Gallery + Upping your personal photograpy ante?

Oh yes, we all know how great that's going for Daily Deviations
Honestly, I think Gallery+ works well just the way it is. I think some people need to grow thicker skin and try to learn something from the threads rather than seethe in jealousy. Or just appreciate the pretty pictures :]

 

Uummm....why is everyone forgetting that the mods are an unpaid team of members who have more important things to do in this forum [yes, this massive massive forum....never mind their own lives] than come up with an elaborate voting system so people's feelings won't be trampled over? Elaborate voting system for every single thread in this community is WAY easier said than done. All those suggesting such a thing, will you be doing the work? NO. It's pretty much left up to the mods to bust their butt's because you don't like what you see in the G+ gallery. Unless you are paying for some sort of service, the mods do not need to cater to everyone's artistic taste's. They are simply choosing threads they think are neat and creative. To be frank, there is a lot of diversity in the G+ subforum already. Every single thread does NOT have the same sculpts/molds, the same style of photography, the same use of elaborate sets/outfits/props...so I have no idea where people are getting this notion that mods have failed to encompass the diverse amount of work that's been submitted here on DoA.

....AND let's just say for arguments sake the mods did make the Gallery a psuedo Youtube voting system; No matter what the mods do SOMEONE will have something to say about it. If the voting is left up to the community, I can't wait to see what happens when well known users constantly have a ton of votes on every single one of their threads. Then we'll get a brand spanking new General Discussion thread about "Why doesn't anyone vote for my gallery threads??? T__T"

 

The Gallery + doesn't challenge me or give me any desire to improve my own photos. It's actually a forum I avoid, because I feel like it might discourage me, seeing so many beautiful threads that get extra attention. Many people here on DoA, whether they really have photography skills or not, work hard to create shoots or stories that they can post. It seems like quite a few members, when they first fall into the hobby, don't know much about lighting, image editing, doll posing, or even - in some cases - speaking English! Despite all that, they're so enthusiastic about BJDs that they choose to try and overcome those things... and seem to get very little encouragement.

We all know that in general, the hobby values beauty. Threads that are less beautiful usually get less comments or attention, which can be very discouraging. Despite that, some people will consistently post photos and do things with their dolls, simply because they love them. I think very few not-so-talented members aren't aware of their actual skill level, but they continue to post because they enjoy doing so. To me, that's more inspiring than a dozen gorgeous threads. Of course those insanely beautiful threads deserve recognition and members probably worked very hard on them, but... no, they don't inspire me to try and do better. I'd like to do better for myself - not to win a "competition." This is a hobby I'm in strictly for fun, and I satisfy my thirst for a challenge elsewhere, where I have considerably more skill.

 

A last point, people don't appreciate being told what "good" art is. The Gallery+ forum gives us a sampling of what a limited group, thinks is good art. It's a subjective, and limited opinion. It would be a better forum, if members could be engaged, and, perhaps suggest threads, photos, artwork, sets, costuming ( I mean, the artistic expression in this hobby is HUGE and it isn't all about photo art).

 

The description of the subforum even states that the threads are chosen by forum staff, so yes it's a limited and subjective opinion. But even the forum staff doesn't agree on all of the choices...so opening it up to more disagreement among a larger community would help how?

 

St. James, I hear you. It does clearly state what the criteria are. Just understand, that in that criteria, there will be people who don't see your perspective as to content, and why you (as a limited group) determine what is "good" art.

I know it's tricky, so forgive me for being a bit of a Devils advocate, but you all DID, open yourselves up to this one by creating a forum, in an attempt to present the best "art", that is determined by a limited, and again, subjective, viewpoint.

 

And here's where I disagree, although I certainly have no chits in the world of photography to stand on. It's a disagreement with the black-or-white-ness of statements such as "there is only one way." "PERIOD" that I will *always* disagree with, because I don't believe that any one of us has all the answers to any question. When one of us is an Ansel Adams, then MAYBE... and yet I'd bet that he had different ways of doing things than other photographers who took equally fine photos, and I'll bet he didn't always do it the same way. That's how you get stale.

It's simply a matter of opinion - and mine differs on this point. I'm happy to acknowledge the opinions of those for whom things are all-or-nothing. I just don't agree.

Oh... St. James, since you asked "opening it up for suggestions would help how?" I offer this thought. Some of the moderators have very strong, and openly (and frequently stated) preferences about which types of dolls they will and won't buy. Or look at. Now, the chances of someone with such opinions even opening up a photoshoot that has some of their disliked dolls in it are pretty slim, realistically.

This isn't in any way meant to say they aren't perfectly entitled to have, hold, and state their opinions. But opening the gallery up to nominations might potentially uncover an exquisite shoot that otherwise might never be looked at.

