Photo Assignment: Weekend 01/05/08

[SNC1923]

I am constantly amazed at the stuff folks complain about on this forum.

I don't know that I would characterize it as complaining. We're a co-op: member owned and operated. Everyone has a say and most comments contain some merit, at least IMHO. We're a thoughtful group, don't you think?

However, I have to ask, will there be day passes available for the photography forum?

For you? Absolutely. But no BBQ dinner.

[franze]

I agree that we want to keep these weekend assignments such that they will attract the most participants while I also see a need for maintaining a certain "light-heartedness", so as not to put off those who may be hesitant in posting for the first time. Finding that balance will be a challenge as we (hopefully) move to the new forum area. I was until now, unaware there had been any concerns expressed on this issue, but now being aware of such it may be that we will start parallel threads for each challenge, as was done on several others, one for posting the photos and another for the less formal chatter. I'm not sure how those could be linked to maintain relevancy between the two or whether that would even work to our advantage.

I expect the transition may well entail a certain period where we experience some growing pains. Perhaps a poll or two asking for input from the contributors might be beneficial once we move to our new home. I am hopefull the move will help to give this area of interest a more cohesive nature, which is why I proposed it in the first place.

I note too that as these have grown in participation the banter has also increased. This seems fairly typical of any group dynamics, as the members have gotten to know each other and become more comfortable within the group they tend to engage in more social chatter.

The down side of this is that it can put off someone from jumping in along the way, so we need to avoid the appearance of becoming closed or cliquish. These will be some of the challenges that Tom and I will face once the photo forum is finally(?) set up. And this is also an area where input from the group will be most welcome as the concept is to provide an area for the enjoyment and benefit of the membership of club as a whole, if it fails in that respect then it has failed, period.

RM

Y'all are going to be the Mod Squad of this new forum. Don't over regulate it or try to be everything to everyone. Make it what you want and the people that are part of it will enjoy participating. IMHO you should have threads for beginners, intermediates, advanced photography as well as photoshop users and a photo gear thread. Yes that's a lot...............or, you could leave it just the way it is and have it spontaneous. I think it's working pretty good. This thread is attracting more people every time, it's low key, it's fun, and you never know what you'll learn. For example, I had an English minor, and sometime next week, I will use the word "cumberful" correctly, due to my keen attention to reading "between the prints".

keep up the good work!

[testinglogin]

I don't know that I would characterize it as complaining. We're a co-op: member owned and operated. Everyone has a say and most comments contain some merit, at least IMHO. We're a thoughtful group, don't you think?



For you? Absolutely. But no BBQ dinner.

There's not enough pork on that plate. Trust me.

[Threeteas]

Okay, here's my quid's worth.

Friday through Monday, we are all busy taking and posting pics. Late Monday through Wednesday nothing. Wednesday +Thursday critique time.

So Stat what's wrong with banter late Monday and Tuesday? It fills a void.

[SHERIDESABEEMER]

I really like the color and textures of this shot. Very nice. I'm partial to the nature shots.

[Rapid_Roy]

Colonoscopy?

I missed that, sorry.

and no.

[Threeteas]

Is a picture worth a thousand words ? Are Art Galleries noisy ?

I went to a birthday party at the National Gallery in London.

Plus Stat, check this thread...who throws stones in the glass pyramid at the Louvre?

[Threeteas]

Blasphemy in the National Gallery of all places. I bought a hash pipe at St. Martin in the Field so I guess that is proper ? It was never used and I thought it to be very interesting. Atleast that is what the Bobby said about it later at Heathrow.

Throwing stones at the Louvre ? I would bet the anti-Di Vinci Code Protesters from the Vlaams Blok ? Their fries are better.

This thread is similar to a class trip to an Art Gallery. I wonder if we are scaring anyone away since we are so clannish ?

I'd hope we aren't being clannish...the thread does seem to add new folk each week, and they are welcomed with open lenses.

I bought a scarf in St Martins and gave my old one to a bag lady...I bet she smoked it!

[bricciphoto]

I'll jump in from the cheap seats. I don't think this thread is clannish or too chatty. IÔÇÖm not a chatty person so I hesitate to jump in most posts unless there is some technical aspect of photography being discussed. Speaking strictly for myself, I think it would be useful to have more time on the themes. I typically don't bother pursuing them because anything I've thought of shooting takes a little time and experimentation. It would be easy to just shoot a door knob ( )or something, but I don't want to do that just for the sake of doing it. By saying this, I probably have offended a few people, but it would be useful to have an "advanced" shooterÔÇÖs time line as well as the usual Friday-Sunday. I used to have a studio area set up in my home, but itÔÇÖs being relegated to other purposes now. By the time the weekend rolls around, so does real life and I simply canÔÇÖt set-up the shots that IÔÇÖd like to contribute in a few hours. I believe doing this would accomplish two things: set the bar higher; and give those learning the ropes of photography a bigger opportunity to learn technical skills and new (different) techniques from more advanced submissions (i.e. a few of bluestunes contributions) . The crossover between the two levels of the assignments would be very engaging and instructive in my humble opinion. And once the photo forum is established itÔÇÖs important for all of us to remember, there are very few experts in photography. IÔÇÖve never met another shooter that didnÔÇÖt teach me something new or learn a bit from my technique. The goal should be for all of us to be able to grow our skills while contributing something to the universal effort. We have a tremendous opportunity to create a unique motorcycling/photography symposium.

