• Please use real names.

    Greetings to all who have registered to OPF and those guests taking a look around. Please use real names. Registrations with fictitious names will not be processed. REAL NAMES ONLY will be processed

    Firstname Lastname

    Register

    We are a courteous and supportive community. No need to hide behind an alia. If you have a genuine need for privacy/secrecy then let me know!
  • Welcome to the new site. Here's a thread about the update where you can post your feedback, ask questions or spot those nasty bugs!

Enhancing OPF: Your Taste: Artist or not, observer or not!

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
My own understanding of "art" is related to the usage "l’art pour l’art", of the French writer, Victor Cousin. If you don't know of him that matters not. I just put it out for reference, for those who wonder what on earth I might think art means. Notwithstanding that minor point, we have real social problems here with the use of this particular 4 letter word!

It's obvious now that some among us only want to use the terms "Art" and "Artist" for the provenance of the natural wonders we have as gifts from the moment of birth. Others, (despite some obvious basic talent), eschew the word "artist" as pretentious, status that has to be conferred on them by others or else irrelevant to their simple working class status.

Still we do have interest in creative work from people all around the world, "art, for art's sake". So let's have a truce. We'll celebrate the photograph. At the same time, let's also be a welcome place to the scant few who might wish, delusional or not, to place their work in the marketplace of galleries that sell photographs.

We'd appreciate respecting some modest and self-obvious disciplines. Please help to make OPF a welcome place for all photographers. Otherwise we'd become a group of arrogant self-absorbed separate contentious factions.

So here are the rules: talk of "art", limited to three places for the scant few of us folk interested in the kind photography that might possibly be candidates for art shows or galleries:


  1. Art Theory: The Art Theory Idea Workshop, here
  2. Photography as Art: used in the context of making work that people who go to photographic/art shows and want to collect, show or buy, here
  3. NSFW: The Nude, meant for art for art's sake, not common porn, as, (albeit, imperfectly), judged by moderators, under the same rules as "Photography as Art".

Guest/ Features Photographers: Such as here: just don't insult them being so called, "artists". They're our guests, after all. Now for fun, Layback Cafe. Question all you want what folk think of as art. :) Yes, that's fine in OPF!

I myself will not discuss with anyone art outside these particular places. We put a lot of work into the forum to help each person fulfill their own personal heartfelt agenda for the photographs they're invested in. Discussing the photograph and the contents, already allows for so much!

Thanks for your support in this! Wer'e here for the photograph! Art? Leave that term for the delusional or hopeful among us!

Asher
 

nicolas claris

OPF Co-founder/Administrator
Amazingly no one did comment here…

Many of you do know that OPF was created by Asher, Michael Tapes and I.
I would like to use the prerogative of the co-founder to give my opinion here.

I fully agree with Asher's post above, however I would like to add the following:

As I have already stated long time ago in OPF, I am atheist.
Though I don't like the influence of religions on the way societies are organized, I'm forced by realism to acknowledge that religions do exist.

Therefore, I respect all religions provided that their representant do not try to force me to adopt their thinkings and beliefs.

I still think that the "religion est l'opium du peuple" but I also recognize that religions have been of huge influence on artists in the past, noticeably because religions "hired" painters and sculptors. But you all know that.

We're here with our real names to talk about photography, intent, technic, skills. OPENLY.
We're here to help, share and watch. I don't think we can change others' opinions wether they be religion or politics, so, as Asher asked, let's keep that for the Layback café forum here.

Let's all stay together, friends as citizens of the planet.
Let's share beauty and horrors.
Let's be witnesses of our time.

Freely, openly.

As a profitable reminder, I'd like you all to read (may be reread) our introductory text, written 7 years ago by Asher with Michael's and mine agreement, you may find it on OPF's home page, but to make things easier for you, please find it pasted hereunder. I whish you all have enough time to read it. Not a word to change!

Yours respectfully

Welcome to OPF!



We established OPF May 2006 as an open forum for professional and enthusiast photographers worldwide. You will find the latest discussions on technology, creativity, function and other issues related to photography. Furthermore, these threads are moderated and reviewed by expert photographers.
We are a true community of photographers with real names and common interests and experience. OPF is a community of thinkers and doers, dedicated to the working Professional and the creative mind.

