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thesweetcheat T
thesweetcheat Jul 13, 2013 23:03:34
Replying to GLADMAN

Can't disagree with any of that.

One thing I would like to add, hopefully without detracting from your points, is that most of the contributors here are not professional photographers. Most (I imagine) are amateurs and are not going out with expensive DSLR type cameras, but point-and-shoot compacts. The high quality images taken by the serious photographers are always very welcome and very inspiring, but isn't TMA about getting out there and sharing information, knowledge and experiences? Images on here should be telling us something about the site, or its setting (as yours undoubtedly do Robert), rather than about the camera they were taken on.

To my (very amateur, very enthusiast) mind, there are lots of great images on TMA taken with lesser equipment, some of the grainy old scans and early digital images posted in the site's formative years are just as evocative and informative as those taken by a pro or semi-pro with the best equipment.

There is an element of the tone of this thread that suggests TMA should raise its submission bar to be a collection of pictures worthy of entering into competitions, to be judged purely on questions of exposure, or shutter speeds. If this is the case, a lot of enthusiastic but amateur contributors probably wouldn't have the confidence to post pictures here any longer, and I reckon we'd lose more than we gained as a result. I'd like to think that TMA is a broad enough church to accommodate both the fine art and the enthusiast who wants to "show and tell". It's all about the sites, after all.

G GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 14, 2013 00:27:23
Replying to thesweetcheat

thesweetcheat wrote:
.......but isn't TMA about getting out there and sharing information, knowledge and experiences? Images on here should be telling us something about the site, or its setting..... rather than about the camera they were taken on.

To my (very amateur, very enthusiast) mind, there are lots of great images on TMA taken with lesser equipment, some of the grainy old scans and early digital images posted in the site's formative years are just as evocative and informative as those taken by a pro or semi-pro with the best equipment.

There is an element of the tone of this thread that suggests TMA should raise its submission bar to be a collection of pictures worthy of entering into competitions, to be judged purely on questions of exposure, or shutter speeds. If this is the case, a lot of enthusiastic but amateur contributors probably wouldn't have the confidence to post pictures here any longer, and I reckon we'd lose more than we gained as a result. I'd like to think that TMA is a broad enough church to accommodate both the fine art and the enthusiast who wants to "show and tell". It's all about the sites, after all.

I couldn't agree more. TMA is a community archaeological site, not a site for egos. As Cope mentions somewhere in the paper version, it's the people who come after that really count, that will ensure the monuments and what they represent for humankind are not lost. We have to make sure people do come after. There will be those with the darker (no pun intended) personalities, or otherwise. As long as the Eds deem it suitable, do your own thing.

M Mustard
Mustard Jul 15, 2013 10:02:59
Replying to thesweetcheat

thesweetcheat wrote:
Can't disagree with any of that.

One thing I would like to add, hopefully without detracting from your points, is that most of the contributors here are not professional photographers. Most (I imagine) are amateurs and are not going out with expensive DSLR type cameras, but point-and-shoot compacts. The high quality images taken by the serious photographers are always very welcome and very inspiring, but isn't TMA about getting out there and sharing information, knowledge and experiences? Images on here should be telling us something about the site, or its setting (as yours undoubtedly do Robert), rather than about the camera they were taken on.

To my (very amateur, very enthusiast) mind, there are lots of great images on TMA taken with lesser equipment, some of the grainy old scans and early digital images posted in the site's formative years are just as evocative and informative as those taken by a pro or semi-pro with the best equipment.

There is an element of the tone of this thread that suggests TMA should raise its submission bar to be a collection of pictures worthy of entering into competitions, to be judged purely on questions of exposure, or shutter speeds. If this is the case, a lot of enthusiastic but amateur contributors probably wouldn't have the confidence to post pictures here any longer, and I reckon we'd lose more than we gained as a result. I'd like to think that TMA is a broad enough church to accommodate both the fine art and the enthusiast who wants to "show and tell". It's all about the sites, after all.

This site (or at least this forum) really makes me despair. All I saw was a bit of friendly advice - not snobbery or ego or anything else negative. Gladman's images look underexposed. I don't see the problem with that being pointed out in a friendly and courteous fashion. All that's then required is a "cheers, but that's my creative choice" from Gladman, conversation closed, nobody offended, job's a good 'un. It's not like there's a private messaging facility on TMA Gladman doesn't have an email address in his profile. Maybe if everyone was slower to take offence and more inclined to assume the best of people, we'd all get along a bit better? We could be having a nice discussion about the technical and creative aspects of photography rather than bickering (again).