Archive 2012 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.23 #1 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
I also think that the change around this forum is basically that it has split into a lot of different groups. It used to be five years ago, that everyone was basically adapting old lenses to Canon cameras and primarily the 5D. Now there is a wide group of people with quite varied interests. There is a strong group that is interested in micro four thirds, some adpating lenses some not. There are now a lot more Nikon shooters with Leitax providing a lot more options for these folks. There are people primarily interested in adapting lenses for NEX. There are people who are primarily interested in shooting with Leica M. There are people who are using the latest Fuji cameras. There are others primarily interested in the new Zeiss glass regardless of what camera it is used on. So the number of participants has increased and their interests are more varied and often don't overlap. I think this trend is good in many ways. I like the varied interests, but it also reduces camaraderie. If you know or think that you will likely never shoot Leica M, then you have little interest in those posts. Still I find a spirit here of people who are willing to try something different, of people who like to tinker with things, of people who can be very demanding of their photography, and yes of people who have strong opinions. I like all those things, but especially the strong opinions part can create some fireworks from time to time.
p.23 #3 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
cogitech wrote:
Everyone,
Do what you will with the thread. Nobody "owns" a thread around here.
I've made an effort to bring people together (was it obvious, or not?) and to bring some levity and camaraderie back to this area of FM.
I have failed, apparently. I am OK with that. This thread has taught me one thing, at least; why so many of the previous members have declined the invitation to participate.
I do, however, wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season, and all the best in the future. It will likely be quite some time before I return, if ever. For many of you, this will surely come as a relief. All the best to you as well. ...Show more → Steve Spencer wrote:
Hi Paul,
I hope you read this, I think you did bring some levity and camaraderie back--at least for me, and although no doubt some didn't accept your invitation I saw some posts from some people I hadn't seen post in a long time and it was fun. I have missed you around here and was glad to see you participating so fully in a thread. Sure the thread went off track with the gun control thing, but that is the issue of the day with the shooting in Connecticut, and there are very strong feelings on both sides such that it is a hard topic on which to have a cordial conversation. Still I really enjoyed this thread and thank you for starting it. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season and all the best. In my book the place is better when you participate, so I hope you do, and please ignore BIF. I don't know what was up with his last post, but I couldn't really disagree with him more. ...Show more →
I like cogitech! His photography is interesting. His POVs are interesting. His digs are sharp witty and not too cruel. He's great to have around IMO! But I feel some concern for him. Which is odd cuz usually I just don't care - I mean people create their own realities (especially on-line) and it's not my job or intent to force my own or some common sense of reality on them. But with cogitech here, well, uh, it's like you have a friend with a nose-bleed and it's getting on his shirt and he's getting upset that there's blood on his shirt but he's not recognizing that it's coming from his own nose. My last post was pretty much just trying to let him know that his nose is bleeding - and posted from kindness. That's all. I wasn't trying to attack him or anything. I hope he stays around but that's my selfish hope. If things are too upsetting for him at this time I hope he does whatever is needed to bring things back into a proper perspective.
Dec 22, 2012 at 07:49 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.23 #4 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
Bifurcator wrote:
I like cogitech! His photography is interesting. His POVs are interesting. His digs are sharp witty and not too cruel. He's great to have around IMO! But I feel some concern for him. Which is odd cuz usually I just don't care - I mean people create their own realities (especially on-line) and it's not my job or intent to force my own or some common sense of reality on them. But with cogitech here, well, uh, it's like you have a friend with a nose-bleed and it's getting on his shirt and he's getting upset that there's blood on his shirt but he's not recognizing that it's coming from his own nose. My last post was pretty much just trying to let him know that his nose is bleeding - and posted from kindness. That's all. I wasn't trying to attack him or anything. I hope he stays around but that's my selfish hope. If things are too upsetting for him at this time I hope he does whatever is needed to bring things back into a proper perspective.
Well BIF, I hope you do really mean well, but what you chose to say struck me as hitting a bit below the belt. If you have followed some of his threads recently you will have noticed that Paul has changed his diet and he sees that as for the better and you can't help but notice how much he loves his wife. My partner who has followed this thread noticed that right away. So to ask whether he has changed what he's eating and whether things are ok at home seems to me to be sticking a finger in Paul's eye, but hopefully you just weren't paying attention and weren't purposely trying to be mean and your questions were out of kindness. Personally, I was happy to see that Paul has resettled in BC and that he seems to very much be himself and to be happy there. So, I can't really disagree with you more about your assessment of him and I don't think he needs to bring things into perspective--although maybe he does, what can we ever tell about each other from a forum like this? I sure thought you were being a bit nasty and I might well have misjudged you.
p.23 #5 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
Ah, no, I didn't know. I pulled those from my own experiences. Often when I'm at odds with the world it's due to either my diet or something I'm going through at home. I totally missed any information that his diet had actually changed for some reason or that he was indeed actually going thru something at home. In the past when such things have happened to me I didn't always recognize those things as a main cause until I was so upset I was asking myself WTH is going on!?! It seemed to me that he was asking those same questions and with him recently showing signs of "being at odds" with the world (or at least FM) I thought the diagnosis fit. But for sure dude, I meant it in the best of ways.
