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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 5/24/2008
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That must be it, Andre!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 5/23/2008
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Hi Nick,
Yes, and some people just move on to another site, or go through times when they may change to another passtime.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 5/22/2008
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Oh well, then the site does a good job on making us "unforgetable"! ;-)
Seriously, Andre, when seeing such "abandoned" member accounts I can't get rid the feeling that many guys get too quickly "disappointed" for whatever reason.
Cheers!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 5/20/2008
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Hi Nick,
Yeah, I guess we are immortalized, whether we like it or not. :)
I have noticed that quite often some very old images come up on the front page from people who no longer participate here. Sometimes we may see a great image that has been given an EC or SC and when we try to open it, (removed from site).
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 5/17/2008
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Hi Andre!
That there was not much thought involved is obvious to me too. Some days ago I saw a very old comment for one of my images being the comment of the day for the third time now. But that comments of removed images still appear on the front page I wouldn't imagine that! That's funny, really!
I wonder how can that happen at all. When an image is revoved, then the comments are... removed? But it seems that at least the comments of the day continue to be there, perhaps as separate copies that will never be deleted, even if the corresponding images are no more available on the server. So, something of us will remain here for ever, it seems! ;-)
Cheers!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 5/6/2008
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Hi Nick,
As far as I can remember, I think there was not really much thought being put into the Comment of the day. They seemed very random to me.
Even one of my old ones is up there today, so anyone can do it. :)
Funny enough quite often the picture that the comment is about has already been removed from Usefilm.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 5/4/2008
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Hi Andre!
A very nice and easy way to avoid a huge workload and also the "friend advantage" situation, which indeed would be quite unwishable, would be to just take the remaining messages of today after the filtering of all three-word messages, start reading them in random order, and take the first good one. It would be sometimes this guy, and sometimes the other guy because of simple probability.
Now, of course, what is a good comment for the frontpage? Well, I'd just take any comment that says something about the image, what kind of impression and mood it generates, what could be done better, etc. I would also take a message of that kind about which I complain and get upset so often, simply because it is my "upsetness" and not that of the whole site. I think that it could work, if somebody could forget about the own taste while reading the messages. But then again who can control the own self so perfectly, I know...
From what I can imagine (and only from what I can imagine!) the method they used when you started sounds better to me. Didn't that result in featured comments that at least said something about the image?
Have a nice Sunday!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 5/1/2008
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You are probably right about it taking less time than we think to settle on a comment of the day. Still it could be a bit of work and it is also very subjective. I think one of the reasons they do it this way is that it just takes the human nature out of it too. At least the bot has no "friends" to favour when it comes to handing out awards.
BTW I started on this site when a comment was only featured in the comments section if it was over three or four lines long. I'm not sure if that was a better method than what they do now in the comments section.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/25/2008
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Hi Andre!
Yes, I'll be promoted to chief assistent of assistent chief sorter-reader of comments! I'm making progress! ;-)
I see what you mean, and I remember also how long it took for you to find somebody that felt responsible for your donation and your status as a member of the forum. Sometimes I also have the feeling that this site was made... by itself! There is only a huge computer that wanted to store our images, and they try to keep it as a secret! ;-)
Sorting out the best comments could be less work than we think. If we consider that 90% of the comments are oneliners with not much content, then we can filter out anything that has less text than, say, 20 words, since such comments are no comments for the front page at all. This can be done programmatically - no problem. The remaining comments could be taken and read one after the other, and I am sure that after reading some 10 or 20 one would already find a good one for the front page. Perhaps I would do that job for free, provided of course the huge computer understands what I propose! ;-)
Cheers!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 4/24/2008
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Hi Nick,
I don't mean to sound too negative, but from any previous experience I've had trying to communicate with anyone who runs this site, I don't think they are interested in changing the way the site is set-up. A suggestion to sort out the best comments for the front page, might land you the job :)
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/21/2008
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Hi Andre!
