Everyone gets a trophy

[Pieter12]

Same could be said for ruins and gravestones. Photographs of the old and decaying should be left to the old and decaying, not to young students still worrying about life.

There is a movement with a name: Decay Porn.

 

[stevenje]

People might post what seems crap because it is not crap to them. Seems simple enough.

Thirty plus years ago, I went to an art school and was enrolled in the photography program.

One of the required classes was “Humanities in the Arts”. The first day of class the subject of “what is art?” was discussed. The instructor showed many of examples of “art” and the discussion ensued.

I distinctly remember one example after all these years. It was an art installation at some gallery, of an ordinary shovel leaning up against a white wall. That was it.

The instructor asked the class, is this “art”? Needless to say, the discussion turned lively in both directions. One of the points the instructor was trying to make was “art” is in the mind of the beholder. There is no right or wrong answer. It varies from person to person, on many levels.

Are some of the images posted online crap? There is no correct answer. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Was the art installation of an ordinary shovel leaning up against a white wall “art”?

In my opinion it was crap. Good thing it came with a shovel.

 

[Don_ih]

One of the points the instructor was trying to make was “art” is in the mind of the beholder.

Your instructor was wrong. In that instance, art was the presentation. Art is never in the mind of the beholder - it is always the product of an artist's activity.

Now back to trite whining about banal photos.

 

[Pieter12]

Well, we finally got there.

 

[Vaughn]

...

Was the art installation of an ordinary shovel leaning up against a white wall “art”?

In my opinion it was crap. Good thing it came with a shovel.

My definition of art is very wide...if someone wants to call their work art, it's art. It's the label before 'art' that is important. It sounds like you saw the art as how-in-the-hell-is-this-crap-art art.

It did help to generate a great line from you!

And think of it...how nice to think someone might talk about seeing our work in 2056...for whatever reason!

 

[Craig]

My instructor wanted no trains.

Heresy! One of my heros ( and a good friend before he passed away) spent almost his entire career as a photographer being the "Special Photographer" to Canadian Pacific, mostly photographing trains.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Heresy! One of my heros ( and a good friend before he passed away) spent almost his entire career as a photographer being the "Special Photographer" to Canadian Pacific, mostly photographing trains.

Imagine being a college photography instructor...how many first year/first semester train and old car photos, year after year, would it take to make you go bonkers?

 

[Vaughn]

Imagine being a college photography instructor...how many first year/first semester train and old car photos, year after year, would it take to make you go bonkers?

I helped students in the university darkroom for about 35 years...50 to 75 Beginning students and perhaps 30 to 45 Intermediate students every quarter. Same assignments every quarter, some I had done as a beginning/intermediate student. Everything with-in walking distance of campus was very well documented!! "Oh...here's a photo of the WWII Japanese field piece in front of the Veteran's Hall." It made the exceptions shine!

 

[retina_restoration]

Heresy! One of my heros ( and a good friend before he passed away) spent almost his entire career as a photographer being the "Special Photographer" to Canadian Pacific, mostly photographing trains.

Was O. Winston Link told not to photograph trains when he was learning photography??!!

 

[mshchem]

Heresy! One of my heros ( and a good friend before he passed away) spent almost his entire career as a photographer being the "Special Photographer" to Canadian Pacific, mostly photographing trains.

Sounds awesome.

There's a huge Canadian National switch yard in Cedar Rapids Iowa. I was on CN property photographing the way the rails crossed etc, also some excellent graffiti. Here came a couple of guys in a pickup truck. Once they saw my old camera they calmed down. These days they're lookIng for whackos. I'm OK crazy

 

[koraks]

Imagine being a college photography instructor...how many first year/first semester train and old car photos, year after year, would it take to make you go bonkers?

Let's ask @Andrew O'Neill - who, insofar as he's bonkers to begin with, appears to have a very benign and pleasant mental affliction. Andy, how many old car photos did your students generally come up with?

 

[oneeyedpainter]

Imagine being a college photography instructor...how many first year/first semester train and old car photos, year after year, would it take to make you go bonkers?

That is deeper and more relevant to this thread than it seems at a first look. Photographers might share pictures which might seem banal and dull because they are new to the trade, and for them a picture, any picture, is already a success. Even moreso if it was shot on film, and developed and printed by them. It's the old fascination of trapping a moment into a tangible object.

I don't believe anybody has only shot super-interesting and artistic pictures. We have all started somewhere, and most of us started from that precise fascination for trapping a moment in a tangible object, forever.

OneEyedPainter

 

[TJones]

Thirty plus years ago, I went to an art school and was enrolled in the photography program.

One of the required classes was “Humanities in the Arts”. The first day of class the subject of “what is art?” was discussed. The instructor showed many of examples of “art” and the discussion ensued.

I distinctly remember one example after all these years. It was an art installation at some gallery, of an ordinary shovel leaning up against a white wall. That was it.