You will always be able to tell when I mean something to be harsh and pointed because I'm not practiced at subtlety in that way. It's not my nature; I come out and say what I mean in a very direct manner!
Dec 22, 2012 at 08:42 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.23 #6 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
Just to be clear, Paul did not say that he is going through anything at home. Rather my point was that it is pretty obvious that he loves his wife and kids, that he is proud of his family, and that he is proud of his new diet. My point was that to publicly challenge somebody on areas in which they have expressed their pride is one way to hit someone below the belt. I am certainly willing to concede, however, that you didn't notice these things about Paul and you were trying to be helpful. It just didn't seem that way to me at the time.
p.23 #7 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
Yeah, take it as truth brother. I have no idea what his personal life is like. Didn't know he was married, had kids, nor that he was on a new diet of any kind for any reason.
p.23 #9 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
Paul
I think it was a brilliant, timely and funny idea to open this thread. Although I have not posted till now I have enjoyed it immensely. Great thread and thanks for it
Seasons greetings to you and everyone else on the forum
p.23 #10 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
Time marches on ... and things change.
The dynamic of the Alt Forum has definitely changed over the last year or so. As such, I haven't participated in it nearly as much as I once did. This thread (sans the political rhetoric, etc). was like a "family reunion" with some of the throwback members coming out in droves.
For me, it is really cool to see some of the other members that have also become "less active" in the Alt Forum resurface for this retro-thread. Cool to see the pics, but also really cool to see the collection of members reassemble. So sad, that people had to take a really good thing and "jack it up" with all the non-photography BS. Just because you have the right to do something, doesn't mean you should do it.
The spirit of FM'ers has always historically been a good one ... and despite multiple members trying to give a nudge to keep things on track and in the spirit of FM ... others have been selfishly bent on exercising their rights to express themselves ... rather than focusing on how to be contributing to the spirit of a great thread that is rooted in the simplicity of our common passion for photography, in a great forum, on a great site. FM is only as great (or as divisive, selfish & petty) as we make it.
Mirror check ... what did I do to help or hinder the thread, the Alt Forum and FM community at large?
Paul ... great thread that brought out some really awesome stuff and some awesome FM'ers I hadn't seen much of lately. Diggin' the "family reunion" camaraderie from the "old days" vibe, as well as the mix of pics from everyone contributing their "alt" works.
The Mayan calendar perpetuates itself and is back at the start of a given cycle. A new dawn, a new day, a new year ... what will each of us do with it. Personally, I aspire to grow photographically / artistically / technically with the assistance from my generous fellow FM'ers and am willing to contribute to the growth of others to the degree that I am able as reciprocal appreciation.
It will be good to look back at this thread in a year or so and see how my perspective of "my best" may change in time. Again, great thread ... let's put it back on track, and see if we can keep it there.
p.23 #11 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
MarkJones wrote:
Paul
I think it was a brilliant, timely and funny idea to open this thread. Although I have not posted till now I have enjoyed it immensely. Great thread and thanks for it
Seasons greetings to you and everyone else on the forum
p.23 #15 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
MarkJones wrote:
Paul
I think it was a brilliant, timely and funny idea to open this thread. Although I have not posted till now I have enjoyed it immensely. Great thread and thanks for it
Seasons greetings to you and everyone else on the forum
Agreed, and I thank Paul for pouring his enthusiasm into it. I really enjoyed all the images.
p.23 #18 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
cogitech wrote:
Everyone,
Do what you will with the thread. Nobody "owns" a thread around here.
I've made an effort to bring people together (was it obvious, or not?) and to bring some levity and camaraderie back to this area of FM.
I have failed, apparently. I am OK with that. This thread has taught me one thing, at least; why so many of the previous members have declined the invitation to participate.
I do, however, wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season, and all the best in the future. It will likely be quite some time before I return, if ever. For many of you, this will surely come as a relief. All the best to you as well.
p.23 #20 · Best Alt Images, EVER! (before we all die)
cogitech wrote:
It will likely be quite some time before I return, if ever.
Paul, in the spirit of Christmas, please reconsider. Quitting is not a good idea. FYI, I have strong views on the subject, and it took serious self-restraint not to come up with a few biting comments.What I am saying is, please take into consideration those who did stick to the theme of your brilliant thread, and post pictures, and not only those who were aggressively vocal. Concept of the silent majority, I guess. Leaving the floor to the agitated does not bear healthy fruit.
Happy holidays to you and your family!