Well, your words in god's ears - and I don't even believe that there exists "god" ;-)
Seriously now, I also think that the feature of "Comment of the day" deserves a better, way more "substancial" treating. Some days ago there has been one "Comment of the day" from me on the front page, but it wasn't even a real comment on the image! It was simply my reply to the reply of the reply of some message some time ago, and it had really not directly to do with the image itself. So, for me it completely failed as a "Comment of the day".
I accept that there is a huge load of photographers here, and that this load gets multiplied day by day by the number of comments that each guys writes. And so it is definitely almost impossible for the editors to search and read all comments in order to justify which ones could be good for the front page.
So, I would just recommend the procedure for the editors, to just read comments, perhaps in chronological order, until they meet the first one that is good enough to be taken on the front page. Surely, this way the "best comment" might be overlooked, but the thing is that no random choise would ever reach the front page.
All the above is of course based on the assumption that the "Comment of the day" is automatically chosen at random, which many times really seems to be true, but which also is still only an assumption. So I feel that this could be a good subject for discussion here. Should I start a new thread? What do you think?
Cheers!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 4/20/2008
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Hi Nick,
Exactly, that's what I meant. It is a shame that it seems the Comment of the day is chosen at random, when there are so many good threads with a lot of useful information that deserve more exposure.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/19/2008
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Oops, I should read more carefully, I guess. You said "*kind* of comment" and not simply "comment". That's a difference, I see.
Cheers!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/19/2008
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I fear that the comments in the front page are... random choises, Andre! ;-)
But, in this case, it would be a bit... call that "senseless" (?) to take my own comment on my own image to the front page. :-/
Perhaps better for a discussion thread?
Cheers!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 4/19/2008
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An excellent comment Nick. This is the kind of comment that should go on the front page.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/18/2008
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Strange, another comment of yours, Visar, for which I didn't receive any email notification. What was going on? Why is it only your comments for which I got no notification?
Anyway, thanks a lot for the nice and detailed comment. Indeed, the technical part, to which of course also the composition inherently belongs to, helped a lot. Without it the image would be perhaps "nice".
I am only glad to see more and more that perfectionism is not what some cheap excuses from the side of all "natural born artists" is declared to be. It is something that those lazy people will always find reasons to exclude from their "work". ;-)
As about Lucerne, it has many faces. It can cheer you up, it can depress you deeply. And that's what I like about it. It lives.
Cheers!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/17/2008
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You, traitor of the old pure school! ;-)
But Andre, heeheeey, wait! Wait a minute! The "3D colours matrix system that gathers information and makes up its mind"... well, what is that algorithm else than the implementation if good old Adams' methods, but now in digital color photography? Answer: Well, sir, it really *is* his method, but perhaps a bit too much behind the scenes. That'all. It is the same method.
I admit that many times the technology progress will kind of "hide" some things away, but still it is really based on those old but still valid conlusions, that we had the luck to be handed over by the old teachers. And surely, if we don't care enough about that, we will not be able to understand what that dam**d automatic does, and *how* it does it. But the thing is, that your new camera surely *does* allow you to do that also far away from any "generally accepted standards". I'd be glad to have that "recognition system" on my T90, Andre!
In other words, there are "point and shoot" cameras nowadays that will more or less say to you: "You are not allowed to care about anything, because my decision is the best! Period!" We leave them aside, I think. But then, there are also cameras that just allow you to point and shoot, but are always also willing to "change their minds" accodring to what *you* want them to do, and still providing all support that they could. The D200 is one of them, I think. It does allow you to go for quite "careless" exposures, but then it also says: "Master, I am willing to help, but you are the one who decides. Your wish is my command.".
I must also accept here that I have a quite insatiable demand, to know about all those tiny "what's" and "why's", and that I really get the most of it by thinking, estimating, guessing and calculating, if you like. It is much like tranforming the visual world to equations, if you wish. But this is no dogma, it's just a preference. As long as the wonderful conclusions of such people like Adams hold, it is only important, I think, that we just know what that automatic setting does, when I say to the camera: "Come on, make up you mind under these specific circumstances!". And then we know also why it made a great or a miserable image, and next time we do better.
