sticking neck out (again)
 

I know the moderator's choice is their choice, but after a few weeks during which I had hoped there might be some variety, I am left with the impresssion that this gallery has a bit of the character of an advertising agency short list. In one case, (nothing personal Sharon, as you know I like a lot of your images for their beauty and social commentary), advertising dangerous rubbish left or deliberately placed on the beach.

Any chance of some reflection of the very wide scope of subject matter posted on the gallery as a whole?

Nothing like this to really make one look at the gallery in depth again.

Not a mod so these are my personal thoughts.

Not sure I see the same ' character of an advertising agency short list ' that you do Chris, but rather images that stand out as a result of the thought and effort that has gone into creating them.

As for Sharons image then I really fail to understand how you view it as advertising dangerous rubbish left or deliberately placed on the beach. :confused: I could be wrong but I see it as a carefully staged scene that captures the emotions of a holiday in sunny Corfu. :)

Don

I probably shouldn't comment since I rarely post anything on WPF anymore but I will say that I find the images, this week's anyway, too contrived for my taste. Gorgeous images that I wouldn't know how to create but surely there has been a landscape or wildlife shot that merits making the short list.

Do the moderators get together via web to decide on "Pic of the Week" or do they take it in turns? What ever - it might help if a very short critique was given by them pointing out why they chose it - such as style - difficulty - originality etc.
So far I have no no difficulty with any of the choices - they have all been first rate examples of the photographers art.

Don I appoint you my diplomatic correspondent forthwith, so much more gently put.

Like Andy I don't think I actually have a problem with the individual shots except that I do draw the line at branded bottles on the beach - if it was Corfu, my memory is that one did the drinking on the Taverna terrace and it was local hooch in unmarked bottles. More the strong concentration on staged narrow subject spectrum shots. A lot of thought and effort can also go in to framing and correctly exposing a landscape - as Whistler said in his famous libel trial, it wasn't the time it took to do a painting he was charging £3000 for (c1900 prices), but the lifetime's experience.

Well, the moderators have their choice but it would be helpful if a proper critique was given so we philistine folk (me) can have a bit more understanding of why they picked each image. The main criteria at the moment seems to be modern or 'arty' which by and large does not appeal to me. Not that that matters and consensus will never be reached but explanations please.

May I respectfully remind you all that the photo of the week that depicts a corona bottle on a beach is NOT open for critique. Its creator did not opt to ask for any critique on the photo upload form nor uploaded it to the critique board. Please respect the wishes of the photo's creator.

POTW is not about critique instead its a mention of those who are uploading outstanding images. We do not judge the photos, we simply pick them according to our own taste.

The moderators choice POTW is selected as follows:-

Throughout the week we scan and keep a note of any photo(s) that we consider to be outstanding according to our own taste and interest. Each of us moderators then nominate ONE and if two or more moderators choose the same photo then its is declared as POTW. If there are no matches then we nominates our second choice, often one or more moderators second choice is a first choice of another moderator.

Hi Steve - I think you will find the corona bottle shot is open for critique - I certainly commented when it first came out - so I think are all the other POTW's so far. Also IMO I think it might help beginners if the moderators could give some pointers as to what helps make an outstanding shot.

I post my images here because I think there are some very good technical photographers who frequent this forum and I'm wanting to improve my own photography. Now and again I'll get a comment that helps me and other times I'll wonder why a photo I post gets ignored.

What I'm learning is something I think is great is not viewed as such by others - for whatever reason. Whereas a picture I may think is 'ordinary' is singled out for high praise. Who's right?

Well it wouldn't be fun if we all thought the same, so diversity is what makes our photography unique. For the record I'm often left thinking 'what a load of crap' just as I'm often left thinking 'Wow - what a stunning image'.

I do agree though... it would be nice if we learned why an image has been chosen. After all I'm not alone in thinking like I do am I?

Apologies for not having noticed blank where critique is requested or not, both to moderators and Sharon. Personally it seems odd to me to post photos on a forum and expect only positive comment, but if this is a rule rather than a guide, the link from the forum to the POTW photo should include the whole panel below the photo.

My outrage was not critique of the photograph as an abstract image nor of skill in its taking, but that something should be held up as exemplary which I find slightly disgraceful, though I hope Sharon that you took it away and recycled or binned it afterwards.

If anyone does not understand this, I suggest they report to their nearest National Trust or community beach clearance team and spend a few hours picking up the rubbish that makes beaches unplesant and dangerous if not removed. About 1/3 is stuff that has gone overboard from boats. About 1/3 junk left over from barbeques which also contains a lot of dangerous material - bottles do not stay whole for long. The other 1/3 and also dangerous is abandoned fishing line complete with hooks.

Chris,really do understand your point here,but I guess that the POTW,is the actual shot,and not the content ,as such,if that makes sense.To say it is the quality of the shot,as opposed to what the shot actually depicts.This is why ,maybe with modern art etc,we have unmade beds,and pickled sheeps heads,which command large amounts of money,as opposed to paintings and sculptures as we used to see.

Personally I think the POTW shot in question was SO Last Year :rolleyes:

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...=500&ppuser=40

No props required this was somebodies junk.

