Monthly Assignment Poll

[jdesigns]

First of all, thank you all for participating in the monthly assignment. I am loving the fact that so many of you are sharing your photo's with us!

A question has come to mind that I want opinions on. My original intent with these assignments was to hopefully inspire you to unplug from your "everyday" life and shoot a photograph or five.

So my question is this: Should we continue the assignments like we have been, where if we have an exisiting photo that fits that we post it.....or should we "limit" (I hate to use that word) the posts to newly shot pics?

I should point out that is thread is not directed at anyone in particular.

Please let me know what you think, as I want to learn and enjoy taking photo's as much as anyone else. If you don't feel comfortable posting here in the thread, PM me.

[Fowvay]

While I love seeing peoples catalog of photographs the point of an assignment is to do something fresh.

Just like in school you aren't supposed to dig up an old research paper and turn it in. You are supposed to do a new one. This is so that you can learn something new. Not only about the subject but hopefully about yourself.

I am really enjoying these assignments because they are forcing me out of my normal element and allowing me to expand my view of the world thru the lens of my camera.

I have many photographs in my catalog that I could post that in many ways are better than the ones I have shot for the assignments but I have been trying to stay true to the idea of this being an online expieremnt in expanding our photographic vision.

JD... Keep it up. I'm lovin it

[PhoenixRising]

I like 'em all/and also have to say, that seeing them makes me want to get a good 'digital' camera, that looks/feels like a 'real' camera. Does that make sense?

In other words, I want it to be have a real lens, with real adjustments...that sort of thing.

So don't think that any of the shots are wasted. They can all inspire.

[Fowvay]

Well I can see that I am going to get out voted on this one. However I would like to clarify that by it's very definition an assignment implys something new not something old.

Perhaps in the future we should just call the threads. "Show us your pics that pertain to (insert subject here)".

[pdoel]

I'm with Tom. An "assignment" means you go out, and you do some work.

The purpose of these assignments is to help people expand. Get them thinking outside the box. Not to just find any old picture that could fit the theme.

I'd much rather see new pictures used for this, and not posts of old photos. That kinda defeats the whole purpose.

[Dede]

I agree with Tom and Pete, assignments should be new stuff.

[Shutterbug]

I voted "its doesn't make any difference to me" because I think photography is a "now and then" concept. Both should be allowed.

Say the assignment is "water".
So what if someone shot a fantastic photo of water 5 years ago or yesterday shouldn't make a difference if its a great shot....as long as they took the shot.

Here's why.....

I really don't have the time to "get out and shoot" these days BUT I do have a darkroom file cabinet full of about a thousand pix (most were assignments for college) and some of them do pertain to the assignment. I have been shooting for 26 years so that should count for experience. I took photography 1 & 2, does that count?

If its limited to new pix only I may not be able to join in on the fun. This phase of our life is beyond busy. I'll spare you the details why.....but I do have apointment with a Cardiologist next Tuesday. Nuff said.

Why not make "film or digital" instead?

...or black and white or color?

Its up to Justin

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by Shutterbug

I voted "its doesn't make any difference to me" because I think photography is a "now and then" concept. So what if someone shot a fantastic photo of water 5 years ago or yesterday shouldn't make a difference if its a great shot....as long as they took the shot.

Well said.

[Oyveychris]

Even though it's an assignment, a previously shot piece may fit the criteria, so why not? I thought the idea was to show everyone how you view the world, not when...

[pdoel]

See, I never saw this as a way of showcasing your work. I thought the whole point of this was that people were asking a lot of questions about photography, how to do this, how to achieve that. So the whole idea of an "assignment" is to get people out and trying new things.

Just finding old pics, or pics off the internet, or whatever, isn't really an assignment.

If you have great shots you'd like to share, post em up in a different thread.

But the whole purpose of an assignment is to get people to learn. Get them to figure out how to achieve different types of affects. Get them thinking outside the box.

[Fowvay]

Originally Posted by Shutterbug

I do have a darkroom file cabinet full of about a thousand pix (most were assignments for college)

You said it yourself. The key and applicaple word here is "Assignment".....nuff said.

[Fowvay]

I would just like to add this to the above post.

Shutterbug... I love your work and you are obviously an extremly talented photographer. I want to see more of your delicious catalong of work. It justn't doesn't meet this particular threads requirements as we are supposed to be shooting new stuff.

Please do make some more threads showcasing your art. I truly do love it and it does stir my creative juices.

Tom aka Fowvay

PS... I am so in touch with the emotion of being far too busy but I have decided that I can take a couple of hours a month to get out and do something for myself.

