Looking through some images in the gallery tonight and a thought struck me... we have a featured gallery to show the best on the site. How about having an opposite of it for the worst?

OK, so the suggestion is a bit tongue in cheek.. but if "professional" can churn out images like the ones that are being posted, then there's hope for some of us amateurs.

If what you said wasn't so very true I'd be splitting my sides laughing, but sadly that's not the case.

- Thorsten.

got to with Tim on this one... and who is to be the judge of what is the worst?  I am sure the moderators would not agree that the featured gallery contains only the best from the folio32.com uploads, but a sample of good work produced by some of its members.

I would love someone to define professional.....because in virtually all professions that I have had the experience of working with over the past forty years.......plumbers, builders, framers, printers, architects, designers,..etc.....all getting paid and with super qualifications after their names....they all are capable and do turn out crap.

We have  this pro label stuck on everything and really....what is it?
What does it mean.

Sorry, I just find that whole bag thing, so annoying....

Lets just look at images for what they are...images.


One person's ceiling is another person's  floor.....and everyone's vision different.

There are technically perfect images with no soul or emotion and there are technically imperfect images that breathe life and feeling...?

I personally don't see the point of having so many galleries....maybe a critique gallery where you can choose to put up your images for constructive opinions and interchange on technique from the 'technicians' and 'artists' out there, maybe that would be better.

Dont get hung up on terms like professional or amateur
 

Art

Not this again

A professional is someone who does it for a living his her profession.


An amateur is someone who has a so called real job and does photography in their spare time.

To be a professional tog or artist u do not need to be brilliant but u need the bussiness skills to keep making money.

Many people on this site are superb photographers but would probably starve if they became full time professional togs.  

Ger

Methinks people are reading too much into Ciaran's opening post. I simply interpreted it as a dig at some of the very poor quality work that seems to blight the gallery all too frequently.

Yes, this has been discussed before and yes, it will crop up again in the future1 It can get somewhat disheartening when one sees that there are some people that simply don't care about what they produce. Makes one wonder why they bother at all.

- Thorsten.

Makes one wonder why they bother at all.


Well you see what one thinks is great another thinks is crap thats life always was always will be.

I think that SPENCER is the greatest joke in the world but people rave about his pics but he is a good bussiness man a slick PR guy and has the ability to make money.

wonder what he got for the shoots in Ireland OH yeah he is a professional.

Ger 

don'tknow what all the fuss is about. I rate myself as an amateur and put my images up to try and learn from the critic's that people would put up!
however from another blog it was suggested that there are clicks on the forum and I would agree with that as well. from becoming a member I have contacted a few people on different subjects, however when I tried one recently got a message from their site somrthing to the effect YOU ARE NOT LISTED AS A FRIEND and where denied access. I dont mind people giving constructive critism if it helps however I don't have facilities to do what I would like to do and therefore do it through my local club. also to ask a model to do work with not enough knowledge is a waste of my time as well as hers plus only have flash unit on my camera as I am new to digital and can't afford new lens and other equipment as easily as some people.my reason can't and dont know where to sell pictures and also don't think any are good enough anyway also because I am not connected to any newspapers I cany gain access to any thing that is going on like fashion shoot shows sports etc. .
but harp back to the point NO ONE has said that they are crap. Also it's funny when you look at some peoples site where it states joe has 70 friends and yet one one person apart from administrator has added them to my site as a friend yet pleanty have visited it.

I joined to get reaction to my images and am now getting a bit fustrated as i get the impression no one wants to really get to know others and they just move around in their own circle of friends on the board. I am sorry if I have hurt peoples feelings but sometimes it pays to be honest about your thoughts and this will probably be pulled from the site by the administrators. sorry if i have rambled on

BUT HOW CAN YOU LEARN FROM YOUR FAULTS IF NO ONE TELLS YOU

I think a gallery for critique would possibly help people recognise (and feel comfortable) offering advice to others because they will know it has been specifically requested, therefore avoiding offence to those of a milder disposition.

I think the problem here is twofold - 1. the Featured Gallery gets attacked regularly because people feel that no-one can be an unbiased judge. The gallery is, it seems, just a selection of various styles, ideas and good work on many different levels. If no-one is suitably placed to judge the good, who can judge the bad? Already members are annoyed that they haven't appeared in it so would the same annoyance spread if they appeared in the UNfeatured gallery?

2. It cannot be denied that the main gallery is often filled with "keek" as the West Belfast-ers would say lol I upload probably about 2 photos a year so, yes, it pains me to sit through 50 from one shoot or to see badly executed images uploaded for the sake of uploading. However, there is a difference in reasons why people upload and so this would need to be consulted when judging the image...

For example, Tog A uploads what many feel is a poor image. He knows this and wants help to improve, whereas Tog B thinks the one he uploaded is better than anything he's done before so he is proud and would like recognition for his progression. No-one knows for sure until someone tries to critique and gets a response from the owner. Similarly, model A uploads 15 million images  from her shoot, only 1 of which is, in the eyes of most, any good. This could be the result excitement at having her first images / attempting to show a range of poses and facial expressions / or a simple lack of technical knowledge that most models have, i.e. we know when WE look good but we don't always know when an IMAGE as a whole looks good.

Is it not just such a complicated issue that it will have to remain with us forever? Or should more of us tell the individuals concerned? I know a few models (myself included!) that are always interested in being told which of their images are considered good so they can cull their portfolios as they produce more work. Are photographers on the whole too "touchy" to approach like this? I don't know...