Gallery + Upping your personal photograpy ante?

To be honest, it's kind of discouraged me from posting in the gallery at all. I'm not sure why, except that maybe with this new + gallery, or whatever it's called, it seems like it's being made out to be some kind of competition. I take the photos because I like my dolls...I don't want to feel like I have to out-do everyone else with them. So I still take pictures, I just don't put them in the gallery.

i've actually found myself looking at the gallery less and less now...which is sad.

 

The Gallery + is a doubled edged sword for me. I strive to make my photos more dynamic because I would like to get into the Gallery + but at the same time I see the quality of the photos there and I feel my work isn't along the same level. Its a vicious cycle of inspiration and disappointment.

 

I love the Gallery +. It allows me to see the beautiful posts that I have missed in the past. I love looking at my fellow collectors beautiful dolls etc. I don't see it as anything other than inspiring!!!! I just got my new camera and when I get the hang of it, I will be posting pics again!!!!!!

 

I'm not really a fan of the galleries;;; I'd just post to my own blog. Improving photography is a personal goal not afflicted by the levels of others.

Yes, there are some really beautiful photos and dolls, but I don't like the idea of a segregation of photography levels. The 'best' photo threads are always revived over and over, cycling out the photos of 'lesser' dolls. Which I feel bad for. I take photos that I enjoy, and I've decided to stop posting in galleries.

If anything, I'd appreciate galleries where pm's would be sent and not long lists of comments. :/ It kinda feels like the threads who don't get a bazillion replies aren't 'as good as' the others that do.

 

I adore Gallery+. It was long overdue. For me it's a huge effort to have a single decent shot out of a long set. Looking at other people's accomplished work allows me to study and improve. One shouldn't feel threatened by superior work, but inspired and encouraged.

 

I almost never post pictures, so G+ isn't really intended for me.

Currently threads are chosen by moderators and virtues. It's pretty much threads that strike us as being stand-out, unusual, or just particularly lovely. When I choose, I tend to either pick threads that have really beautiful photography/composition or a really stunning doll that's photographed particularly well... it doesn't always have to be both at the same time, though I love finding threads that are both. I might move a thread because I liked one photo in it. Sometimes I pick older threads that were very special, sentimental, or revolutionary at the time they were posted, even if they aren't so astounding by today's standards.

Not having threads chosen for G+ doesn't mean that they're subpar; it could mean that your thread wasn't seen by a moderator... or that it just wasn't what that person was looking for. For example, I generally don't move over threads that are just headshots against a plain background even if I personally love them.

 

I personally find it discouraging, so I avoid it.

 

I would like to see a thread where people could suggest threads that need to be added to Gallery+. Moderates still have a final say, but I'm sure there are some great threads they have missed because the dolls weren't their style, etc...

While Gallery+ is a nice idea, I don't like the competition it breeds. I also don't like that it's just moderater's picks, and why I suggest the above. I would like a way for the gallery forum to be broken up more as the post scroll out of the first page so fast these days, and once your off the first page it's unlikely people will ever see you hard work then.

 

Not really. I can find inspirational pieces by myself and have a natural drive to improve myself without having to look at someone else's work. The G+ is quite interesting, but it does reflect the personal tastes of quite a small group of people (moderators).

Many people will share that opinion and some wont. There are some of my favorite gallery posts in there, but I still like to look at the regular gallery for newer stuff and it doesn't really effect how I feel about my work since I never really submit to the galleries anyway.

 

I would like to first of all say that I don't mind the idea of creating a G+ gallery and putting together a collection of outstanding photoshoots and photo stories, as this really can provide inspiration and ideas about quality photography to other BJD-enthusiasts around here. With a lot of beautiful shots in there, it somehow raises the standards of the BJD-photography community. But I cannot say that it actually stimulates any desire to improve in most people (usually that desire is already there to begin with).
I do not view it as a popularity contest, definitely not. But in my opinion, such groups as ResinAperture on dA (with monthly themed challenges that are centered on the technical side of photography) have much more impact, as they set criteria that people follow in order to create a shot that would blow the viewer away and grant them recognition. In this way, people learn much more than by simply breaking their heads over the idea of "what an outstanding shot would be". They simply concentrate on what makes a shot great technically, and with a bit of creativity can sometimes turn it into an eye-candy.

I also agree with the previous posters that there could be some sort of a system like "suggest your favourite". I see so many people uploading their stories every day, and I doubt that a virtue or a mod doesn't have a life outside of DoA and has all the time in the world to just browse a thousand something pages just to look for interesting and striking threads. Although I can also imagine the number of PM's you'd be getting should such a system be introduced

That's a lot of thoughts, but I do hope something makes sense.
Also, although I think that this is quite OT for the discussion, perhaps there could be some sort of a monthly contest with a feature as the main prize? I don't know if this would be possible technically, or if it would be too time consuming, but this could be a way to get people encouraged to take better photos of their beautiful dolls (:

 

I'm actually of two minds on the gallery plus. Yes, it's wonderful to be showcased, but it's also not very fun to be put to the wayside either. It's almost a competitive aspect to it now. If I don't get views, does that mean my photography is bad? That my doll isn't pretty? I like the gallery. I like looking at the pictures, it's a great way to get ideas. But it's kind of giving me a complex about not getting views.

