Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/10/29

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Subject: Re: [Leica] PAW -- Criticism or Stroking?
From: "Steve LeHuray" <steve@icommag.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 19:26:23 -0400

Sonny,

Excellent comment!! Keep up the good work every week.

sl


> The people who doggedly post a picture each week inspire me,  It takes
> lots of courage for them to put their work here in front Leica
> photographers, not to mention self-discipline to maintain those pages.
> I admire everyone who posts.
>
> That tenacity challenged me, and I started posting pictures myself.  I
> am now up to 71 weeks.  Sometimes people say nice things about my
> pictures, sometimes they seem to ignore them.   My website, (which is
> primarily about the PAW) is at about 8000 visits a month or 66,000
> hits.
>
> I know he was not the originator of the idea, but it was Kyle Cassidy
> who  asked the rhetorical question, "Do I deserve this camera?"
>
> Here I was with several thousands of dollars worth of Leica gear and I
> was shooting stuff that could have been shot with as you put it, "a
> $70 point and shoot camera."
>
> So why is the PAW an answer to Kyle's question for me?
>
> I don't shoot or post pictures for the  strokes, or for the criticism.
> I post them, on a schedule, to make sure that I get out there and take
> pictures.  I do it so that I will take myself seriously when I go out,
> knowing that I have a deadline, knowing that I expect to fill up
> another years worth of shots.
>
>  If you let me know you like a shot,  I'll appreciate it.  If you hate
> something about it, and let me know that the shot misses the mark for
> some technical or aesthetic reason, I'll appreciate it, but I will not
> stop.
>
> The picture of the week project mostly documenting my little part of
> the earth has become an important part of my life, and I do it for me.
>
> Sonny
> http://www.sonc.com
>
>
>> Subject: [Leica] PAW -- Criticism or Stroking?
>>
>>
>> I'm new to posting, having been a "lurker" for quite awhile due to
> my
>> fear of
>> weighing in on various issues and being torn apart (however well
>> intentioned)
>> by far more knowledgeable members of LUG. But there seems to be a
> lack
>> of,
>> shall we say, intensity with respect to review and comment on PAWs.
> I'll
>> be
>> blunt -- I've seen a large number of PAWs that are, at best,
> mediocre,
>> almost
>> snapshots at a backyard barbeque that could have been taken with a
> $70
>> point
>> and shoot camera. Yet, the comments for such works include things
> like
>> "great
>> shot" or "wonderful image." Even allowing for differences in taste,
> the
>> feedback on the PAWs seems remarkably consistent, and overwhelmingly
>> positive. Sure, its nice to encourage folks, and it isn't easy to
> submit
>>
>> anything for public scrutiny, especially by the extremely talented
> and
>> knowledgeable people who contribute to this group on a regular
> basis. I
>> wouldn't submit my work because, quite frankly, I don't think it is
> yet
>> at a
>> level where it should be shown, nay, inflicted on the general
> public,
>> let
>> alone the experts here.
>>
>> Don't get me wrong, lots of PAWs are amazing -- almost life
> transforming
>> --
>> but others, well, its almost like "point a Leica at it and submit
> it."
>> Should
>> we all bite our tongues at the latter sort and keep silent, or offer
>> encouraging "strokes," or should we be honest (but always
> respectful)
>> and
>> honestly present constructive criticism? Again, I don't want to
> belittle
>>
>> those who have the courage and confidence to submit PAWs, but I need
>> clarification -- are we here to review and critique in constructive
>> fashion,
>> or simply to validate with hollow "attaboys"  yet another submission
> of
>> someone's wife or daughter by the pool, or colorful locals sitting
>> around a
>> cafe in some foreign locale? I don't want to offend anybody, I'm
> just
>> wondering what the ground rules are.
>>
>> Many thanks to all for the wisdom the have provided, and continue to
>> provide
>> on this site.
>>
>> Ellis Krane
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