Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Hi Everyone,
What is your wish when you post an image in OPF, not in an editing, work flow or retouch challenge:
1.Do you feel it is finished, your work and no one should touch it?
2. As above but give your impressions, feelings and thoughts?
3. Tell me what I need to do to make this picture more impressive?
4. What the &*%#$% did I do wrong, help? The latter we all agree needs the paramedics and we do that fine!
So how do you feel when you post?
Let me give my take, other opinions are important, but this is mine:
There might be an assumption that we can edit. That is not always true. Sometimes I have taken the liberty to edit and repost after careful consideration and generally with prior private request to the poster. So, I for sure am not innocent!
If a photographer has snapped a picture at a birthday party as part of memories or see I was there by the Eiffel Tower or what ever, then there is less issue of editing, less trespass.
However, portraits that have been "made" by a photographer are much more of a private thing presented to us to enjoy. I, myself am rather agressive in commenting, because in that we we all can learn from others good work and also challenging everyone else to discuss an approach.
I happen to know, since Nicolas Claris has made it clear, that he is one of those photographer's who show work they have labored on and post only when they are satisfied is complete.
So one can explore timidly and with deference.
Thus.
"Is there a version with more of the line of haystacks" or "Did you also consider taking this picture when there was nobody in the cafe?" or, to be really blasphemous, "Is this something that you can imagine in black and white?"
None of these statements disprespect the work, but do convey other ways of looking at the subject and therefore differently carry messages and meaning perhaps.
Now if you look at Holly's post "Light Meets Dark", and the "Swan with a Look of Condescension", she clearly implies the extra input.
Other photographers have a very open attitude and you can edit and repost you own version as you wish. If in doubt, a PM is always a great idea.
Another approach is to post a your own image that deals with the topic in a similar or alternative way!
This is the most popular and enjoyable part of the forum!
In any case, a great idea is to give your good impressions first and then "However, I really don't like the way you have posed his head, seems artificial".
Now for that to work, one has to post elsewhere too, so people know where you are coming from.
I guess the whole thing is a debate where we struggle to undersand what we can do by looking carefully at each other's work.
We absolutely do not want anyone to be inhibited. I, for example, respect Nicolas' decision to keep the lady hidden and I prefer not to see her utterly revealed ,yet I ,myself, would wish to see enough that I can discern someone is there and it is probably a woman. However, knowing that Nicolas posts finished images that he has carefully worked on, I wouldn't dream of actually downloading his pictures and altering them!
It might be a good idea to add, a "don't edit notice" as Nicolas does:
if images must not be downloaded ever or edited even for reposting here! This by the way is a perfectly reaonable option and should be used more often and always respected.
This BTW, is NOT a chastisement for breaking a rule, just a gentle guidance for anyone who is kind enough to post to be able to be comfortable that their intentions are respected.
Asher
We do have challenges where we request explorations in creative possibilites in developing or repairing RAW or other images. Here we need you to pitch in and broaden our experience. This allows many of us look at things in ways that we'd never consider otherwise!
What is your wish when you post an image in OPF, not in an editing, work flow or retouch challenge:
1.Do you feel it is finished, your work and no one should touch it?
2. As above but give your impressions, feelings and thoughts?
3. Tell me what I need to do to make this picture more impressive?
4. What the &*%#$% did I do wrong, help? The latter we all agree needs the paramedics and we do that fine!
So how do you feel when you post?
Let me give my take, other opinions are important, but this is mine:
There might be an assumption that we can edit. That is not always true. Sometimes I have taken the liberty to edit and repost after careful consideration and generally with prior private request to the poster. So, I for sure am not innocent!
If a photographer has snapped a picture at a birthday party as part of memories or see I was there by the Eiffel Tower or what ever, then there is less issue of editing, less trespass.
However, portraits that have been "made" by a photographer are much more of a private thing presented to us to enjoy. I, myself am rather agressive in commenting, because in that we we all can learn from others good work and also challenging everyone else to discuss an approach.
I happen to know, since Nicolas Claris has made it clear, that he is one of those photographer's who show work they have labored on and post only when they are satisfied is complete.
So one can explore timidly and with deference.
Thus.
"Is there a version with more of the line of haystacks" or "Did you also consider taking this picture when there was nobody in the cafe?" or, to be really blasphemous, "Is this something that you can imagine in black and white?"
None of these statements disprespect the work, but do convey other ways of looking at the subject and therefore differently carry messages and meaning perhaps.
Now if you look at Holly's post "Light Meets Dark", and the "Swan with a Look of Condescension", she clearly implies the extra input.
Other photographers have a very open attitude and you can edit and repost you own version as you wish. If in doubt, a PM is always a great idea.
Another approach is to post a your own image that deals with the topic in a similar or alternative way!
This is the most popular and enjoyable part of the forum!
In any case, a great idea is to give your good impressions first and then "However, I really don't like the way you have posed his head, seems artificial".
Now for that to work, one has to post elsewhere too, so people know where you are coming from.
I guess the whole thing is a debate where we struggle to undersand what we can do by looking carefully at each other's work.
We absolutely do not want anyone to be inhibited. I, for example, respect Nicolas' decision to keep the lady hidden and I prefer not to see her utterly revealed ,yet I ,myself, would wish to see enough that I can discern someone is there and it is probably a woman. However, knowing that Nicolas posts finished images that he has carefully worked on, I wouldn't dream of actually downloading his pictures and altering them!
It might be a good idea to add, a "don't edit notice" as Nicolas does:
Nicolas Claris said:
if images must not be downloaded ever or edited even for reposting here! This by the way is a perfectly reaonable option and should be used more often and always respected.
This BTW, is NOT a chastisement for breaking a rule, just a gentle guidance for anyone who is kind enough to post to be able to be comfortable that their intentions are respected.
Asher
We do have challenges where we request explorations in creative possibilites in developing or repairing RAW or other images. Here we need you to pitch in and broaden our experience. This allows many of us look at things in ways that we'd never consider otherwise!