Cheers!
Nick
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absynthius .
{K:20748} 4/16/2008
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ok, so much it was said about the technical part of the shot Nick.
I am impressed with your efforts in shpaing and bringing forth this shot, which i find appealing by all senses-- one of my own sensitive pointers, as i assume you know, is the composition- of which i hark so much about. so, i have to say that the symetry here turns me on; here i find it classicly spot on- brillantly set organised throughout. in addition the morning atmosphere is beautifully worked out- that i almost feel the my breathouts steaming up off my mouth.
you brought a little Lucerne here, very fresher than when i visited it (it was hot when i was there),
all the best,
v.
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 4/16/2008
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Hi Nick,
The time you spent and all the painstaking work definitely shows in this one. Now you can see how your scientific and analytical training pays off in photography :) Most people would never get into the technical details of an image this deeply. It is nice to know that those old methods that take skill and knowledge are still being used and appreciated. You couldn't pick a better teacher than Adams :)
Now you make me feel guilty for setting my new camera to use the sensitive 3D colour matrix system that gathers information from all areas of the frame and makes up its own mind. :) Oh no! I've just bought an expensive point and shoot camera. :):)
Andre
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Shirley D. Cross-Taylor
{K:174133} 4/14/2008
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You're welcome, Nick!:)
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/14/2008
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Thanks a lot, Sethu! I am very very glad that you like it!
Cheers!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/14/2008
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And my beautiful thanks to you, Shirley!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/14/2008
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Thanks a lot, Andre, and indeed I am happy with it. For several reasons. Of course the biggest reason is that it came out so well. I just waited to see if somebody would mention about the quality of this exposure, and I really somehow expected you would be that. I thank you for this a bunch!
But guess what I did here! You might smile now, but I used the zones system of Adams in a modified way for color photography. (And I must say, that guy was brilliant!) So the second reason I am happy is to see that such good things remain the same after so many years and after so much development in photograpy. (And after so much received persuasion from the industry that it is only leave it to the camera and point and click ;-))
And the third reason is that the load of work was worth it. The modification of the system was mainly to use it separately for the additive basic colors red/green/blue, then to build up the weighted average according to the sensitivity curves of the used film, and compensate exposure according to what you want to have. As you can imagine I had to go for improvisation since I don't have the photography equipment that is needed for this. So I took my iBook and the web camera together with the T90 and the lenses, took an image of the scene digitally with the web camera and as good as I could, analysed the color channels for zones with PS, calculated the weighted average, compared it with the spot meterings of the T90 and then compensated accordingly. (Phew! *-P) And all the time I had to consciously ignore the strange looks ;-)
But good news approaching! There is already free available software that allows to connect the web camera to the HP49G+ (my beloved calc!), and software that does all the steps, including the calculations, automatically on it. So instead of taking the iBook I can take the calculator with me in future. Perhaps also instead of the web camera I could use the mobile phone and the bluetooth stick - but I doubt this since my mobile's camera is very bad.
Well, after all sometimes work is good to do! ;-)
Cheers and thanks again!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/14/2008
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Thanks a lot for the nice comment, Ilir!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/13/2008
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Many thanks for the nice comment, Puven!
Cheers!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/13/2008
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Thanks a lot for the nice detailed comment, Oscar!
Best wishes,
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/13/2008
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Thank you very much, Dave!
Have a nice Sunday!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/13/2008
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Hi Mirek! You might smile now but this is exactly what I often did. The images then are very good but they also have a single disadvantage. And that is... waking up so early! ;-)
No, seriously now, it did work many times, and also on some images I already posted here in the past. The combined power of long shadows and strange hues at that time of the day can make images look very special. Same goes of course for the evening when the sn goies down, but rather for the more "redish" kind of look.
Cheers and many thanks!