I have lots of ideas to help make this a good learning experience and look forward to what is to come.

And thanks Tom and Jeff for volunteering to moderate!

[rocketman]

I'll jump in from the cheap seats. I don't think this thread is clannish or too chatty. IÔÇÖm not a chatty person so I hesitate to jump in most posts unless there is some technical aspect of photography being discussed. Speaking strictly for myself, I think it would be useful to have more time on the themes. I typically don't bother pursuing them because anything I've thought of shooting takes a little time and experimentation. It would be easy to just shoot a door knob ( )or something, but I don't want to do that just for the sake of doing it. By saying this, I probably have offended a few people, but it would be useful to have an "advanced" shooterÔÇÖs time line as well as the usual Friday-Sunday. I used to have a studio area set up in my home, but itÔÇÖs being relegated to other purposes now. By the time the weekend rolls around, so does real life and I simply canÔÇÖt set-up the shots that IÔÇÖd like to contribute in a few hours. I believe doing this would accomplish two things: set the bar higher; and give those learning the ropes of photography a bigger opportunity to learn technical skills and new (different) techniques from more advanced submissions (i.e. a few of bluestunes contributions) . The crossover between the two levels of the assignments would be very engaging and instructive in my humble opinion. And once the photo forum is established itÔÇÖs important for all of us to remember, there are very few experts in photography. IÔÇÖve never met another shooter that didnÔÇÖt teach me something new or learn a bit from my technique. The goal should be for all of us to be able to grow our skills while contributing something to the universal effort. We have a tremendous opportunity to create a unique motorcycling/photography symposium.

I have lots of ideas to help make this a good learning experience and look forward to what is to come.

And thanks Tom and Jeff for volunteering to moderate!

I have been thinking along those lines, not so much as in expert/novice but in starting another series that would run for longer durations, and encourage a peer-review process, since I know that for some short-term assignments can be limiting, not everyone has the time to devote in short notice. I've basically just been waiting for the forum to get set up.

And since you volunteered you will be called upon!

If there are other ideas people want to float, how about we take them back to the discussion thread started a while ago on this subject, shall we?



Photo forum discussion

Tom? thoughts?

RM

[SNC1923]

I have been thinking along those lines, not so much as in expert/novice but in starting another series that would run for longer durations, and encourage a peer-review process, since I know that for some short-term assignments can be limiting, not everyone has the time to devote in short notice. I've basically just been waiting for the forum to get set up.

And since you volunteered you will be called upon!

If there are other ideas people want to float, how about we take them back to the discussion thread started a while ago on this subject, shall we?



Photo forum discussion

Tom? thoughts?

RM

+1? I agree?

I think several of us have been holding off until a forum gets up and running. Once that happens, having multiple threads will be a lot easier. I think Bricci's suggestion is a good one. It could be a separate thread or this one could become that two-week or three-week time line. . . . I have a couple of ideas that I've seen on other forums that could be fun.

I guess that all for now. If I've something else profound to say, I'll go over to the proposal thread.

p.s. I just realized, we have five concurrent threads running about photography right now. And that's just screwing around.

Photo Assignment 01/05/08 (this thread)

Photo Assignment Karma

Photo Assignment Index

Photo Assignments 2007 Year-In-Review

New Forum Area Proposal: Photography

[bricciphoto]

RM--thanks. Didn't look at the other thread on the photo forum before my prior post. Sounds like you've been thinking what I was thinking. Sorry for missing that.

Tom--thanks for rounding up those other threads. I've been a bit lazy on seeing/finding those topics.

[Rapid_Roy]

I don't know that I would characterize it as complaining. We're a co-op: member owned and operated. Everyone has a say and most comments contain some merit, at least IMHO. We're a thoughtful group, don't you think?



For you? Absolutely. But no BBQ dinner.

You right, I am sorry. Complain was the wrong word for Dawg, I was really thinking about the 42 threads about final Drives and Gillette sucking. I'll behave and follow da rules.

Now can I get the BBQ dinner? WOOT!
BTW, Josh was right, there wasn't enough pork, unlike our gov't.

[SNC1923]

My niece: "DangÔÇöit smells like updawg in here."
Me: "What's "updawg?"
My niece: "Nuthin'. What's up wich you, dawg?"
Me:

[Rapid_Roy]

Dawg ?

Yes, about the chat room comment. When the Dawg barks, I listen.
Dang, I'm chatting again. Alright, I'll stop now.