A Bit Disheartened
Hi to those of you who were so lovely to comment on my photos and even add me to your watch list. You may (or may not) have been wondering if I were ever going to add anything else. I will.
Recently have just not made time to get some new “stuff”, but prior to that had been reading the various ?? blog conversations about what is art and what is not and blah, blah, blah. I appreciate people not wanting to flood out the “art” with happy snaps but it also made me not feel very welcome – despite the lovely comments people have made.
this is not meant to be a “poor me”, I know I’m not a photographer’s left pinky; I don’t have the equipment and really, at present, not the inclination to work towards becoming a fantastic photographer. I guess am just “playing”. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t or won’t come up with a real gem whilst I’m playing.
Sometimes it’s one of those “gems” and it’s recognition that can be the making of someone’s passion for photography.
I also realise that everyone has a right to free expression of their opinion and choose to view those conversations (whatever it’s called) not as personal attacks. That didn’t stop me feeling like I should just stay away until I could come up with something super fantastic (if that’s possible). maybe that is exactly what some of the people on this site would like. Hmmm.
I guess it comes back to what the site is about; only a show case for people already knowing they’re an artist and getting a chance for feedback and improvement or perhaps a bit more gracious and allow ‘Wannabe’s” and “couldbe’s if they were encouraged” to get a foot in and some invaluable feedback from the very people who think they shouldn’t be there “clogging” up the site.
Basically I can see both points of view, but tend to lean towards being more charitable and letting everyone do with the site what they see it is for them. Maybe I’d feel more selfish if I was more established in my skill and fell into the category of “artist” or “photographer” instead of my self-confessed category of “point and snap”er. Maybe not.
Just an explanation of why I haven’t added anything for a while. Cheers.
Damian
Hey Splogy,
I know what you mean, and I hope you don’t stay too disheartened. I like the charitable option too :)
I found I enjoy RB more if I avoid the obviously argumentative/bitchy/whinging blogs and forums, and just concentrate on the work here I love, and the people I enjoy.
Have fun taking photos, cheers, Damian
Tiffany Dryburgh
I’m with you both on the charitable option too!
And, Splogy, I too felt very disheartened by the recent “conversations” and didn’t upload for a few days but I found it too hard to stay away cos I love it too much! Damian is right; stay away from the bitchy whinging and you’ll be fine. I try to do same but find myself drawn back to them just to see what’s going on, I guess it’s kind of like watching a car accident, you don’t want to look but you can’t help it!
Hang in there!
dairygirl
I agree with both Tiffany and also Damian, and so long as you are enjoying what you are doing who cares if you are or are not a pro photographer or artist, there are famous photographers out there in the world that were never pro photographers but took that one photo and it landed them in big time and they were just in that category of point and snap, I think you should not worry about any one else’s opinion but you own, Just try to hang in, I too have had a lot of nasty feed back and comments but I was not going to let jealous small minded people get me down and make me quit my passion and I am by no means a pro photographer.
take care and keep that camera snapping and keep those photos coming.
Splogy
Thanks guys! I will definitely still get pics to upload. I’d been busy doing other things and the “disheartened” feeling was enough to make me not make time to take my camera out.
I felt I needed to explain, at the very least, to the people who added me to their watchlist and (had they the time themselves), wondered what the heck I was doing (or not doing).
Thank you for your comments. While it may seem the lady doth protest too much – I really didn’t make the entry to evoke sympathy, just felt the bizarre need to explain. Have done that now and can just get on with it. cheers.
Splogy
Hi all, just wanted to follow up…... got a grip on myself and am no longer fussed whether anyone thinks i should or shouldn’t upload specific pics. I respect the site and have no intention of going crazy with uploads, but until the rules change and I’m specifically restricted, I’m just going to keep on keeping on.
I’ll have to add some journal entries as I don’t like seeing this entry’s title staring at me when I open my profile!
Catherine Doherty
I’m glad you are going to post again. I’ve missed almost all these art versus notart conversations through my sheer obliviousness – thank God! – but have long since come to my own conclusion that art is subjective and therefore art is whatever you think it is. So that might mean a happy snap, a digital manipulation or a horribly over and misused word. I lean toward the last.
Keep posting!
Splogy
Thanks Catherine.