OPF members hail from the Americas and Europe but also in China, Iran, India New Zealand, Australia, UAE and many other places I have not visited and to me are exotic with images I learned form books and films.

At OPF, we consider the whole thin membrane of life on the planet and the lives of individual lovers and the humming bird our frame of reference. This is true whether we photograph skyscrapers or school sports, weddings or yachts at sea and we do all this and more!

We want to reach out, not because we are politically correct; I am not! Rather we would like to be updated, educated and brought into line with issues that you think about.
Still we also nurture the dedicated photographer learning the digital workflow or making a Polaroid or Platinum print. Above all we are concerned with what is in the image, not just the things, but also the ideas, feelings and even life itself.

Please make this your home and post in the forums of your choosing. On behalf the entire OPF photography team, I wish you a great forum experience. Thank you for your participation, interest and for being here. Jump in and show us what you love! What you have trouble with too!
We’re open to everyone serious about the best, the practical and the finest in photography. Our goal is to enhance the discussion and exchange of ideas on photography.

Here there’s more; we have left the noise ands clatter of the 100’s of new cameras of the day. Here we're dedicated to that personal vision built into your extraordinary picture. This we call an “Arc of Intent”. Its appreciation by a viewer completes that creative arc. That's what we are about and every technique and choice that achieves our goal! Then your picture enthralls and captivates, moves and demands it be revisited time and again.

Asher Kelman
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Amazingly no one did comment here…

Many of you do know that OPF was created by Asher, Michael Tapes and I.
I would like to use the prerogative of the co-founder to give my opinion here..........

We're here with our real names to talk about photography, intent, technic, skills. OPENLY.
We're here to help, share and watch. I don't think we can change others' opinions wether they be religion or politics, so, as Asher asked, let's keep that for the Layback café forum here.

Let's all stay together, friends as citizens of the planet.
Let's share beauty and horrors.
Let's be witnesses of our time.

Freely, openly.

As a profitable reminder, I'd like you all to read (may be reread) our introductory text, written 7 years ago by Asher with Michael's and mine agreement, you may find it on OPF's home page.

Thanks Nicolas,

I've tried to remain true to our manifesto and to your advice on teaching and having figures above all others with special status. Your views are always the most important to me in steering our tour bus!

@ Everyone,

That means that we cherish having a traveling Portuguese portraitist, believing Christians, proud and defiant Arabs, a fellow in South Africa, viciously robbed twice of all his gear, still photographing in film and with a good heart to all, an orthodox Jew photographing ancient pathways of pious sages in Jerusalem, as well as a totally contrary cynical, but clear sighted Aussie. By the spread of such ideas, we get an open forum. Openness is the wife of creativity. Nothing new happens of worth without her!

Again, this is an open forum. Say what you like! However, when we're not in our yellow tour bus, with people getting on and off for various reasons, we retire to our private cosy, living room. So it's our job to make the room inviting and hospitable to the rest of us and new quests. We're here for the photograph and what it inspires in conversation, serious or satirical, learned or just fun. Be aware that deviation from the photograph to personal attacks brings out the housekeepers who will be on auto from now on. As to "art" aim for that or not, but that's not our only focus. Just give us your best photographs, those that give you a thrill or a laugh!

Asher
 

Robert Watcher

Well-known member
A quote that I like:

“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm sure that I am not alone in being repulsed by personal attacks in public forums like OPF - - - sharing ideas, offering suggestions and inspiring by posted work or expressing appreciation - keeps people coming back.

I for one really appreciate the effort that the owners of OPF have put into making members see the site as valuable - things such as helping promote member works in galleries. Even if nothing comes from it, it is a noble and appreciated gesture.

Other than my own websites and social media sites, there are few places online where my extensive body of photographic work can be displayed to share with people. That is something that I value here. I periodically like playing with other photographers images when I have the time or am bored and see some potential. I really appreciate being able to do that on photography forums as a way that sometimes stimulates ideas in the creators way of approaching the content or composition for future reference. Some may benefit from my experience and viewpoint - - - there may be little benefit to others. All the best in your efforts to keep this valuable resource alive.



--------
 
Top