I've just renewed my NPN membership even though I'm not posting much on NPN these days, either images or forum posts. I feel much too attached to let it go. In case anybody new to NPN is reading this, I started out at level zero and got to whatever level you'd say I am now because of NPN. I couldn't have done it without NPN and its critique platform and the NPN members who put time into providing the critiques. If you are new to NPN you should stick with it.
Why don't I post much these days? I'm aware of what most NPN members in each gallery category would say is wrong with my images and (a) they are things I'm not willing or able to change and (b) taking (a) into account, I'm not likely to get much better, so at this point the critique platform doesn't have as much value to me as it did for so many years.
Regarding (a), what I like to do is wander around nature preserves and the like with my camera. I can't carry a tripod. I don't want to use a cart with wheels. I just want me and my camera. It's nature that I want most, not images of nature. I generally am not interested in studio settings. I'm not interested in setups. I just want to be out wandering around with my camera. I take pictures of everything that I see that seems reasonably worth photographing. That's what I like to do.
Regarding (b), I'm well aware that everything regarding (a) means that I won't meet the generally accepted standards of nature photography. Several years ago I didn't even know what those standards were. Now I do. Generally speaking I think that posting on NPN needs to be done in terms of those standards. Since my nature photography usually is lacking in at least one of the standards for nature photography I haven't been posting much.
I miss you guys. I really, really, really do. But otherwise I am very happy. We have moved to Decatur (Atlanta area), Georgia, to be nearer to my family. I have joined the Georgia NPA and am active on their Facebook page. I have joined the Chattahoochee Nature Center, on the Chattahoochee River. There is a nature preserve 1.4 miles (!!) from my house and many, many, many other trails and paths and greenways and pocket parks not much farther. The Atlanta area is pretty amazing in that regard.
I have yet to do much traveling outside of the Atlanta area, though I have been to Newman Wetlands Center, where being from Florida I felt right at home except for seriously missing the alligators. I'm still not used to there being no alligators in a body of water. I still haven't stopped looking twice at long, dark objects to see if the object is an alligator. I'm already looking forward to a vacation trip to Florida during the winter to see the alligators. :)
I never like it when people disappear from a group or forum with no explanation, and though I haven't actually disappeared I haven't been here much, so I wanted to provide an explanation for that. Continued good shooting to everyone!
Oh Barbara, I am so glad that you stayed on NPN. Hopefully we will see or hear from you once in awhile. I am so glad to hear that you are finding GA to a nice place to live, and it does sound like you have a lot of groups and places to be a part of, so that is great. Looking forward to any post or comments you might share, but totally understand where you are coming from. We all have to be careful that photography doesn't become so important to us that we miss the nature that we are photographing. It is always good to stop, and just enjoy.
Barb - Great to hear from you ! You have grown tremendously in your photography ability (and I believe we ALL continue to learn and improve with every image we take) and it's been a joy to watch and share.
Sounds like your new area fits you perfectly, and you've joined some excellent like-minded people.
Have fun exploring with your camera, and please do keep in touch as you're able.
Barbara- First, I'm glad things are OK with you. I understand kind of backing off from posting. Life comes first, and life happens. And not usually how you expected it to happen....
That said, I am glad you have not stopped photography, just changed how you are doing it. Second, don't feel as though you either have nothing to add ( you do! ), or that you cannot post on here. Several years ago we had a BIG discussion on here about pure image QUALITY versus image CONTENT. Talk to your friends.... I be they agree. Yes quality matter, especially if you are going to print something. But it is content that matters most, and you can definitely contribute a lot in that regard. It's the people who really love their subject matter who are able to find those special pictures....so keep it up!!!!!
Posted by Dennis Plank on July 21, 2018 at 9:43 PM
It's nice to hear from you, Barbara. I'm glad you've found a nice place to explore. I'd probably quibble with your self-assessment of your skill level. I think your images were as good as most of ours and I agree with Genny that it's often the content that makes more difference than the "perfection". While most of my best shots come from my blind, that doesn't stop me from treasuring the more spontaneous ones shot in the wild, particularly when the subject is displaying cool behavior.
Discussion
6 repliesWhy don't I post much these days? I'm aware of what most NPN members in each gallery category would say is wrong with my images and (a) they are things I'm not willing or able to change and (b) taking (a) into account, I'm not likely to get much better, so at this point the critique platform doesn't have as much value to me as it did for so many years.
Regarding (a), what I like to do is wander around nature preserves and the like with my camera. I can't carry a tripod. I don't want to use a cart with wheels. I just want me and my camera. It's nature that I want most, not images of nature. I generally am not interested in studio settings. I'm not interested in setups. I just want to be out wandering around with my camera. I take pictures of everything that I see that seems reasonably worth photographing. That's what I like to do.
Regarding (b), I'm well aware that everything regarding (a) means that I won't meet the generally accepted standards of nature photography. Several years ago I didn't even know what those standards were. Now I do. Generally speaking I think that posting on NPN needs to be done in terms of those standards. Since my nature photography usually is lacking in at least one of the standards for nature photography I haven't been posting much.
I miss you guys. I really, really, really do. But otherwise I am very happy. We have moved to Decatur (Atlanta area), Georgia, to be nearer to my family. I have joined the Georgia NPA and am active on their Facebook page. I have joined the Chattahoochee Nature Center, on the Chattahoochee River. There is a nature preserve 1.4 miles (!!) from my house and many, many, many other trails and paths and greenways and pocket parks not much farther. The Atlanta area is pretty amazing in that regard.
I have yet to do much traveling outside of the Atlanta area, though I have been to Newman Wetlands Center, where being from Florida I felt right at home except for seriously missing the alligators. I'm still not used to there being no alligators in a body of water. I still haven't stopped looking twice at long, dark objects to see if the object is an alligator. I'm already looking forward to a vacation trip to Florida during the winter to see the alligators. :)
I never like it when people disappear from a group or forum with no explanation, and though I haven't actually disappeared I haven't been here much, so I wanted to provide an explanation for that. Continued good shooting to everyone!
Sounds like your new area fits you perfectly, and you've joined some excellent like-minded people.
Have fun exploring with your camera, and please do keep in touch as you're able.
Sandy
That said, I am glad you have not stopped photography, just changed how you are doing it. Second, don't feel as though you either have nothing to add ( you do! ), or that you cannot post on here. Several years ago we had a BIG discussion on here about pure image QUALITY versus image CONTENT. Talk to your friends.... I be they agree. Yes quality matter, especially if you are going to print something. But it is content that matters most, and you can definitely contribute a lot in that regard. It's the people who really love their subject matter who are able to find those special pictures....so keep it up!!!!!