I take Chris's point about our countryside becoming littered with plastic and beer cans.

I must admit with a few of the POTW choices I have wondered what the novelty or appeal was. Yet another case of you can't please all the people all the time.

Actually it comes across to me that Chris' point is that pictures of one of his pet hates are not suitable subjects for POTW :rolleyes: Come on - a good picture is a good picture irrespective of ones personal opinion of the subject portrayed.

And then for him to suggest that the photographer should clear up someone else rubbish just because they have taken a picture of it :eek:
I'll have to be carefully that if I take a picture of a derelict building I don't become responsible for repairing it ;)

We see so many landscape & wildlife shots that are 'nice' images, technically good, etc but how many are truly outstanding? I applaud the Mods for choosing some different, stimulating, thought provoking, images.

agree :) maybe not a critique so much, but a reason.

Most definatley.. we can all learn something new. not every one knows everything.

what Derek said:cool:

I agree, but is this always the case:confused:

"the antidote to smart picnic tables - Aldeburgh" i hope Chris you organised this to be shifted?

dodgy plug!

thats it really - well said
I think i'd clear it up any way, if id taken the shot - sensible really.

:rolleyes: @ building remark. lol

I think the shot was an outstanding one that week, wherever the bottle ended up.. glass comes from sand does not it? and POTW has varied each week and is rather intresting. It will stay intresting too I'd say (until bird pics start getting placed constantly;) ) but feel, as said by others, a reason/comment on why potw is, potw!

but Chris, very virtuous of you, you stuck that neck out faaaar!

Oh dear...I almost feel guilty now for photographing someone elses rubbish..I can assure you that I put it in a bin afterwards so actually I did everybody a favour by taking the pic.....The bottle wasn't too bad but the cocktail thingys had evil points on them that I would have thought were far more dangerous that the bottle which seems to have been the main cause for concern..
Oh well...No pleasing all of the people, all of the time.
As for critisism then it must have been an oversight when I uploaded it originally..I usually invite critique..I think its helpful to know what others think of my pics..Although I must admit ,if I like it then thats what matters to me.
So...I do clear up after myself..I take pictures and leave only footprints .
Sharon

I have wondered about this myself Christine and Clive; for example, I have put comments of admiration on a number of Nigel Blake's recent shots of military planes despite the fact that I hate most things about military planes (spent too many of my first 4 years playing target). The trendy modern art is simply explained as fashion pushed hard by a ruthless marketing industry and I wouldn't cross the road to see it. There is much excellent art pushed out by it and never gets beyond provincial galleries; pity.

Pictures of derelict buildings, some good ones recently by you Jamie, are social comment, a traditional and valid function of art, and hopefully taking a good pic is something, but also all, one can do about them. Picking up potentially dangerous rubbish is something everyone can do something about easily, thank you for that Sharon. The stuff on Aldburgh beach is the remaining fishermen's work/rest area & am so pleased to see remains of industry in areas that have mostly been gentrified.

Getting back to where I started, I suspect that the popularity of these type of shots derives from amateurs wishing to associate themselves with a glamorous modern industy. You used to have to be paid to go round town advertising someones products, now most people seem only too happy to do it free, but sorry, get no thanks from me for doing so.

But I think its time for small hair on tail to stop trying to wag the dog (and wait with bated breath to see next weeks POTW).

Not really a sellable sentence here

..viruses?
..injuries?
..infections?

i sense you could create a new company......

roll tv ad.

"have you been affected by voluntarily beach combing? call Morton finance..."

:D :D :D :D

Fair enough and we now have a better understanding of how it works.

Wasn't this forum meant to be a bit of fun?
POTW surely being a photo submitted that week where the moderators as a collective would like to bring to the attention of people like myself who might otherwise miss it?....photos that are also very good.:)

No one here has just pulled a dummy from a baby because a picture of a crying baby has more impact...I honestly can't see what the problem is??:confused:

Thank you, Joe.

Exactly, the POTW site feature is supposed to be fun AND bring images worthy of attention.

It seems this point has been missed.

Well said Joe...for a moment I was thinking that someone had turned WPF into a camera club... :D

Yep..'bang on Joe'..'hit the nail on the head' so to speak..
Al.

It amazes me how touchy we can get sometimes - I'm a fairly crap snapper and I know it - as my signature says I take what I like - my purpose in joining WPF was to learn and improve myself because some of its members are like me, some are good, some very good and some top drawer. We all learn from constructive critique which is why I think POTW should have some guidelines or pointers for beginners - even if its just "Beginners Note: Look at the sharpness of this image" or "Beginners Note: examine the balance or DOF of this shot" -

By the way Joe - Sorry - I DO pull dummies out - It's the big "O" of the mouth and look of absolute surprise and bewilderment I'm after- I also do a bit of gardening around flowers in the wild and pose people from time to time - I also stare at rock climbers with camera set for 8 frames per sec just in case they fall off!!! And you could say that Photoshop and any post processing is one BIG cheat!

Thank you Joe for the reality [sanity] check.

Thumbs up for the mods on picking a POTW.

I have been away for a week and see the choice for this week is from 133 images.

Don