You have a very good camera

[Don_ih]

Ease of use removes an obstacle for creating great photos, for those capable of making great photos. There just aren't that many people who are great at making photos. Another side effect of ease of use is more people make more photos - they're just not great ones.

I'd ask if he meant my photos were mediocre uses of great cameras. Or worse.

 

[runswithsizzers]

[...] To spell it out, I meant that there will always be people who don’t ‘get’ what you do. Maybe the majority of people. Maybe nobody ‘gets’ it. One has to accept the fact. And in the end, what’s it all about anyway? There’s no reason to expect that my take on life will interest anyone else.

This morning, I was in the mood to post a photo, and I was trying to decide whether to post it on Photrio or another forum I look at. But first, I wanted to be sure I had not already posted this photo on Photrio, so I checked my "Media" under my Profile. Looking at the statistics under the thumbnails for my uploads was somewhat discouraging.

According to the statistics, most of my photos have been viewed 400, 500, 600 times, or more, yet very few have more than two or three comments or "likes" and some have one or none. Does the overwhelming lack of response to my photos mean I suck? Possibly. Probably. But thanks, @snusmumriken, for reminding me that this is the natural order of things, and there is no reason, for most people to be interested in my photos.

So the question remains in my mind, Is there any point in posting photos to Photrio, when the vast majority of members do not care? Or should I ignore the 99.5% and go ahead and post my photos for the 0.5% of viewers who are interested enough to respond to my photos in a positive way? I don't really need the feedback or encouragement, nor do I care much about the opinions of others. The personal satisfaction I get from taking photos is enough motivation to keep me doing it. Still, it is nice to occasionally discuss the whys and wherefores of a photo with another photographer.

 

[Dali]

Yeah, sure. Plenty of people are like that. Clueless. That's OK; if they compliment your work, just accept the compliment and move on. Who cares.

Exactly: Who cares?

 

[chuckroast]

Yup, that's understandable - easy come, easy go and no craft involved, hence the only variable and reason that others take good pictures: camera!
And too much ease of use really dumbs down/degrades the experience/craft of it - be it music, movies or whatever. Convenience as harm.



I never understood this oversharing. It's like: if I copy these parameters, I'll have just as good a picture or even better one if I'll improve just one parameter: a camera, which is just a light tight box - a glorified timer controlling a lens...
Lens matters, camera - irrelevant.
Sharing film + lens is enough just like painters tend to state: oil (medium/lens) on canvas (material/film/print).

It's nice to know which film and lens it was (historical and sampling reasons), and if an "obscure" picture technique was used (Daguerreotype, Albumen, etc.) everything else just takes away from the work. Any given work should stand on its own regardless what equipment/brushes and pigments we're used on what material...

For general display, yes, there is no reason to go into the technical minutae.

But here amongst other practitioners, it's helpful to understand both the work on its own merits but also the methodology behind it.

Art is a triangle with sides consisting of Technique (mind), Presence (body), Viewpoint (spirit). All three are of interest, at least to me.

 

[Don_ih]

According to the statistics, most of my photos have been viewed 400, 500, 600 times, or more, yet very few have more than two or three comments or "likes" and some have one or none.

That seems to be relatively normal for photos posted to the gallery. Posting a photo in a thread may get more views, may get some discussion. But the gallery here doesn't seem to be as frequented as the threads. And there is an interesting fact I discovered when I asked why so few people participate in the print exchanges: some people just don't want or care at all about other peoples' photos, yet they like to take photos and discuss cameras, etc.

I think if you believe some people might appreciate your photo, post it in the gallery.

 

[Don_ih]

Art is a triangle with sides consisting of Technique (mind), Presence (body), Viewpoint (spirit).

The Catholic church will sue you for malappropriating their intellectual property.

 

[Chan Tran]

Yes. It's frustrating.

But he could have said, "Those are wonderful photos, and you must also have a really good camera."

That's the conclusion you have to come to.

May be he doesn't want to say "Those are wonderful photos" but wanted to give the OP some compliments.

 

[koraks]

Does the overwhelming lack of response to my photos mean I suck? Possibly. Probably.

Probably not, though - I think most people look at photos, thinking "ah, nice" and move on without giving any sort of feedback. That's OK, too, as far as I'm concerned.

And there is an interesting fact I discovered when I asked why so few people participate in the print exchanges: some people just don't want or care at all about other peoples' photos, yet they like to take photos and discuss cameras, etc.

Certainly; there are three overlapping hobbies a work here - photography, darkroom work and cameras.

 

[Don_ih]

three overlapping hobbies

And many more individual motivations.

 

[pentaxuser]

Are you a transplanted Southerner? Or is that expression commonly used in the Bay area?

Interestingly "Bless your heart " in response to a compliment about a piece of equipment in the context described bu the OP might well be taken as being a very condescending remark between two adult males in the U.K.

It may have no such connotation in the U.S.

pentaxuser

 

[GregY]

Some people just equate 'a good picture' with a good camera. Some famous musician was once complimented on how good his guitar sounded....pointed to the instrument on the stand and asked 'how does it sound now?" It's interesting that when someone has a fine meal they don't say "That was a delicious dinner. You must have a very good stove"...............

 

[MattKing]

Interestingly "Bless your heart " in response to a compliment about a piece of equipment in the context described bu the OP might well be taken as being a very condescending remark between two adult males in the U.K.

It may have no such connotation in the U.S.

pentaxuser

Wikipedia seems to capture the dichotomy well:

As with so much else, including internet photography fora, "tone" is really important.

