Strangers Project

[mc1979]

Ok, I'm going to leave all the artsy-fartsy talk for others.

To the OP, I think your photography is great. I have been to your site and really liked all your work. I love the images you have posted in this thread. I understand your thought process behind the project and I think you did an excellent job of execution.

However, I didn't like your comments that seemed to suggest that you feel like if you had taken shots of unattractive people that you wouldn't have pulled this off. I understand this to a degree.. my way of thinking is if they are gorgeous people, it's kind of hard to take a "bad" photograph. Now I know that you could still take a technically bad photograph of a beautiful person, but your average joe who hasn't studied all the aspects of what makes a good image a good image, is just going to see a beautiful person, and say "oh great" And with this project, they are all great looking people, but I think that's what others might have meant when they were commenting in what you think was a negative manner. It's like looking through a fashion magazine..you see so many beautiful people, that unless the photographer really steps out of the box and gets creative....it just becomes another pretty face.

With the second series you posted, I felt a connection more with these people. These people seem even more relaxed with you. They all have more "character" in my opinion. You found the beauty in these "average-joes" from the wrinkles to the missing teeth. Their pictures seem to tell more of a story to me. These have more of a "stranger, captured street-style" feel to me.

Anyhow, that's just my opinion, and you know what they say about those..I think your assertion, that if it had been all ugly people, we would not have been as interested...is completely wrong.

 

[m.shalaby]

^^
I take this as your unattractive and have a vendetta against people who are. The expressions from the old men, to the young and attractive are what you make out of it. The project was to capture strangers (and I did of all sorts as you can see).

Picking on the attractive, putting their photo's down seems like you have serious issues with yourself.

 

[spacefuzz]

But why are you attacking me for having an opinion; is it just because you don't share it?

Traveler, you were responded to because of the way you voiced your opinion, in a manner which was designed to demean and belittle the work of the OP. If you dont like it, thats your opinion. But you could have instead framed your comment in a different way, such as: Very well done portraits, do you have any others that show more variation of character? I prefer gritty style photojournalism so would be interested in seeing any work you have along those lines.

offering C&C does not have to be personal.

 

[kundalini]

I much prefer the second lot of portraits you presented. I think they are very photogenic people, certainly more character driven as a whole than the first. I also think the first group is nice as well.

However, I think you missed the mark slightly of capturing the surrounding environment by shooting wide. The extreme OOF background hides much of the storytelling IMO. I have been wanting that lens for that very same reason though.

That's just my opinion.

 

[mc1979]

^^
I take this as your unattractive and have a vendetta against people who are.

I take this as an immature attack. I could come right back at ya, but I won't...because I was being honest with you..I complimented your work..and yet you still have something negative to say..
I think you were right...your activity on this forum will be short lived..if not..it should be.. Good Luck on your endeavours..you are talented and I wish you well

 

[spacefuzz]

I took the set of pictures a little deeper than just happy faces. I saw a group of people that were all very different, but were all beautiful. They all had their own style....wearing scarfs....headphones.....sunglasses....hats...tattoos...piercings. So I loved the set , it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling......

Well said Mishele. Nice to look at street photography and get good feelings. Ive seen enough poverty in my life dont always want to look at more pictures of it.

 

[m.shalaby]

"Where's the art?"

Traveler - if we were face to face at a photo exhibit and I had my project posted and you walkedover to my cue, those words wouldn't dare come out of your mouth.

You just came accross as a smug miserable little person. "where's the art?" a blatant attack, an attempt to put my work down. Thanks!

 

[mc1979]

^^

Picking on the attractive, putting their photo's down seems like you have serious issues with yourself.

If you are speaking to me..please tell me how I was picking on the attractive?? I said that I liked the set..my only objection was YOUR comments...they seemed rude and childish.. by you saying " if they had all been pics of UGLY people, they would have been boring/uninteresting"

I have no issues with myself whatsoever..and the more you keep posting ...the more it is evident who has issues.

 

[m.shalaby]

^^

Picking on the attractive, putting their photo's down seems like you have serious issues with yourself.

If you are speaking to me..please tell me how I was picking on the attractive?? I said that I liked the set..my only objection was YOUR comments...they seemed rude and childish.. by you saying " if they had all been pics of UGLY people, they would have been boring/uninteresting"

I have no issues with myself whatsoever..and the more you keep posting ...the more it is evident who has issues.

Think its rude and childish all you want, but its a completely true statement. Shallow the world we live in, yes.

People like looking at others who are easy on the eyes. Plain and simple. Its truth, and I didn't make the rule - the vein world we live in did. Just the way it goes.

And yes, I have lots of issues. Don't we all?

 

[spacefuzz]

so much anger...must be the internet!

 

[GeorgieGirl]

If I were trying to build a business for myself, I'd want to be darn sure that I have technical skills and consistency to produce them. I think this project is a building block to that end.

At this point I won't be too concerned with the negative or the positive. I think that the self satisfaction is what you want to focus on after all of this.... Feedback on forums is not always pleasant as you know. If the FM site has regulars that can generally convey their thoughts and suggestions in a manner that is consistent with simple respect that is great. It's not uncommon to find sites where regulars go against the grain and the sites are toxic. I participate on non-photgraphy forums too and find the same differences in attitude and tone.

Someone recently characterized it as internet snark.

 

[m.shalaby]

so much anger...must be the internet!

This statement couldnt be more true.
If we all had these discussions face to face, the entire conversation would be different.
I bet one wouldn't even offer a negative comment whatsoever.

I'm not angry whatsoever. A bit defensive, which I have a right to be. With a smug comment like "where's the art?", as much as I tried to, I just couldn't let it slide.

 

[m.shalaby]

If I were trying to build a business for myself, I'd want to be darn sure that I have technical skills and consistency to produce them. I think this project is a building block to that end.

At this point I won't be too concerned with the negative or the positive. I think that the self satisfaction is what you want to focus on after all of this.... Feedback on forums is not always pleasant as you know. If the FM site has regulars that can generally convey their thoughts and suggestions in a manner that is consistent with simple respect that is great. It's not uncommon to find sites where regulars go against the grain and the sites are toxic. I participate on non-photgraphy forums too and find the same differences in attitude and tone.

Someone recently characterized it as internet snark.

or internet troll, yes.

 

[mishele]

BTW......I don't think that these people are overly beautiful people. They are everyday people. What makes them beautiful to me is their smile and individuality. People are too hung up on looks!

 

[mc1979]

^^

Picking on the attractive, putting their photo's down seems like you have serious issues with yourself.

If you are speaking to me..please tell me how I was picking on the attractive?? I said that I liked the set..my only objection was YOUR comments...they seemed rude and childish.. by you saying " if they had all been pics of UGLY people, they would have been boring/uninteresting"

I have no issues with myself whatsoever..and the more you keep posting ...the more it is evident who has issues.

Think its rude and childish all you want, but its a completely true statement. Shallow the world we live in, yes.

People like looking at others who are easy on the eyes. Plain and simple. Its truth, and I didn't make the rule - the vein world we live in did. Just the way it goes.

And yes, I have lots of issues. Don't we all?

I never said that it wasn't easy on the eyes, I never said anything was wrong with your set. I never said I had a problem looking at beautiful people. But you on the otherhand had to tell me in so many words that I must be unattractive and have lots of self issues..

I only said something because you kept commenting on how people were picking on attractive people, yet you were very blunt about UGLY people..so it's ok to pick on the ugly?

I think you totally misinterpreted my post and I hate that..but oh well. It's the internet.