On the link between gallery and photography

bmattock

bmattock

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Just a day ago, someone mentioned that if a person never posts images to the gallery here, they probably don't do much actual photography. An interesting proposition.

By interesting coincidence, as I got home today, I noted three things.

1) A check in the mail from Wayne County Arts Council for a print I sold at a recent exhibition. Not much money, but money is money.

2) Page 5, Wilson Daily Times - a photo I took of a recent charity event. No money, but I got the tearline, so that's good recognition for my budding photography business.

3) As I neared home, there was a police officer directing traffic around a traffic accident. Since it was only a block from my house, when I got home, I grabbed my camera, walked past the police line (they know me by now) and took a few shots of some crushed cars. The paper might and might not buy them - probably not, I missed most of the 'action' and only got some smashed cars. But it was something.

And of course, tomorrow, Cap'n Slack and I (and our families) are going to Raleigh to attend a B&W photography exhibit.

On the 11th, I have a paying gig for the city of Wilson coming up. It will be my first time hiring another photographer to back me up. Last month, I had several credited photos in the Goldsboro Argus for a charity fund-raiser I shot.

And I have a message on my phone - the lady who runs the non-profit that I shot last weekend saw her photos in the paper and wants to get with me to order some bigger prints, etc.

In between this, I am experimenting with Kodak Tri-X pushed with Diafine and I spent last weekend playing with a Hoya 72 Infrared filter on my Pentax DSLR (it is sensitive in the IR range, lucky me) doing digital IR - a first for me.

And I still have a day job, writing software.

I currently have no photos in the gallery, and I don't think I've ever had more than 8 or so at any one time. I sometimes check out the gallery, but not often. I'm a lot more interested in the conversation. Well except for that guy who keeps posting the 'film is dead' threads.

How about you guys? Gallery users or no? Does having a gallery affect your photographic output one way or another?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I don't use the gallery and I post most of my photos on my blog. I like to keep my photos in one directory (http://pleasewipeyourfeet.com/photowhore/photos) and I don't like them posted all over the internet in other places. I tend to like to link things from that directory instead of uploading them. 🙂

Then again, my photography is often mixed in with my rants on this and that subject. I don't mind. I don't know about other people.
 
i like having a gallery here but in truth, i sometimes think that if i were more 'serious' that i would have a seperate gallery completely independent of any other site.
this way when folks want to see my stuff i could hand over a card with a simple web address and direct them there.

as to the gallery here, i visit daily and sometimes marvel at the quality of photos we produce as a whole. some are poor and some are great. i wish i had better comments for people but down deep i don't believe in commenting on someone's 'art' and i lack the words most times to feel intelligent in what i am sayong.
 
i shoot, but dev and scanning is expensive...and when I do that I edit, cause I'm still not that good. So I don't post a lot in the gallery. But I'm always thinking photographically.
 
I shoot a whole lot, I think only about 8 shots are in the gallery. I shoot an SLR as well as a rangefinder and try not to put those here. When I finish scanning/proofing, sometimes I'll upload one, but the bulk of it all stays off-line for now.
 
I posted a long while ago that I sometimes check out a member's gallery (who I don't know well from their posts) after reading a post that sounded interesting or contentious, just to see where that poster was coming from. I stated that I can respect someones opinion more if there are photos to "back him up". Lots of folks disagreed at that time about the validity of this, but hey, that's what I do.
 
FrankS said:
I posted a long while ago that I sometimes check out a member's gallery (who I don't know well from their posts) after reading a post that sounded interesting or contentious, just to see where that poster was coming from. I stated that I can respect someones opinion more if there are photos to "back him up". Lots of folks disagreed at that time about the validity of this, but hey, that's what I do.
Click to expand...

Hey, your way is your way, Frank. I don't do that, probably because I have too often noticed that those who understand and can teach often are not the ones who can do. At least, I detect no causal link between their ability to make a good argument or put forth an idea and their ability with a camera. Also, one can be technically excellent and completely non-creative or artistic. Or perhaps two intelligent people who can agree on concepts just don't 'get' each other's photography. Frankly, I have found myself amazed a couple of 'famous' photographers whom I have no grok for. I just don't get it. But I respect that they are, as they say, 'great'. Others, whom I enjoy reading, can't seem to produce anything more than grab shots and happy snaps to save their souls - but I know that they 'get it'.

