Portfolio or not

Recent discussions emphasised a question I've had since I joined. It's all well and good to see one photograph posted in a thread but a portfolio shows a body of work. A story . Or at least one's vision. Their point of view.

When I decided to join here the admission required that I upload 4 photos, if I remember correctly (that was a month ago :cool: ) So I did and have since added more.

So what I am looking for is opinions or reasons why so many people don't have portfolios on this site. I am probably opening a can of worms here but I just don't understand why someone would take the time to remove their required (to join) portfolio and then not want to show anything. Not even one favorite photo ...... Dont we all have a favorite photo.... The single photos I post in No Words or other threads don't necessarily have anything to do with my normal work.

 

Just curious . Whats right for one person isnt always right for another. But I just can't see a reason not to show any work that represents the person as a photographer on a photography forum.

 

In need of enlightenment

Thanks

Keep it friendly!!

 

( This is not directed and anyone in particular . Many folks here do not have any representation !!!!! )

I am learning how to efficiently create an online portfolio. The bigger my Lightroom photo database gets the more challenged I am to manage my photo library. I too uploaded the required images to join this group plus some more. However, I have not gotten serious about creating a portfolio here because I have started one on Adobe’s cloud as part of their Photography subscription. It is amazingly easy to populate that portfolio and to make changes. I have a link to that portfolio as part of my profile information here. As in the many activities involved with our daily lives, we have to make chioces as to what to spend time doing. I appreciate the participation of many members at photo.net, people who represent a broad spectrum of experience, not just with photography.

When I joined I don't recall there being any requirement to have a portfolio. I have uploaded a few images, but since most of my current digital work is commercial and I have never invested in a decent film scanner (my Epson all in one is an adequate office printer for the low volume that I need) posting photos for me involves photographing a print, which isn't quick or convenient or possible when I'm not in my studio. I can't speak for anyone else, although I do know that many photographers are concerned about image theft from a public site like this one, which might also account for people not posting their work.

I used to have a portfolio and actively updated it. PN was “redesigned” a couple of years ago and the portfolios for the longest time were a mess. The folders got all messed up, stuff that should have been hidden was no longer hidden, it was virtually impossible to find or make comments. Over the last two years, there have been improvements but still many complain about the poor functionality of that side of the site. For me, it simply isn’t worth the hassle anymore.

 

I regret not having one and it did used to be nice to see people’s work in an organized space, but I think it’s a thing of the past. No Words, I think, is the most vibrant part of the site. This seems to go along with the social-networkization of PN. The idea of No Words is great, essentially a non-verbal dialogue, though perhaps a little too literal and sometimes a very pedestrian approach to photos. One more Bus Stop theme or excuse to post pictures of cutesy street signs and I may have to scream! :)

 

So, for many, it’s down to No Words as the photo feature of the site and, again, it’s a solid and fun feature. But it can also act as a fling-it-to-the-wall fest in a mostly non-feedback loop. There’s the game of likes, which several members have perfected into an art form. But no dislikes, of course, so it’s a self-fulfillingly feel-good only system. Except, of course, for those who LIKE every photo in a thread except one, which happens more often than you’d think, which must make the non-recipient not feel very good at all, if they care. On the other hand, I know someone who loves when he gets no LIKES because his work often defies literal theme and doesn’t always please so much as challenge the mind and eye. Those kinds of photos, good as they are, are not terribly “likable” in the PN sense. Anyway he, too, like so many others, used to have and keep current a PN portfolio that was thoughtfully presented. No more.

 

Me, I’m heading backwards in time and putting together a gallery show of prints. I created a personal website of my stuff a few years back but it’s now unaccessible because I haven’t updated it. I plan to make a new one soon. I prefer to show my body of work in an a presentation of my choosing and PN’s portfolio options are woefully inadequate in this day and age. It’s not something I’d bother with here unless the site improves its design and functionality options.

 

As far as representation, I get the sense that much of the stuff posted to No Words is at least moderately representative of the photographers. I say that because there’s such consistency, to the point where I often recognize whose photo it is even before looking at the name, and I imagine others experience that with me. For me, and I imagine for a lot of people, what goes into No Words is not always my best or even my 2nd-tier stuff and it’s not always stuff I’m thrilled with or terribly proud of but, if I can cover the theme, I’ll use it. In a portfolio or show, we’re generally putting our best foot forward. In No Words, I share plenty of rejects. But there may be a sense in which throwaways or rejects represent us as well, I don’t know. Anyway, No Words is for fun. If I’m judged by it, that’s someone else’s problem.

 

Interestingly, when I joined PN, I would only put into my portfolio what I considered my “best” work. Once I developed a group of folks who were commenting back and forth on each others’ photos, I started putting up more experimental work so I could talk it through with people. That showed me I’d developed some confidence in not always having to put my best foot forward. Those days of good, non-gear oriented discussion on PN are mostly, regrettably, gone.

When I decided to join here the admission required that I upload 4 photos, if I remember correctly

It must be a new thing. - I am pretty sure it was not the case, back when I joined. So far I was content using the forums here. - I don't do the online presentation thing at all.