It's just a thought. It might actually backfire; I don't know. I don't "do" DeviantArt or any of the other places people have mentioned; it just seems to me that with a small group of people, all of whom as individuals have different tastes and opinions, you might end up missing some group of truly great shots that would be good additions.

Or maybe not. I have been known to err - one thing I DO know for certain is that I do not know it all.

 

It still comes down to skill, is what I'm saying. I could take a picture standing on my head if I wanted, that's certainly different. I could take a low light picture. I could use grain. But skill is required for great execution each and every time. Just because someone can throw paint on a canvas doesn't mean it ought to be showed at the Salon.


Since I sort of failed to answer the OP's question myself, I would have to say no, that the G+ does not make me want to improve or challenge me to, at least not alone. I already challenge myself to improve every day and my very good friends are inspiration to me enough, the G+ is just another thing for me. Back when it was just the Gallery, after sifting through some things, those threads inspired me too. I appreciate the gesture of the moderators to bring this collection together and I find it nice to see into their perspective since obviously, it's not my own and not something I'd actively search for in the regular Gallery.

 

Except that I do in fact, regardless of my clearly stated personal preferences, pick a page and open every single thread on that page. A good percentage of the time, the photos are missing, so I report it for deletion. Once in say two or three or five pages, I nominate something for Gallery +. The initial bulk of the threads in G+ are things that we all remembered liking and excitedly hunted down to include. Sadly a lot of those were already gone, deleted by the original poster.

 

No, I said "might" and offered it up as a possibility, since you asked. I don't believe anywhere in my post, which you just quoted, will you find anything to the contrary.

I am NOT incorrect in saying it "MIGHT". I also said "it might not... and "I've been known to be wrong before." Or did you miss those parts?

Nor did I say anyone was supposed to have slogged through all of the millions of photoshoots in there in the couple of weeks you've had the forum open.

If you open each one up, St. James, good for you. That's what I would hope to see.

Please don't distort my meaning. Would it have helped if I'd included the word "HYPOTHETHICALLY?" Because that's what was intended - and I would have expected that to be clear from my use of the word "might." Wow folks. Take a breath already.


For my part I'm going to go back to trying to salvage my own craptastic photos from a couple of years ago, because while they are neither well done nor lovely, I'm going to be really ugly if I've managed to kill them all.

 

Since people whose sentences I quoted keep bringing it up (often several times over...and wow! I'm amazed that you folks can recall every single sentence you wrote, since I purposefully didn't give any names. My hat's off to you on that one) I wanted to appologize for not making myself more clear in my statement. By "more negative comments" I wasn't talking about dissing Gallery +...I was talking about a negative response (as opposed to a positive response) to the OP's original question about whether or not you find Gallery + inspiring.) I truly wasn't trying to single anyone out as being mean or nasty about the galleries (which is a big reason why I deliberately didn't mention any names.) I simply found it curious that many of those who do not find the Gallery + inspiring seem to not have much to do with the galleries here on DoA in the first place. So since they don't, it kinda seems rather natural that they wouldn't be motivated or inspired by Gallery + either. That's really all I was commenting on. Being so inspired by the photos I see in the galleries on a regular basis, I was just trying to understand is all.

 

Bakaay I don't think idrisfynn's reply was in any way heated to say she should take a breather. Honestly, I'm surprised the mods have kept their cool with how many users think it's their right to come in and tell the team of mods what to do in the forum they run for free for each and every one of us. You made an assumption that certain threads with dolls that the mods have openly stated to "disliking" have the potential of not being viewed by them and therefore passed over.

Idrisfynn simply said that is incorrect and they are going through threads one by one and their personal taste in dolls does not affect how they are looking at threads to add to G+. Your assumption that the personal taste's will affect what threads are being looked, and that is what is incorrect. Their taste in dolls has nothing to do with which threads get looked at.

 

Another opinion, especially one that has been likely stated already, probably doesn't need to be added... buuut why not. Although before I go on I must say, wow, some of the reactions for gallery+ on both sides be it yay or nay [neigh? no that's a horse isn't it?] are very extreme. It's one thing to be passionate about DoA/dolls/photography and it's another thing to be borderline obnoxious because you don't like one minor change.

The original question? No. I am content to admire other people's skill, luck in some cases, and their creativity, but I am not going to strive to meet their levels. If I have a desire it improve it would be for myself, not to seek approval of others.


Galley+ hm... I don't love it, don't hate it. I think it's cool to be able to look through and see some amazing shoots but most of the time my focus remains on the regular gallery.

Granted I find it bizarre and somewhat disrespectful to those who think the mods are playing favorites. Aren't they entitled to opinions? They're normal people just like us with their own style and taste, doesn't seem like a crime to me! Some people put loooots of effort into photoshoots and go all out, other's don't.

