Cem_Usakligil
Well-known member
Thanks Mike, I couldn't have said it any better myself.Sorry, no passport this evening as I need to be ready for the coming working week. But a couple of quick thoughts for now:
- The key is to contribute to OPF. That may include images, critique, technical information etc. We are not here just to pat each other on the back, but to help each other develop our own photography. That works on many levels and requires consideration of other people's point of view and experience.
- We are not a chat forum. We do chat because we have built some empathy as a result of sharing our work and ideas - that is good and natural, but the chat is based on at least some level of relationship we have built and not just because we're in the same room.
- By sharing and discussing our work and ideas we learn where each of us is coming from. I have read Rachel's, Asher's, Bart's, Cem's, Fahim's, Nic's, Ken's etc comments many times. I know something of their approach and their style and how that influences their critique - but they are all still capable or surprising me so I need to keep an open mind.
- Sharing work, as with other ideas, makes us vulnerable. Work particularly, because we are putting up something that reflects us and then opening it/ourselves up for critique. I firmly agree that anything I post can be commented upon freely, and have no issue with people reworking to share their ideas. Even if I don't follow the suggested path I still learn, and one of my favourite pictures directly resulted from challenge from Asher around a whimsy I posted.
- We do all of this civilly. We remember the person who made themselves vulnerable and we care for them. We do not seek to pull people or their work down. We may ask for an explanation, but that is to allow us to consider whether the work succeeds before a wider audience. Ken is often direct, but he spends time thinking about work before commenting and his comments are perceptive and valuable.
- For all of this to work, we each need to earn our place. This isn't based on experience or merit, but is based on having the honesty and vulnerability to risk placing our work etc in front of others knowing that will impact on how our contributions are weighed. We are not 'internet experts' who have plenty of opinion and nothing to back it up that's too easy and cost free, but it profits nothing. But, we gather in Asher's home at his invitation to share our ideas and discuss photographic topics - a forum if you will. We have some very distinguished artists here - where else would Alain pop in to pay his dues, and there are many others some already mentioned - who take the time to help others less far along that path.
So to be a part of all that anyone needs to be open, willing to make themselves vulnerable and willing to contribute. Not just their views that leave them the ditant expert, but their own work, thoughts and ideas. That requires some humility, but then we can get to know them and they us and we are an open photography forum that retains its unique character. As Ken said earlier, there aren't many serious photographic places on the internet where you can admit shooting jpeg and not be ridiculed or ex-communicated.
Finally, it does work. I am not a founding member, but i have been made welcome, encouraged and have learnt more by sharing work here than in any other place. So, Erik, share some work, chill out and let us all get to know you and your work, and you get to know us. Then you will be welcome and we will know where you are coming from and vice versa.
Sorry that was longer than I intended and probably rambles a bit, but OPF is unique in my experience and that is worth holding on to.
Mike
PS Ken's headshot. Still great.
Cheers,