The instructor asked the class, is this “art”? Needless to say, the discussion turned lively in both directions. One of the points the instructor was trying to make was “art” is in the mind of the beholder. There is no right or wrong answer. It varies from person to person, on many levels.

Are some of the images posted online crap? There is no correct answer. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Was the art installation of an ordinary shovel leaning up against a white wall “art”?

In my opinion it was crap. Good thing it came with a shovel.

What if the shovel is leaning against the wall at MoMA? In two days, you can decide for yourself, at the Duchamp retrospective:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/arts/design/marcel-duchamp.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Z1A.CvVC.3ewJPuusk3a_&smid=url-share

 

[stevenje]

And think of it...how nice to think someone might talk about seeing our work in 2056...for whatever reason!

One thing is for sure. It won't be a shovel leaned up against a white wall!

 

[warden]

Well, we finally got there.

I blame you.

 

[Vaughn]

Was O. Winston Link told not to photograph trains when he was learning photography??!!

He was told not to take photos of babies or kittens. Otherwise there probably would be thousands of kids and cats growing up for some reason being deathly afraid, or in love with, lightning storms.

 

[retina_restoration]

He was told not to take photos of babies or kittens. Otherwise there probably would be thousands of kids and cats growing up for some reason being deathly afraid, or in love with, lightning storms.

Nicely done, Vaughn. Kudos lol

 

[figuranyc]

A bit of a rant. I'm cranky today.

When I was growing up, I heard "if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything" about other's creations, appearance, speech, etc. Isn't that a lot like "everyone gets a trophy"? I bring this up because I have observed some forums where people post images (made with quite expensive and sometimes exotic photo gear) that would be better off staying on their computer. It provokes the critic in me. But if no-one says anything, how do they improve? I'm not saying to rip the image to shreds along with the photographer's ego and feelings, but only positive comments seem welcome. Some forums have a "like" or "thumbs-up" button. None seem to have a "meh" one. Or maybe they don't care to learn and improve or that is just the best they can do. And if there is a constructive (or god forbid, negative) comment, offense is taken and hordes come to the photographer's defense. I'm not asking for masterpieces or that the images suit my taste, just why did they think some of those photos needed sharing? I shoot plenty of crap, I certainly don't hold it up for the world to see.

People can post what they want. Maybe it's to their detriment that the audience is too polite.

Lately I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media by young people complaining they aren’t getting any likes on their photos or paintings. One recently asked, “What am I doing wrong?” She proceeded to discuss ways of improving her ranking in the algorithm. Her assumption was that Instagram’s algorithm was somehow keeping her art from being viewed and that was why she was not getting the likes her art deserved.

Sometimes the silence is the message.

 

[BrianShaw]

... young people complaining they aren’t getting any likes...

Sometimes the silence is the message.

In some social media platforms/forums it's the old folks who complain just as much. Personally, I find "likes" and "algorithm ranking" to be very bizarre currency for propping up one's self-esteem. More often than not, silence is the message!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Let's ask @Andrew O'Neill - who, insofar as he's bonkers to begin with, appears to have a very benign and pleasant mental affliction. Andy, how many old car photos did your students generally come up with?

No old car photos sadly, but plenty of their own cars!

 

[Roger Thoms]

I just took a quick look at my gallery postings, lol, over 40 old vehicle photographs.

 

[TJones]

Lately I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media by young people complaining they aren’t getting any likes on their photos or paintings. One recently asked, “What am I doing wrong?” She proceeded to discuss ways of improving her ranking in the algorithm. Her assumption was that Instagram’s algorithm was somehow keeping her art from being viewed and that was why she was not getting the likes her art deserved.

Sometimes the silence is the message.

Instagram’s algorithm plays a large part in determining what is seen. Inferior photos often have more views and likes than exceptional ones.

 

[Pieter12]

Instagram’s algorithm plays a large part in determining what is seen. Inferior photos often have more views and likes than exceptional ones.

Care to explain?

 

[TJones]

Care to explain?

Here’s a snippet from Instagram where they describe how to work with their algorithm to get more exposure:

“
How often people see your content is based on what they like, comment on and even how you tag or format posts. Try these tips to boost yours:

• Play to your audience and their niche
• Post in popular formats, such as reels
• Tag a location
• Invite people to engage”

Posting a great photo without using the tools effectively doesn’t get you anywhere.

 

[warden]

Here’s a snippet from Instagram where they describe how to work with their algorithm to get more exposure:

“
How often people see your content is based on what they like, comment on and even how you tag or format posts. Try these tips to boost yours:

• Play to your audience and their niche
• Post in popular formats, such as reels
• Tag a location
• Invite people to engage”

Posting a great photo without using the tools effectively doesn’t get you anywhere.

For that platform you’re correct. The image means little compared to the sum of the other ingredients of the post.