PPG - yet another thread!

After the initial flurry of voting activity on PPG when it started afresh, looks like it is back to how it used to be. I uploaded some shots almost 3 weeks ago and they are still pending voting. I must admit I have been as guilty as anyone because I haven't voted on any photographs for the past few weeks!

There are a very large number of submissions to vote on now so it's not surprising.

I am not sure why people bother with it. The standards are generally low, and very few pictures, even in the premiere section, are masterpieces.

It seems that the main criteria for acceptance are that the picture should be over-saturated, heavily photo-shopped, and competely unnatural.

If we were to collect all the pictures placed first, second, or third in PUF competitions, I reckon we'd have a better gallery.

Yes, there are a few good pictures, but finding them is like wading through deep snow uphill.

G

LOL - welcome to the world of '99.2 popular rating on 500px.com', '1000+ views on Flickr', 'landscape shot of the year', 'macro shot of the year' top photography - apparently.

I'm just shocked at how many uploads are out of focus, a obvious holiday crap snap, or just plain breaking the rules set by the site.

Border? Framed? Watermark? - Instant thumbs down, please learn how to read.

Quite right, George. My thoughts precisely. It was good when it started but now lacks direction and is dominated by meaningless pictorialism.

Thanks for your comments. I agree with the lowering of quality but it somehow massages my ego when I see that another photo has been approved. I live in a house where no one else is interested in photography so it's nice to get others to appreciate what I do.

The thing that really annoys me about the current submissions is the trend towards B and W images.

If I wanted that type of image I'd shoot with one of my old film bodies, in monochrome, and then scan and submit. Indeed one of my old accepted shoots was done just that way.

Converting in camera/photoshop then 'colour popping' one section, while interesting, isn't what I need.

When I visit (regularly) I want to see good images, not pointless holiday snaps/portraits with no focal point/children images.

If I want them I'll go to Flickr!

Would a panel of "expert" judges approving the images make for anything better?

I suppose it comes down to the basic premise of the site. What is it for? If it's for Pentax photographers to share their images and have them selected by the votes of their peers that's one thing. If it's to be a salon of fine photography for advanced photographers, that's perhaps something else.

It is both, supposedly, with the Premiere Collection. Looking through the reecently added images, there is some nice stuff there. It seems a bird or a butterfly only has to be not too out of focus to qualify and there are too many wonky sea levels, but by and large it looks alright. It doesn't really matter, who browses all those galleries anyway? I think the personal page is the most useful gallery and the quality is up to you.

I would echo what DrOrloff has said above. The fact is, the PPG is open to all Pentax users to upload their pics and so by definition you will get a large range of picture styles and quality submitted. Why is everyone so uptight about this? If a photographer is happy with his / her work and wants to share it, why not upload? After all, the photos that make it onto the site are voted for, so a number of people must find them worthy.

It is never going to be site just for the purists but it does contain some stunning photos.

If I wanted to be controversial I would add that some of the members who have commented on the PPG do not actually have any of their own pictures on the site! However, I'm not like that so I will keep quiet (oops, too late)

Best wishes
David

LOL. I used to be chuffed to bits if a shot got into the PPG, and the failures were a reality check that made me try harder.

I haven't submitted anything since the re-launch. The standards do seem lower and because of that it has lost its attraction for me. For the foreseeable anyway.

But Alan, if none of you guys upload photos to the site then the standard will carry on going down. You have to continue to upload to maintain standards!
I, for one, will carry on uploading. I will probably never be as good as you guys but I don't think my photos are too shabby and I will help in some way to keep the quality up.
Cheers.

I think the problem is that when it started, the PPG was meant to showcase really good work taken using Pentax kit.

Now it's just a morass of mediocrity, by and large. It has eschewed quality in favour of quantity.

I have never submitted anything to the PPG. Originally, even had I wished to, I wouldn't have done because I didn't think I had anything good enough. Now, I'm not sure I have anything bad enough.

But perhaps there's something in my collection of cheesy Lake District snaps that would fit the bill. Who knows.

G

Naim, I had a look at yours. Not bad; you use light well, and you have an eye for shapes and patterns. I really liked your shot of St Pauls with the bridge forking away from it.

Cheers

G

Naim, I've also had a look at your PPG shots and I like them very much. I agree with you that we must keep uploading and hope that the many excellent photographers on this site do not abandon PPG as this will be for certain one of the quickest ways to ensure the quality drops. I do agree also with George that a gallery of the PU competition winners would eclipse PPG by some margin, but it would be sad if we abandon the official Pentax Gallery.

Regards
David