My two favorites in gallery+ were really, really basic set ups. River took photos of their Soony on grass, those photos were amazing there is no arguing it. Amazing. Devil's Trill had what a floor and some folded paper? Heck anyone could do that, but their ability to play around with camera angles turned something so simple into something very impressive.

I don't think gallery+ should turn people away from the galleries, if you don't like it just don't look in there, there are so many other subforums on DoA to pitch a fit because of one is childish.

One more thing, I think people have mentioned feeling left our or alienated or defeated if their threads aren't chosen. Really? How do you think the people who WERE chosen feel? They have random users going 'BS they were just picked because they are popular or because they have dolls from ______!'

 

Wah wah rant rant that's what this thread summed up to. Sad how just putting a little focus on photographs that to someone stood out in some way makes people's panties get in a knot.

To answer the actual question this thread was presenting: Gallery A+ has some interesting stuff to stumble on that I wouldn't have noticed without it being there. So many new gallery threads pop up a day I can barely keep up with it. And sometimes the pictures lack any luster, my own included. It's just a point and shoot type of thing. I saw some dolls I usually turn away from in the Gallery A+ and they were beautiful, some not so much. But seeing the attempts people make, or the sudden art appears before me, moments does inspire me somewhat to try a bit more with my photos but even more so to try and bring forth the visions I had for my own dolls. I've actually finally started designing clothing for them and all. It's a nice thing to have someone suggest something that's nice to look at but you always have the choice of not looking at it. Had to add that in because many of you are making it seem like you're being forced to look when it's the internet, close the damn web page if you don't like it babies.

 

If the current state of the section really is just a reflection of growing pains, then I'll stand back, watch, and enjoy. As I've said, I do find the Gallery+ section inspiring, and greatly enjoyable.



As an aside, the G+ mass inclusion of Volks sculpts presented so beautifully has made me start to look at the company differently and much more positively. It's been an odd side affect that the G+ has had, as I would have never looked through any threads of Volks dolls threads unless they had been moved there.

 

Honestly, it doesn't affect what I'm doing one bit at all. I have fun with what I'm doing. If I stop having fun, I'll stop doing it.
If others happen to enjoy it, that's a bonus.

I honestly don't spend a lot of time browsing through the galleries because well...
I don't have the time. Many days, I'm lucky if I get the chance to keep up with news/marketplace which is of higher priority to
me.

That being said, I disagree with the basic premise that you stated: that the Gallery + is a showcase of photography talent. Just
randomly picking through the threads, I didn't see that. It is true in some of the cases, not in all of them. In fact, some of the
photos were very plain or slightly sub-par. However, in those cases, they did exhibit other strong characteristics like a very
original doll concept or mod that was strongly executed or a very strong story. That's not photography talent..that's talent of a
different nature. I haven't seen anything that I don't think is worthy of being added there, but I totally disagree that it's all due
to photography talent.

 

It can be, if the "artist" knows the right people.

It probably would have been helpful if the mods had been a little more specific about the selection process.

 

If the mods are specific about the selection process, then people will only have specific things to complain about instead of the idea of it in general.
If they say it's about well maintained dolls, people will complain it's about needing to have money to buy fancy clothes and get a brand name face up.
If the say it's about great lighting people will complain when photos of a doll in the park are chosen because it's just sunlight.

I'm sorry, but the mods owe us no explanation other than the one they have given. The gallery + are threads they found special. The specialness of it is because it can be anything. People who don't see the diversity need to look again. Let's look at the photo of the little doll and the frog that is often at the top. It's very little what most people would consider gallery + all it is is a wonderfully convent chance at timing. If they made specific rules about that's allowed, that one would certainly be out- but people who look at the gallery + seems to love it and obviously a mod did.

They gave us the specifications. It's gallery posts mods find that "stand out" and we should respect that. Never will everyone be completely happy with it, no matter what they do so I think we should enjoy it as is and as suggested, give it a chance. Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

Wow, I leave for a few and the thread explodes :V;; My post is now terribly irrelevant, but I feel the need to answer, since I was addressed. My apologies to all who are in the current for my tangent.

Baby Jesus can cry all he wants. Its what babies do. Besides, imho, he's fictional. That aside, at the surface, such a thing would seem a tragedy indeed. But that's a very slanted take on the post, since it was verbatim: "I tried, loved my thread and they didn't. So I gave up. I realised I make pictures for myself to enjoy, not the mods or anyone else really. " The latter sentence really negates the whole whiny-self-pitying slant, imho. Weak example. Perhaps in my eyes I just don't see such a perversely offending amount of that attitude in this thread that you do. But we are different, so life goes. I do understand you though, and actually, completely agree to your sentiments for those select individuals, wherever they may lie. Perhaps it is just your strong language which doesn't sit well with me. C'est la vie. Let that be the end of that :/

Sorry for the interruption of the current.