Charlotte,
This was your post, under the approximate title, "Thank you Obama!", except you'll note that the pictures are now 400 pixels wide, enough to show everything in the pictures and not overload bandwidth without a reason:
I have always loved each soul and believed we could be brought together and finally the cosmos is evolving into that love- just my admiration for America and President Obama- finally!
My critique: The idea that kids of different colors playing together is unusual or anything to do with Obama baffles me. Young kids
always do this until they are taught otherwise and in the USA, this is so common as to be ordinary. The idea of some connection to President Elect Obama, is too important and controversial an issue, (maybe worthy of a great discussion) to be connected with these natural and fine moments you have recorded. Photographers can present their pictures and comments, but
all pictures can be moved to the best place we see fit. We can change titles to reflect the subject
if the thread is not labeled for the subject it claims to introduce. Once
you have made the connection with Obama, it's political and controversial and then it belongs in a different section and a new title is needed! Had you kept this a casual fun observation, no change would have been made.
As proof that we were on a political path: Look again at the evoked response referring to a possible impending "race war". If we are going to enter this realm, which we are open to do at our peril, the pictures better be so impressive that it's worth the pain!
The Cost to OPF: Understand that for each such thread, the moderators get bombarded with demands for people to be "banned" and all this is a wasteful use of moderators time. Give us an outstanding set of images and we'll gladly pay the price in this case.
So what's the "right thing" to do, here in OPF? Leaving out grand associations and political banners, had you posted the same images,
with your explanation, thus in "Layback Café:
"this was a quick shot last night with some beautiful children of different backgrounds/race. They were playing with letting ballons rise into the sky- the little girl crying accidently lost the ballon she wanted to save/it was too priceless not to take these spontaneous captures they seemed to "be each other" without regard to adult ideas - for me it's about love of each spirit" real humanity-how we truly belong to "each other"
it would have been fine. Your title, "one People" "One Nation" is a stretch but O.K.
Creating Political Statements: Racial harmony is something no one here needs to be lectured on. However, we'd love to celebrate with a great photograph! That's always welcome. Obama? It's nothing to do with him? He is President of the USA. For sure it's about time someone of a different origin is elected President, but race is
now not relevant unless he shows bias. I did not vote for him but now he's my President. You chose to create a major political statement that bolsters and adds "importance" to your snapshots. That was the unacceptable step. You now had moved from casual fun to a serious topic. You know people harbor strong views here. In
that light, the pictures fall short. Why? Take a snap of Hilary at a function, it's fun. Present it as if it's news photography, you are now asking for major demands in quality. The standard set for such work is exceptional! If you wish to show pictures of iconic subjects, then know what waters you are swimming in. As a casual shot, we get it without fanfare. Your title is viewed as pretentious. Add to that politics and the snapshots become a source for a load of mail to us which sucks up time like a black hole. When the photography is really inspiring, it's all worthwhile. That's what we're here for.
If you want to show a picture of kids of different color, as a social or political statement, that's often welcome, really (as long as there is not physical danger to anyone or threat or scapegoating and/or over-simplistic). Still, we'd want
photography not a snapshot.
Look
here for what is done well.
If we are going to go for major social and political statements, the photography has to be much, much more than an ordinary snapshot. We don't need teaching about racial manners but we are impressed with great presentation.
Charlotte Thompson said:
..........and Asher no the picture isn't perfect in crop that wasn't the intention the intention is to understand our humanity" to look at what it is and what it is evolving into- to show obvious compassion also Asher- "why would you use your power to vanish this thread? is this not worthy or are you biased? just a thought Oh btw why did you retitle my work?
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Charlotte,
We have been very open and kind to you beyond any normal allowance. If you do not see this, there's little for me to say. Why "use my power"? I do not have power that is not loaned to me by the wishes of the community. The forum has to have balance. We cater to professionals as well as amateurs. We have to clearly demand high standards for professional subjects. If you want to get into the areas of professional photography, then the work better be on that path of quality, at the very least.
We do not delete in any case, we store and can always restore should the circumstances change because of new photography.
You may like to reply in support of what OPF is trying to accomplish. I'm not trying to put your work down just contain it in a reasonable form. We need your support in this. OPF is about building a community and there must be clear delineation between casual and serious photography. As pointed out previously, for 2009 we have little tolerance of
political discussion unaccompanied by exceptional pictures.
Asher
