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02/19/2015 10:39:51 AM · #1
Came across a very recent blog post here that seems to mirror various forum discussions at DPC. The post is specific to landscape photography trends at 500px, but I do see a lot of parallels in photo-sharing and contest sites in general. I found the discussion about the WOW factor in what makes a photo (or entry) acceptable or popular on a given site and how participants seem to continue to produce similar shots to be quite interesting.
02/19/2015 12:05:03 PM · #2
i don't see why everyone has to be a critic, let people do what they like. if they enjoy the mindless praise that 500px brings, let them enjoy it, if they like the praise that dpc brings, let them enjoy it, if they want critical praise, let them go and try to get it.

its not like there isn't a plethora of places to view and share different kinds of photography. everyone keeps trying to impress their ideas on others and encourage them to change to meet their own wants.

Message edited by author 2015-02-19 12:05:16.
02/19/2015 12:39:59 PM · #3
" They want to be able to present their photography as authentic because authentic photography seems to resonate more with viewers and thus gets more votes, all while significantly manipulating their images behind the scenes without disclosure. "

Yeah. Just what I always thought. We are not unique.

"The 500px website itself is not the cause of all this but rather the vehicle and the site is just mirroring the larger cultural trends related to social media and attention-seeking over thoughtfulness and depth. And, my complaints are the reasons the site is popular to many photographers so any change whatsoever is highly unlikely. Yet, after watching a few dramas unfold on the site over the last few weeks and seeing the fallout discussed on Facebook, I just do not feel like playing along anymore even if no good alternatives exist for the kind of community I am seeking. While this is one of the most exciting times to be a photographer, it is also one of the most disheartening. "

Message edited by author 2015-02-19 12:44:14.
02/19/2015 12:40:18 PM · #4
are those photos supposed to be examples of her originality?
02/19/2015 12:41:18 PM · #5
Thanks for posting this, Don. There are some interesting parallels.

Mike, I agree people should do what they like. However, I think people should be aware of the effects of how this site and sites like 500px may have on their photography and photography as a whole. It is easy to get sucked in without realizing it.
02/19/2015 12:46:21 PM · #6
I think the greater takeaway is that people gripping about these arguments on DPC would be hard-pressed to find any site without them.

This paragraph encapsulates why I do not submit nor participate in any of those other sites:

"When viewing photos becomes little more than a popularity contest, most of the thoughtfulness and meaningful dialogue disappears. In my own experience, this turned into one of the most unappealing aspects of posting photos to the site. Photography is my most important endeavor and to have my photos reduced to a thoughtless V+F, w00t!, amzing – wow!, or pls tke look at my site - thx! style comments was demoralizing. I would rather receive no comments on an image than a bunch of meaningless comments designed to get me to return the favor. This superficiality, which permeates many aspects of the 500px site, diminishes the value of a photograph and does nothing for the viewer or photographer in terms of developing a connection, promoting dialogue, advancing learning, or experiencing genuine inspiration."

Message edited by author 2015-02-19 12:49:22.
02/19/2015 12:50:01 PM · #7
Originally posted by markwiley:

Thanks for posting this, Don. There are some interesting parallels.

Mike, I agree people should do what they like. However, I think people should be aware of the effects of how this site and sites like 500px may have on their photography and photography as a whole. It is easy to get sucked in without realizing it.


even if you do get sucked in, so what? if you are enjoying what you are doing does it matter if you don't evolve into something that somebody else wishes you were? we all have to find our own on our own terms.
02/19/2015 12:50:25 PM · #8
Originally posted by LanndonKane:

are those photos supposed to be examples of her originality?


Possibly there is no such thing as originality in landscape photography.
02/19/2015 01:11:57 PM · #9
Seems to me she's more pissed off with the way people vote than anything else.

If people on both sites spent more time educating each other on voting as much as they educate others on photography things might change.

But does it really need to change? People like what they like.

Message edited by author 2015-02-19 13:12:13.
02/19/2015 01:48:09 PM · #10
Originally posted by Mike:

i don't see why everyone has to be a critic, let people do what they like. if they enjoy the mindless praise that 500px brings, let them enjoy it, if they like the praise that dpc brings, let them enjoy it, if they want critical praise, let them go and try to get it.

its not like there isn't a plethora of places to view and share different kinds of photography. everyone keeps trying to impress their ideas on others and encourage them to change to meet their own wants.

Well said Mike.
People, as a general rule, don't want to have to change who they are. We already have to conform to societal norms in many aspects of life (office etiquette/politics, how to act around your kids/spouse, how you act with close friends, etc), telling them they have to conform over an artistic interpretation will likely get a lot of negative responses if that isn't what the person was setting out to do originally (although some people DO want to know how to make the "ooohh, pretty" pictures that do not always have a lot of staying power, but have a significant impact when first seen).
Mostly though, people just want to know that what they like, someone else likes, and to hear some sort of accolade about it. You can find that in most places, though the degree to which others will share your particular artistic view is not always going to be a high ratio.

I'm a prime example of that fact. What I put up on this site is not representative of what I'm truly capable of, it's representative of what I want to throw on the wall to see if it sticks somewhere, or of me trying out something new to see if I like it. I've had praise on some of my images, but mostly I've just reaffirmed a lot of things don't work.
Am I capable of creating some of those "WOW!" images? Sure. Do I want to go to the effort of massive setups and days of editing for an entry at dpc? most times no; but when I do, I want to wring everything I can out of the learning that may happen when I do; and that, more than anything else, is worth sticking around HERE for.

I think I've diverged from this quite nicely now. I don't truly know why my mind made the jumps it did, but hopefully some of you followed them with me and understand them too! (for that is quite similar to putting an image up here to see what people think of it, in my opinion)
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