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Monika C wrote:
OK, I admit, I just joined, but I've lurked occasionally over the years. Since joining, I've been struck by the numbers of vacation posts. How about a forum dedicated to such? Then people can post their P&S, phone, etc shots there, get C&C from those who are interested in helping them.
Hi Monika,
Thanks for joining in this conversation, and I think you simplified it as much as possible.
Now my 2 or 3 cents to everyone else:
This idea that Andrey brought up is nothing new. Many of us have had this discussion many times over the years.
The issue that makes it hard as brought up by some is how and where you draw the line?
Like others, I prefer my landscapes to not have people or buildings in them. Heck, when my kids were young I had gotten complaints that I never took photos of my kids in the outdoors, so I finally started to make sure I got one or two shots with them standing on a rock or a log, etc.... So that's my bent. But clearly there are others who do like people in their landscape shots. Now often that can make those shots to be more Adventure or Sports photography, maybe even simply People Photography. But to make forums for every sub grouping of Landscapes probably isn't the answer, as they wouldn't end up getting much traffic overall, and would probably die from not enough use. So we will see photos posted in here included objects that wouldn't fit my more narrow view, but I (we) recognize that for others, they are of interest, and they enjoy them. Hence the threads do stay in the forum and don't get moved.
And how serious someone is about their landscape photography can be hard to judge, though at times it's very obvious the person was just snapping snapshots on their P&S through a bus window.
So the frustration for those who take their landscape photography serious, and make efforts to learn and to grow whether by teaching themselves through books or online, or perhaps taking classes at a local college, is to then see the forum watered down by those who are not putting any effort into their landscape shots, with no care or concern for some of the simple things like exposure, focus or composition. These people simply were outdoors and grabbed some photos, no different then if they had been in Disneyland and grabbed some snaps of the family or the rides.
In the realm of todays Social Media, whether it be FaceBook or Instagram, many seem to just simply use posting photos as a means of social interaction. So they come to the Landscape forum here and post their photos with no intention of learning or growing in their photography, but simply it's another means of social interaction for them.
Now bear in mind, I am not trying to pigeon hole anyone, and in conversations like these, many generalizations have to be made in order to have a reply no turn into a 20,000 word thesis.
Suffice to say, the Landscape Forum doesn't exist in the same likeness of social interaction as FB or IG. The point of the forum is for people who are interested in Landscape Photography to post their photos to share and also to learn and to grow. If someone simply wants a place to post a snapshot, then it should be on FB or IG with their friends who then their snapshots will mean something to.
Now also, in terms of people who do post here who are desiring to learn and to grow. Obviously they will come in all forms and shapes and sizes in terms of their experience and expertise in photography. So even someone who is new, and posted some shots that were overexposed, or perhaps the composition included elements that made it weaker, but if they are here with the intent to grow, they will listen, and it will be obvious by their responses that they do desire to learn more, and that the photos they posted were not just some snaps from a vacation that they thought the world would be interested in seeing.
So perhaps a Vacation Snapshot Forum is the answer? I am not totally sure.
Hopefully everyone realizes we are not trying to create some elitist club. Everyone has a right to take photos of whatever they want, the question as you look at the 20 or so forums we have here on FM, is to post those photos in the proper forum.
Again, lot's of gray areas in this, but it's healthy to have a discussion once in a while. But it's important not to call people names, or insult others. There are many sides to this coin, and where we can grow is in trying to see someone else's position or viewpoint. And Andrey brought up a valid point. One that might strike a nerve with some, as it can be easy to get feelings hurt when someone says that your work, your photography may be better suited to be posted somewhere else.
I don't believe the intent is to create some narrow view of what is a Landscape Photograph, but the idea is to have the Landscape Forum have people posting in it who are serious about Landscape photography (obviously varying degrees of seriousness exist). The best way to define if someone is serious, is simply, do they want to learn and get better with their landscape photography? Or is this simply a social interaction for them, and nothing more.
I better stop before I get to 20,000 words.
Hopefully I haven't offended anyone.
Jim
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