Thankyou Justin for giving me something to do during those hours.

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by Oyveychris

Even though it's an assignment, a previously shot piece may fit the criteria, so why not? I thought the idea was to show everyone how you view the world, not when...

Yes...very well said.

[skittle buggy]

I have taken a nuber of photography classes in the past and I know the whole point of our assignments was to think outside of your normal everyday suroundings. And yes I do realize that we all have lives and some of us are very busy. I view the monthly assignment as a way for me to relax and become creative.
I also agree with those of you who may have a very large collection of work too but in the end it will be Justin's choice.

[Shutterbug]

I want to take a moment and share something with my fellow photo-buddies.

I would LOVE to get out and spend the day shooting to my hearts content but my heart wont let me. I am not well guys.

As I type this I am wired up with an ECG Home Loop Recorder. I have to wear this damn thing for a month then have a Echo-cardiogram in April. I seem to have an irregular and sparatic beat for some unknown reason. My energy is shot and I have a flashing light in my lower peripheral vision.
Oh, and facial numbness too, wee!

I fainted driving with my children last week. Thank goodness I have really good reflexes and hit the emergency flashers and got off the road ASAP. There is something not right with my health and today I started the testing process to find out what it is. To be continued...

ALSO (major factor in all this) I don't shoot with a digital camera. Most of you can simply read the assignment, run outside and shoot "bugs" (pun) or what ever the assignment may be and send them in moments.
I don't ever plan to buy a digital camera so I guess I will stay behind the curve on that one. I love film, silly me.

Too many of these threads become a case of spliting hairs, or thread in this case. I would love to have you all come to my darkroom and share the backlog of moments I hold so dear.

Why can't photography just BE? ie;, Ansel Adams, his stuff is still great today...and always will be.

PS:
I suggest everyone spend a week developing Ye Ole Timey way, bask in the red glow of the darkroom lite, smell the D-76, the stopbath and get wet. It inspires like nothing else can.

LOVE 2 ALL! Gail

[jdesigns]

Gail, I really hope you get healthy very soon! Take it easy and rest up!

[jdesigns]

Thank you everyone for your opinions. I appreciate and respect your opinions.

Gail makes a good point, as does everyone else.

If we don't allow "older" photo's, are we limiting ourselves of other inspiring images? Yes, the assignment idea is to get you out and looking at the world with a creative eye. I admit, I get complacent about actually "Seeing" the world. I am guilty of not taking time to really look at things I see everyday. Take a look at my portfolio and notice that a lot of those photos are of cool places and events. Then take a look at my "Just for Fun" gallery. Most of those photo's are of everyday things just with a different perspective (with the exception of the two sports photos of course.) These "Fun" shots are, to me, very inspiring. How many of you have actually looked at a cheese grater and said, Ooooo, that would make a cool photo? not many I am guessing! But you know what, it's actually a lot of fun to just look at things around the house or around your neighborhood with a different perspective. That is part of the fun of photography for me.

Gail has a reason for not going out and shooting something new for each assignment (She doesn't have a digital camera). I don't think we should keep her from posting her images just because they are not specifically shot for the assignment. She is a inspiration to me and others. I learn new things from each of her photos.

I think if you have a photo that fits the assignment, then post it up!


Thoughts?

[PhoenixRising]

I think I like what you posted.

[jdesigns]

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

I think I like what you posted.

Good! I was afraid it wouldn't make any sense.

[pdoel]

Well, I'll go along with any decision that is made.

But, I kinda thought the whole purpose of a photography forum was so that people could post non-NB related pictures? Post up ideas, images they've taken, etc. Just to share.

"Hey, here are some pics I took that I liked and thought you might like too."

I understand Gail's dilemma. But there's really nothing stopping her from posting those images in different threads.

Several people have created threads to show their work. That's why this whole forum was added.

The "assignment" thread was to be, just that. An assignment.

I too took a couple photography classes in college. I've spent much time in the dark room. I agree that it's a great way to learn. I LOVED the assignments we were given in class. Kinda like Justin said. It gets you to open your eyes and start seeing things you never saw before.

When these assignments come out, I spend quite a bit of time trying to think of what would make a good picture. I'll walk around, keeping an open mind, trying to see things I hadn't seen before. I kinda think that's what this assignment is all about.

Not going through hundreds of old photos I've taken to see what might "accidentally" fit into this category.

This is an open forum for all things photo-related. People can post all they want. I just think the assignment thread is a bit different, and should be treated, as the title refers, as an assignment.