public Forums are by nature quite anonymous and pseudosyns don't help (why don't some people use their real names? is it to remain anonymous or simply mysterious - or have i just answered my own question?) so for me to try to guage a sense of what sort of person is writing in a thread, i'm often guided initially by their work presented in a gallery or their website. After that if i want to find out more i'll PM or email them and build a "relationship" from there. In this way i can then enter into some kind of mutually beneficial exchange of ideas rather than swap niceties in one liner comments.

Which brings me back to the comments on images in galleries. Feedback.
Essential to us all really when we engage in such a solitary process of picture making. But 10 "love this shot" kind of comments are surely worth a lot less, than a single constructive paragraph on an image's resonance or developing a discussion on how this might move forward in a broader body of work.

I used to spend a lot of time working through student's portfolios who often got a bit upset that i didn't say whether i liked the pictures or not. What i was trying to do was help them build a strong body of work that reflected their outlook on life not mine. But most often it seemd they wanted a pat on the back.

 

[Toby]

I do regularly try to post comments but sometimes when I go to the gallery what I see are snapshots rather than the best examples of people's work. Sometimes the editing of peoples uploads leads a lot to be desired and the gallery get swamped with uninteresting work, that means I've become less inclined to look and comment upon photos and the good stuff gets harder to find

 

[J. Borger]

I do regularly try to post comments but sometimes when I go to the gallery what I see are snapshots rather than the best examples of people's work. ................ and the good stuff gets harder to find

THings get even more complicated because the same pictures are shown several times in a row when uploaded to different galleries.

There are probably people uploading to their 'free webspace' who are not interested in feedback/ comments at all ...... on the other hand there are probably people who have tons of pictures on PNet who would like to have commented here or simply share them here. There is no other way than uploading to the gallery to accomplish this

So therefore i strongly suggest again a picture posting forum free from the gallery ...... with limited uploads per person a day.

 

[c.poulton]

What if we think all the photographs in the gallery are simply hideous?

Bill

Constructive criticism is the way to go - it's how we all learn to become better photographers.

In fact I think it is more important to comment on technique and composition - good or bad, than just to state the bland "nice image" etc comment.

The return of the random images on the home page is most welcome as this is the way I tend to browse the gallery - if an image catches my eye I look at it and tend to then look at other images in the users gallery.

 

[Magnus]

... Don't promote commenting images, before you know it we'll be charged money to do so ....

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I put very little in the gallery because I when I do I get PM's asking about what lens I used or what film I used. I've purposely left those fields blank for a reason.

Heck, I go to art shows and often speak to the artist about the color, or the composition, but I never ever ask them what brand of paint brush they use. That would be so crass.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I put very little in the gallery because I when I do I get PM's asking about what lens I used or what film I used. I've purposely left those fields blank for a reason.

Heck, I go to art shows and often speak to the artist about the color, or the composition, but I never ever ask them what brand of paint brush they use. That would be so crass.

Funny that - and i'm not aiming this post at you Jon - i've just re-edited all mine and added the photo data in for those who like that sort of info. I don't think it's crass. I believe If we all had the same camera and lens we would still produce a different set of images. It's how you see and feel that counts much more than what equipment you use IMHO.

 

[clarence]

Funny that - and i'm not aiming this post at you Jon - i've just re-edited all mine and added the photo data in for those who like that sort of info. I don't think it's crass. I believe If we all had the same camera and lens we would still produce a different set of images. It's how you see and feel that counts much more than what equipment you use IMHO.

I'd have to agree with Simon. Lenses, printing and development techniques leave fingerprints that differentiate them from each other, whereas a horsehair, sable or camel hair brush could all be manipulated to create the same effect. I often ask about someone's gear and technique so that I can learn from it and use it and build upon it to express my own artistic vision.

Clarence

 

[back alley]

I must admit I haven't commented on anything in the gallery for about a month or so - until the random image feature on the main page made its return and I caught glimpse of some images I really liked.

When it comes to people being 'into' the artistic/creative side of photography vs being into bags, lenses and camera bodies I find myself being equally interested in both camps and I don't think that's uncommon.

I post in - and start - W/NW threads and comment on photos in the gallery - but I also love camera gadgets and even bags for that matter 🙂 Heck, with 30+ cameras I could even be considered a gear-head/collector.

Also - keep in mind that a forum named 'RangeFinder Forum' is bound to attract a lot of members that have a passion for the cameras they use and it is inevitable that there will be a lot of tech-talk.

But I echo Ergo - it's all good 🙂

i have to agree!

one thing that might lead to more comments would be fewer judgements on the members as people in threads like this and others.
when i'm told i'm a gearhead and that is wrong. or that my feedback is too fluffy and that is wrong. or this thead is for this camera only to be discussed and i'm wrong for bringing up another.
there is far too much 'wrong' here on the forum of late and from the p.m.'s that i get it is having a cumulative negative impact.
people think that the changes in the forum, paid sponsorships and the like, are driving others away, but i'll tell you all, it's the changes in the membership and how we treat each other that's what driving people away.
so don't be too surprised whan your photo get no feedback. who wants to open their mouth when the answers are all wrong??

just a sunday morning thought.
joe

 

[FrankS]

I rarely make comments on others' photos, because photography is so personal, and the appreciation of any particular image is purely subjective. I don't think anyone should care what anyone else thinks about their photos. If someone posts an image to their gallery, it must mean that they like it and are proud of it.