 

[Kino]

Wikipedia seems to capture the dichotomy well:
View attachment 398823
As with so much else, including internet photography fora, "tone" is really important.

There is a "Tone System" as opposed to a Zone system with this expression...

 

[snusmumriken]

This morning, I was in the mood to post a photo, and I was trying to decide whether to post it on Photrio or another forum I look at. But first, I wanted to be sure I had not already posted this photo on Photrio, so I checked my "Media" under my Profile. Looking at the statistics under the thumbnails for my uploads was somewhat discouraging.

According to the statistics, most of my photos have been viewed 400, 500, 600 times, or more, yet very few have more than two or three comments or "likes" and some have one or none. Does the overwhelming lack of response to my photos mean I suck? Possibly. Probably. But thanks, @snusmumriken, for reminding me that this is the natural order of things, and there is no reason, for most people to be interested in my photos.

So the question remains in my mind, Is there any point in posting photos to Photrio, when the vast majority of members do not care? Or should I ignore the 99.5% and go ahead and post my photos for the 0.5% of viewers who are interested enough to respond to my photos in a positive way? I don't really need the feedback or encouragement, nor do I care much about the opinions of others. The personal satisfaction I get from taking photos is enough motivation to keep me doing it. Still, it is nice to occasionally discuss the whys and wherefores of a photo with another photographer.

I suspect it is always uncomfortable to discuss photos with their photographer. Much easier to discuss those of a third party. I bet if you and I sat down to talk over a beer, we would edge round photography and spend the time discussing canoes! (I paddle a Peterborough.)

 

[btaylor]

Probably not, though - I think most people look at photos, thinking "ah, nice" and move on without giving any sort of feedback.

That’s me. I enjoy looking through the gallery, but I never leave a comment.

 

[MTGseattle]

I agree that the comment that started this thread is weird. I don't tell my fellow carpenters that they must have the best tools if their work is exceptional. Every so often I may exclaim "You made this with that?" Which in the photography realm is akin to those quite lovely images that crop up from Holgas and the like from time to time. The idea that something approaching the sublime can come from a "toy" is a welcome concept.
As are the many examples of really exceptional craftsmanship coming from mere hand tools or even "budget" power tools.

 

[MattKing]

That’s me. I enjoy looking through the gallery, but I never leave a comment.

I comment from time to time, but I'm not a fan of the "Like" button.
That being said, I'm comfortable with those who do like the "Like" button.

 

[nikos79]

Plot twist:
You really photographed your camera so your friend wasn't lying

 

[runswithsizzers]

Interestingly "Bless your heart " in response to a compliment about a piece of equipment in the context described bu the OP might well be taken as being a very condescending remark between two adult males in the U.K.

It may have no such connotation in the U.S.

Thanks for the additional context. As the Wikipedia article posted by @MattKing shows, "bless your heart" can be (and often is) something of a put-down when used in the southern USA. I have always associated use of "bless your heart" with the America's southern states, but this article says the phrase originated in 18th-century Britian: <https://writingtips.org/bless-your-heart/>

 

[chuckroast]

The Catholic church will sue you for malappropriating their intellectual property.

They'll have to find me first ... I'll be in Heaven .... bwhahahaa

 

[chuckroast]

Some people just equate 'a good picture' with a good camera. Some famous musician was once complimented on how good his guitar sounded....pointed to the instrument on the stand and asked 'how does it sound now?" It's interesting that when someone has a fine meal they don't say "That was a delicious dinner. You must have a very good stove"...............

I am reminded of a story Miles Davis told. At some point in his career, it was expected that music groups appeared on stage in nightclubs wearing matching clothing, typically a tuxedo. Miles refused to go along with this and a club owner gave him grief about it.

So, the next night, he walked out on stage with a rolling hanger with tuxes hanging from it and said to the audience words to the effect of "I understand you came here to see our suits", and left the stage and did not play. Apparently, the clothing requirement was dropped thereafter.

 

[pentaxuser]

I am reminded of a story Miles Davis told. At some point in his career, it was expected that music groups appeared on stage in nightclubs wearing matching clothing, typically a tuxedo. Miles refused to go along with this and a club owner gave him grief about it.

So, the next night, he walked out on stage with a rolling hanger with tuxes hanging from it and said to the audience words to the effect of "I understand you came here to see our suits", and left the stage and did not play. Apparently, the clothing requirement was dropped thereafter.

He sounds as if he was someone I could take to. I like his attitude

pentaxuser

 

[chuckroast]

He sounds as if he was someone I could take to. I like his attitude

pentaxuser

Yeah, these days it would be considered mildly obstinate. But keep in mind, a black musician doing this back in the day was a pretty high risk career move. I don't recall exactly when it happened, but it may have been some time after he established himself as an important force in Jazz.

 

[Maris]

There may be something to the theory that good photographs need good cameras.

Back in the 1970s I worked in a camera store specialising in Leica equipment. The store also offered develop and print services.
I noticed that new Leica owners tended to produce better photographs and were keen to show and share them.
Of course I was lavish in my praise because I wanted their repeat business.

A couple of customers confessed that their photos were better because they tried harder and worked more conscientiously.
Having just dropped five large on a camera and lens no way were they going to be sloppy about focus, framing, and exposure!

 

[Vaughn]

"You must use a really good AI."

But anyway, I have always felt that as an artist shapes with a tool, the tool shapes the artist as well. In photography, one may tend to see as one's camera and lenses 'see'...or perhaps use a process that influences how one sees and creates images.