 

At this time, we're not really "looking" for suggestions on Gallery+. We don't feel that the subforum is a popularity contest in any way at all. Strong photographic skill is not subjective. Emotive and impressive photoshoots are pretty recognizable to all of us - with or without technical prowess displayed or a trained eye looking at the work. Slowly the Gallery+ is getting more populated with threads - it's a process.

It's sad to hear that some members are discouraged by this. It isn't meant in that way AT ALL. If members would like to open threads about photography and skill-building, please feel free to do so in the Photography Tips subforum!

 

I do not like it and it does not challenge me. I see it as a popularity contest. So many times I am browsing the gallery and find awesome pics or photo stories that do not have many comments and it makes me sad, and I really do not understand it. I do not even look at the gallery plus and I really dislike it when my stuff is moved, so I would rather it not go there. What inspires me to work on photos is self criticism and the comments of others. I am not trying to criticize the mods - I am not in charge so I do not make decisions and I get that. Like Tatsukitty I do not like the competition of it. I like art, and I see it in the regular gallery just fine all the time. Since I have no friends among the mods, I cannot but think it would be a unfulfillable thing anyway, as a thread would have to come to their attention first, and I am sure they do not look at all of them since they have plenty to do.

 

Noted; I just did a quick check and none of your threads have been moved there, so no worries. I ran doll-a-day pretty steady for over a year and never had anything but a positive response from both the people featured and the people who were subscribed. G+ is sort of the same thing on a bigger scale, with more than just me choosing... so I guess it's surprising to me that people would be angry about having their work highlighted.

 

I generally take photos for my own enjoyment as it's one of my main hobbies besides dolls so it doesn't really 'inspire' me as such to up my game in an attempt to get them into the Gallery+ since I'm always trying to up it anyway, that said I don't think a little incentive is really a bad thing anyway.

It's sad to see so many people being put off by it though, I don't see how it's a popularity contest because good photos are good regardless of whom they're by, and good photos tend to end up being popular so it's kinda expected that G+ threads would be popular anyway?

 

I really love the Gallery+, and I've never felt a twinge of competition or elitism. It contains so many of the threads that I would often look back to, plus I've found new ones I never would have looked at. It reminds me of when I was just getting into this hobby, and stumbling across awesome doll photos on the interwebs. And I still check out the regular gallery just as often as I always have. I'm completely surprised that people find it discouraging and not inspiring, I'm wondering if people also get discouraged looking at the beautiful faceups and clothing in the Commissionable Artists gallery?

 

I looked at the G+ a bit but all of the gallery threads I find myself drawn to aren't in there. From what I've seen of whats in there I'm kinda bored by it.
I think I've found one or maybe two threads in there I've found myself going back to look at because it was cute or appealing to me but after that not so much.
I can understand how it's discouraging to others. The gallery itself can be since really, once you're no longer on the first page your thread seems to be lost forever to the eyes of others.
And sure, it's a gallery section so one shouldn't expect suggestions about what to do better to get more views, comments and ect in itself it can seem like a bit of a popularity fight to get comments or even looked at. So adding the G+ on top of that? Sure. I can understand how it seems like your work(general here) could be even easier to look over.
Yeesh did that make sense? I don't know, I tried XD

 

Interesting comments. I personally see Gallery+ as an inspiring "collection" of some truly memorable photo posts that have been made on this forum.

 

I might see it as an invitation to up my ante if I saw more of the truly memorable photos I've run across in five years IN there.

This is not in any way to suggest that there's anything wrong with the majority of the shots that are there - they are all wonderful! But there are many other truly spectacular pictures and photographers whose work seems to be absent.

ETA: I'll have to work a long time to have a decent ante to "up" so personally, it's not a huge deal. I do have say, though, that I can understand the feeling of "I'm not good enough" awfully well. For people who have put their heart and soul into a shoot to have it more or less overlooked... Well, we've heard about the hard feelings that arise in just the regular Gallery areas about this. ("Why doesn't anyone ever comment on my pictures?") Imagine the fabulous feeling if you're sensitive about that, and get overlooked in a Big Way!

And... I also agree with Septunie below me. That and a couple of bucks will buy me coffee, but it's my opinion.

 

I don't see it as a popularity contest, and I do agree that many of the photos there are 'stand-out' or particularly pretty. But I have to wonder if some of the posts there were moved there by accident.

I feel the opposite of what a lot of people are feeling here. I like seeing really beautiful or emotional photography. I like that's what Gallary+ should be about -- What's discouraging to me is when I come across a post in the Gallary+ thread that isn't that.

I've come across a few particularly bland, nothing special, nothing unique posts there that just seem out of place and I really have to wonder the reasons for placing them there. I get that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and everything, but really, there are a few posts that make me wonder if I'm looking in the right place when I see them. Dolls with crossed-eyes, frizzy fly-aways everywhere and a typical park background... Am I just missing something?