This was posted on another forum I belong to, and is sparking some interesting conversation about some "issues" that've always been on my mind (and apprently others' minds as well!), so I thought I'd share here and see how DG'ers feel... (I got permission and encouragement from the original author to repost this on other forums):
Forgive my Ranting and Raving please
Last night I went to bed a little angry! I've been disappointed from my first issue of AVM at the quality of the pictures, dark, out of focus. I sent a letter to AVSA and was told that it was a publisher problem. Then I got the 2009 AVSA Calender, and again the pictures were dark, out of focus and many poorly composed. If it is a publishing problem.....it's time to get a new publisher!
My hobby, since I was a little kid, has been photography. I'm not the greatest, but, I try not to show one of my pictures that I wouldn't hang on my best friends wall. As critical as I can be about others photo's, I'm even more critical of myself.
So this morning I wake up and download the latest update for FC2. What do I find? Half the new photographs are crap, and half the blossoms I'd be ashamed to say were one of my hybrids. FC2 is not the place for fancy lighting or artistic endeavors or to show the blossom of your very first blooming seedling (I'm happy for you, but show it on a forum not FC2), it's to show for judging reference and our reference, what the blossoms and the plant, look like! (Something to add to the hundreds of AV's already on your wish list!)
With the advances of Digital Photography, there's really no reason for bad photos. You can take a hundred pictures and at least one should come out right, we hope, and only keep the best, and what did it cost you. Unlike film photography where you took your 36 shots, took them to the drug store, waited to get them back, paid umptynine dollars, only to find that your shutter malfunctioned! When I take pictures of my plants......I may take 10-15 shots or more before I get one I like.......what did it cost me...nothing...just my time and I got to see them right away.
PS: if you agree with me about the quality of the pics in the AVM, and the AVSA Calender, please let AVSA know. Those pics are my way of adding just one more plant to fuel my addiction!
My (mayhaps controversial--And now edited) reply to this original post was:
There's so many pics in AVSA and in the calender that I just shake my head & think "Why did the photographer allow their name to be credited with this crap?"
This message was edited Jan 10, 2009 2:15 PM
This message was edited Jan 10, 2009 7:40 PM
Interesting thoughts about AVSA/FC2 pics...
maybe something got lost in the translation,i do agree they leave a lot to be desired
but remember a lot of pictures are done by rookies,(I cant spell amuters ) (see)
they take what they can get,but i agree they need better pictures on the calenders,
JIM
I totally agree with Jim. They do the best with volunteers on the First Class and we need to be grateful for these willing people. A calendar is a totally different subject. The pictures selected for a calendar should be top notch. One of my best friends takes a lot of pictures for the strep site and AVSA and I know she doesn't have fancy pancy camera. She simply has the willingness to do it for us.
I have a good idea. Since you love photography, seriously, take it on as a project to send them better pictures. They would love you and so would everyone else.
"I have a good idea. Since you love photography, seriously, take it on as a project to send them better pictures. They would love you and so would everyone else."
Lenny and I are working on doing just that :-)
Here is the thing for poor volunteer photographers. My friend, Marjorie , pays her own expenses to get to as many conventions as she can afford. Then...........while everyone else is playing, visiting and buying plants, she is taking two hours to take pictures to give away to 'us'.
I can tell you that I wouldn't even consider doing the hard work that Marjorie and the guy you mentioned are doing now. When I do get to go to a convention, I want to play like everyone else.
Just remember it is a very big commitment to make both financially getting to as many possible conventions...........and then using your time to take pictures rather than be shopping like everyone else is doing.
edited to say: I think it is a terrible thing to mention anyone's name who has worked so hard to contribute to a wonderful organization which is "US.....all of us". Marjorie Bullard has the nicest, pleasing and hang loose attitude about life in general and, in particular, the AVSA people. If you really want to take a thankless job on, then remember, people tend to see the worst and not the best in you as you tackle this free job. I hope you can roll with the punches. Good luck.
This message was edited Jan 10, 2009 7:19 PM
Marjorie Bullard takes GREAT pics.
My only point is the organization has no room for prima donnas. They all get along. It is really irrelevant whether Marjorie takes good pictures or bad pictures. No one deserves to be raked over the coals publicly by individuals in the AVSA.
I think most of the really good hybridizers make it a point to be happy for other hybridizers, etc..........and bad pictures are the least of most people's concerns. I do hope you meet success and can contribute pictures.
There ya go, I edited my original post to remove the name.
Did I miss something? I didn't see where anyone said Marjorie Bullard takes bad photo's?
I am not a member of the AVSA so I don't receive their publication but if I paid dues or paid for a subscription I would expect decent photography too, but then I like pretty pictures!
I realize the publication is for educational purposes but if it's a professional organization they should have decent photography. I wonder if all of the AVSA membership even realizes they can submit photo's for the magazine? I had no idea it was volunteers who took the pictures, I figured all magazines had professional photographer's.
It wasn't Marjorie's name mentioned who took such bad pictures for AVSA. Unless we want to pay for professional photograhers, we get what we get from dedicated volunteers. Everyone knows they can submit photographs to be used.
The AVSA has no money. The only ads they have to even publish the magazine is from vendors throughout the USA and from the funds they receive for the subscription to AVSA.
You did miss the original post, Lin.
How many thousands of named cultivars? I think the AVSA is operating on the premise-- a poor photo is better than NO photo. If more people submit "good" photos than the "bad" ones can eventually be replaced.
I wonder if all of the membership knows they can submit photo's for the publication? I would think they would get many, many folks submitting pictures, hoping to see them in the magazine and I agree, if lots and lots of people would send in pictures, the good ones would eventually outweigh and replace the bad.
I think it is just one of those things I get lazy about. I keep thinking that I will send in pictures they don't have on the streptocarpus site (episcias, too). That nice lady does that for free and the only way she is there for all of us is for us to make donations to her site.
Marjorie is awesome,takes great pictures and is a neat lady
Isn't she a hoot, Jim!! I love that woman and she thinks highly of both you and your wife. I don't know where she met you but she did!
we met her in minnesota at our first avsa convention
JIM
The meeting next week is at her house, can you go Gail?
mermaid.....don't let me dim your enthusiasm.........we need people like you! I was harsh.........sorry.........
Nah--I'm not dimmed at all :-)
Good!