 

[Toby]

i have to agree!

one thing that might lead to more comments would be fewer judgements on the members as people in threads like this and others.
when i'm told i'm a gearhead and that is wrong. or that my feedback is too fluffy and that is wrong. or this thead is for this camera only to be discussed and i'm wrong for bringing up another.
there is far too much 'wrong' here on the forum of late and from the p.m.'s that i get it is having a cumulative negative impact.
people think that the changes in the forum, paid sponsorships and the like, are driving others away, but i'll tell you all, it's the changes in the membership and how we treat each other that's what driving people away.
so don't be too surprised whan your photo get no feedback. who wants to open their mouth when the answers are all wrong??

just a sunday morning thought.
joe

I think there's an essential schism in all photography between gearheads and artists. Photography is a unique collision of science, art, and craft. These three different disciplines attract very different people and it's no surprise wildly different opinions can flare up. Photography means different things to different people and there is no right or wrong as far as I'm concerned. I have no interest in having four types of 50mm lens, my interest in cameras is purely utilitarian. I do have in interest in classic cars and can appreciate the pleasure some derive from the camera as a piece of industrial art, although truth be told I do let out a little sigh if I see a photo of a camera in the gallery. The most important thing in any community is acceptance and tolerence -cameras and photography mean different things to different people and as long as we all bear this in mind RFF should be a much happier place.

 

[dreilly]

Lots to agree with in this thread, on all sides. I look at my small gallery and lament no comments, I could use the criticism and tips. But I don't add a lot of comments to other's photos so what should I expect? Mea culpa. I should try to be better.

One constructive idea: Fredmiranda does weekly themes and contests that generate a lot of interest, constructive comments, and other good kinds of activity and communication. The prizes are quite small...so I think people do it for the community and competition of it. It seems that this might be a good idea...instead of giving away huge lots of gear in one meta-contest, maybe some of the sponsors could chip in smaller gifts for "Theme of the Week" contests.

 

[FrankS]

"Photography is a unique collision of science, art, and craft."

That is a very perceptive statement.
(I own lots of 50mm lenses.)

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

SNIP The most important thing in any community is acceptance and tolerence -cameras and photography mean different things to different people and as long as we all bear this in mind RFF should be a much happier place.

Perfectly put Toby. I couldn't agree more. And picking up Joe's point re personal comments - if i've made any that were too strong on recent posts then please accept my apologies - RFF is changing and as new members like myself contribute more i'd like to think if i do then it's only to be constructive and share the occasional laugh.
And that's my last post today as i feel i've said enough already.

 

[BrianShaw]

there is far too much 'wrong' here on the forum of late and from the p.m.'s that i get it is having a cumulative negative impact.
people think that the changes in the forum, paid sponsorships and the like, are driving others away, but i'll tell you all, it's the changes in the membership and how we treat each other that's what driving people away.

yup... i visit rff a lot less often than before and, more often than not, go away wondering why i wasted my time. the convivial nature of rff and the breadth of itnerests were the original attraction, the confrontational nature of rff became entertainment, and lately the pompous a$$e$ and all of their 'rules' and 'suggestions' are turning me off.

just my sunday thought.

now i'm off to enjoy the day... which will likely include making some images... in my own style, for my own enjoyment, and who cares what others may think.

 

[Bertram2]

I don't want to be a "promoter"but…. There are some excellent photographs in this set and I’m surprised there isn’t more discussion and consideration of the shots posted.
I, Jan

Jan ,

I have a similar opinion, a good photo earns a positive comment, the photog posted it to get response, and if he learns there are some others who like wat he does it will encourage him.

The prob here in RFF is that it is not easy to get into a real dialog with others because you have to go back to your photo again and again to see who has put up new comments and then answer those folks via PM . A comment notification would surely help to improve communication. For those RFF members, who are interested in a photographical dialog more than in gear discussions.

So in my opinion the prob is not that obviously a minority here is interested in the photos of others, it simply should be a bit easier to get in contact and speak to each other.
At www.pgallery.net for example you get an Email each time somebody comments on one of your pics, and you can answer him directly without going to the site
and the pic.

RFF is how it is , photographically seen its a "multi-cultural" society, so IMO it would not make sense to critizise the whole bunch for not beeing interested enuff in photos. Those who are interested in photos will not been interested in future because they get critizised I suppose 😉 Those who are interested tho and don't comment anyway must be critizised indeed, at this point I agree ! 🙂

I myself try to do my very best so far that I am in the gallery each day watching the latest pics, I admit I reduced my comments on those pics which I really find superb and which meet my personal taste too.

Photos can lead people together within a group, related souls so to say can find each other by the same approach and esthetical understanding, thus artistical and technical coversations get started and friendships arise and grow. Important for a community.

It should be a bit easier tho to organize it.

Best regards,
Bertram

 

[einolu]

I have kind of moved to Flickr now for my photo posting and dont check in here as often as I used to.

 

[raid]

Now they are more than six comments.

 

[Pherdinand]

Bill you really do think that all are hideous?
For me personally, not getting any reaction on an image means: it kinda sucks, ro at best it's boring. Not commenting is a way of telling what you think; but only if comments do exist on the images worthy of commenting.