Nick
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Sethu S
{K:1243} 4/13/2008
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Well balanced landscape picture!. The reflections (perfectly as in one third of frame) & the mood of the picture really appeals to me!
Cheers
Sethu
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Shirley D. Cross-Taylor
{K:174133} 4/13/2008
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What a beautiful series, Nick!:)
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Andre Denis
{K:66407} 4/13/2008
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Hi Nick,
This one shows up just perfectly on my monitor Nick! I can't find anything negative to criticize on this one. The exposure, colour and detail are all superb throughout. This might be one of your best. I'll bet you are happy with this one.
Andre
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Ilir Xhemsiti
{K:4285} 4/12/2008
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Great cityscape shot Nick,great light and composition,..
best regards ILIR
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Puven Nelson
{K:1446} 4/12/2008
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very nice picture like the architecture, the reflections on the water and the misty look.
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Oscar E. Flores H.
{K:7850} 4/12/2008
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Bello paisaj e con una profundidad de campo formidable. Los reflejos tambien cuentan a facvor. Felicitaciones
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Dave Stacey
{K:150877} 4/12/2008
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Very nicely done cityscape, Nick! I like the composition and lighting, and you've successfully caught the blues!
Dave.
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Mirek Towski
{K:14880} 4/12/2008
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Hello Nick! From my own experience I can suggest that You take a few pictures before the Sun will peak over the horizon line. Sometimes when there are a few clouds, the Sun bounces off them and You get the strangest hues. It may vary from location to location. I hope it will work
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/12/2008
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Hi Mirek and a big thanks for your nice and detailed comment! (Wish I had more of this kind, instead of the usual oneliners!)
Well, the "broken rule" of thirds is a very natural result of wanting to have the whole church and its whole reflection on the water under this focal length. I tried many different compositions but they didn't really seem to work for me. They were so... unfinished, so incomplete in some sence. Much like saying sonething but only "half".
As about the colors, you are completely right! You just hit the nail exactly on its head! This is the coloring I find most appealing in such mornings, and I try to get that right. But still not quite. Something is missing from the steel blue I wish to have. Still trying, anyway!
Thanks a bunch again!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/12/2008
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Hehe, and my girlfriend, my one and only, was there when I was shooting this, Mohamad! Perhaps I tried to let it look like what she sees? Perhaps!
Thanks a lot!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/12/2008
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Thanks, Michele!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/12/2008
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Thanks a lot Anbenis!
Perhaps also a bit too overexposed - I don't know.
Cheers!
Nick
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 4/12/2008
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Thanks a lot for the nice and detailed comment, Gustavo!
I think now that perhaps some exposure combenstaion downwards could help. But I am not sure. I'll have to try and see. Anyway, the washed out look is intention. It has to be there in such a winter morning for a rather "cold" look, I guess.
Nick
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Mirek Towski
{K:14880} 4/11/2008
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Hello Nick! I like the way You framed this land or better said cityscape picture. The waterline cuts Your image in the middle, braking away with the classical rule of thirds. In Your photo it works greatr, as the church and its reflection are well balanced within the frame. Colors are a different subject. In my opinion, they are a bit washed away, I like them a bit more saturated. Good work.
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Mohammad Khaxar
{K:5118} 4/11/2008
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nick,
I don’t know that I have ever seen anything SO beautiful!
Except my girl friend!!, of course!
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Such a pure, joyful feeling this image gives...
best,
mohamad*
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Michele Beccia
{K:16535} 4/11/2008
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Excellent!:)
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Arben Mallaki
{K:10761} 4/11/2008
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Excellent!
I like this beautiful architectural place, and reflections in the water.
Excellent photo,
congratulations Nick!
Cheers,
Ben
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Gustavo Scheverin
{K:164501} 4/11/2008
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Preciosa foto, magníficos los reflejos, y muy bonita la atmósfera neblinosa a los lejos, pero que también es muy luminosa.
Felicitaciones!
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