Well, whatever works, eh?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I think the correlation is silly, so I am with you in noting how "interesting" the proposition is, Bill.

Somebody who claims to be a photographer and *never* showing anything for it may be suspicious, but the mere fact of not posting pictures in the gallery here meaning that one does not do much photography...yes...interesting, to say the least.
 
I enjoy posting pictures here but since I'm incredibily picky I don't post much. I look forward to sharing my work with fellow RF'ers and feel good when I get positive comments. That's probably an immature way to look at it but . . .

I also upload to my account on photo.net but those are photos are of a different nature.
 
gabrielma said:
I think the correlation is silly, so I am with you in noting how "interesting" the proposition is, Bill.

Somebody who claims to be a photographer and *never* showing anything for it may be suspicious, but the mere fact of not posting pictures in the gallery here meaning that one does not do much photography...yes...interesting, to say the least.
Click to expand...

Hey, I've seen my share of 'bench racers' in my time - they know all the buzzwords, but have never run the 1/4 mile - never put their money (or their pink slip) where their mouth is, so to speak. But it's not like we're playing 'can you top this' at RFF, at least not that I've seen; so I don't feel that the 'put up or shut up' paradigm applies.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I have images in the gallery, all taken with a rangefinder camera. I've posted many more on various threads to illustrate some point or other and some were taken with a RF, some with an SLR and still others were digital.

The thumbnails that used to be posted at the top of the forum were fun and I miss them. When I saw an interesting image, I'd go to that person's gallery to see what else they'd done.

So yes, I use the gallery but I post more images in individual threads when I think they are appropriate. I don't think that a gallery is necessary to "prove" you know your stuff. It might help and it's nice, but not essential IMO.

Walker
 
For me, it is not as extreme as "put up or shut up". It's just, if I don't know the poster from reading posts, and someone says something that does not jive with my understanding of something photography-related, I'll do some research - consider the source, as Brian's Dad said, and check out either the poster's RFF gallery or website. If photos posted there impress me, I'll need to work on integrating that new information presented. If there is nothing, I'll just stick with the paradigm that I've constructed to date.
 
I tend to use the gallery a lot, but never really thought of it as abadge. I started because I wanted to share "intelligence" on whatmakesa good photo (more taking than sharing on my part - I think Ihaveplenty to learn).

On occasion I do "pimp" my photos with friends and coworkers (oftenasremote as London). It helps me stay in touch with old pals.

I was fortunate to get and invitation to photograph a coworker's49Chevy coupe hot rod for an article. Part of it will be shootinghislaunch on the 1/4 mile at Barrona speedway (Riverside Ithink).Apparently to get the article he has to prove its a real 'Rod,nota"show and Shine" as my coworker calls them. Which is mostly whatIhave been shooting.

OK it was a tangent. Point is the gallery helped me. But I don'tthinkI'm an artist as a result. I just dig the cars and it shows whenIshoot them.

I don't think it's a qualification to show images here to prove your worth.
 
Last edited:
"I don't think it's a qualification to show images here to prove your worth."

Anyone can express an opinion. When I disagree with someone on a photography-related issue and I don't know them already from this site, I'll check them out. If their photos are great, I'll consider what they've said to a greater extent than if there are no photos to back them up.

It's only prudent and reasonable to consider the source.

I really don't understand why this idea is contentious. It just sounds like common sense to me.
 
I'm such a computer doofus, coming to all of this late in life, that MOST of the time I am unable to post an image to My Gallery. The only way I can figure out how to send one anywhere is to suck it up into Photoshop and then email it to someone because PS automatically does some sort of shrink-to-fit routine. But I have no idea how to email it to my gallery.

Lends new meaning to my 'learning curve.' More like a flat line.
 
I just started putting stuff up in the gallery again.
I guess part of me sort of feels "guilty" for putting stuff into the gallery. I have web space myself for both my personal use and my business and Jorge has been kind enough to offer space for a gallery here too - without charging nary a dime for the site or the gallery.
But if it's the only way for me to start putting stuff up for people to see that yes, I do actually USE my gear, then I guess that's what will have to be done 😀

I just worry about the day when it gets so crowded here that there are limits placed on how much one can upload.

Cheers
Dave
 
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