I wasnt here when the system was better designed but I find it easy to up load photos . a few clicks and its done. To me a portfolio should be your best work always. Im not looking for critique there... If I want critique , I will ask for it in a thread about a particular image or story. Not images that have already stood the test of time and or gotten me work. Which is what I put in my portfolio for the most part. A few recent portraits of my family are an exception but who would criticize my 96 year old Grandma :rolleyes: I posted them to show personal images not just my paid jobs.

But I do agree with you that No Words is a great place to sling up what ever and see if it sticks. Most of what I have posted there is from test rolls walking around the city . Or old photos from my point and shoot camera that fit the criteria. But most and foremost cause I am having fun with it. It gives me a reason to go back into my archives and pull out the digital dust so someone else can see it beside me. A renewed excitement if you will. To often I take a digital photo , download it and never look at it again. Its fun sharing it here (and there) when find an image that I like.

who would criticize my 96 year old Grandma

I hope no one. Though I wouldn’t hesitate to criticize a serious (non-snapshot) photo of her. Because I know that a photo of Grandma and Grandma are two different things. :)

I started posting in my galleries in 2002 and now embarrassingly have 869 images in seven galleries. Things were a mess for a while during the re-vamp of the site. Now, you can make comments on people's galleries as well as individual images. Over the years I became friends with certain people and enjoy their work and appreciate seeing their work in galleries. I've noticed that not many people bother to go through my galleries judging by the lack of comments, but a few do. I have posted my best work and experimental work hoping see how others respond. I realize 7 galleries is a lot to go through. I do browse through other's galleries when their work interests me. I will stop and "like" some of their images and make a general comment on their overall work. It is what it is.

5000+

I don't post many images here because I mostly post at Flickr (though still not that many photos). My favorite shots are film and darkroom ones - the scanning and making it match the print can be a pain. If I go through the hassle, I tend to post where I know someone will actually notice, so that means Flickr and Photrio. The few I've posted here haven't gotten much comment, so I haven't seen the worth. But I do have a few shots (last I checked) in my profile. And things did get messed up during the transition to the current software.

I'm more of a tinkerer than a photographer. I like fixing old cameras. I process and scan my own film because I get some satisfaction out of it. So most of my time is spent in the forums learning what I can rather than looking at other people's photos and/or posting my own. But I do enjoy "No Words".

 

For me there isn't really a "body of work". It's more of a collection of individual photos taken to test cameras or a processing technique. That doesn't mean I don't care about the quality of the photos I take at all, I do, but it's not really what brings me to photo.net

I used to have a rather large portfolio here. I got in a snit and quit for about a year and removed those images. After I passed my pique, I restored a portion of them that I consider more "representative" than "my best". My photography is intentionally much more documentary in purpose than artistic, in any case.

 

In short. you have to judge for yourself whether your portfolio is too large or too small. For some persons thousands are not enough, for others one is too many.:rolleyes:

I guess we can each judge for ourselves, but it’s worth remembering that others may be involved in looking at our portfolio, if we have one. For some, that may be of no concern and there may be good reason to have thousands of photos in a PN gallery. Others may want people to look at their portfolios. So, I’ll just say, personally, if I come across a portfolio with 5000 images, I skip right past it. I’d rather invest time in a portfolio that at least has been culled with some degree of thought or care. I may miss some gems by avoiding such large portfolios, but I’ve found the trade off in hassle and time worth it. The payoff in looking through 5000 photos by one person on the Internet is usually quite small.

I guess I asked because I am curious who people are. On a British motorcycle forum I belong too , I have gotten to know people from all around the world. I have stayed with several of them in England. We have ridden from their homes in the UK to as far as Germany and back . I have visited with "new friends" in New Zealand , ect , ect .... Or I just have made new friends in general that we talk regularly either on the forum or privately . It changed my life really. I get to explore and do things that I would never have been able to do . In turn they have come to America and done the same.

Not that I am looking for that here or expecting anything. We are all busy people . I just try to know who I am talking too. We don't talk about our personal lives here so I thought maybe our images would tell a bit of our stories. I have to remember that motorcyclist have a comradery that no one else seems to have . Not even car collector types have it.... Im not looking for new friends here, just eager to learn about people as much as / or in spite of what they photograph. Ive only been here a short time so maybe Im jumping the gun and that will happen naturally. "Portfolios" just seemed like a logical place to start.

When I started on photo.net, most of my l photos were Kodachrome trannies, and I wasn't happy with my scanning technique or the flaws in my photography. In those days (before the turn of the century) PN didn't have paid subscriptions, ads, or a requirement for a portfolio, although you needed a thick skin if you wanted to participate in the frequent flame wars or arguments about ratings. I eventually put up some photos in a portfolio, but took them down when the site was redesigned. I've put many photos on the "No Words" forum, which I find very dynamic and interesting.

 

Wade, you can get an idea of who people are by looking at their "No Words" contributions, albeit with a bit more effort than it would take if they had a portfolio.

I maintained a portfolio here for many years. After the botched reinvention I took it down. Partly out of spite and partly out of embarrassment, as the site became such a train wreck. My main reason for joining many years back was the NW forum, which I still enjoy. Although I will say that all of the whining about likes and resurrecting old posts etc. makes me rethink even that minimal participation. Until lately, I had always considered the NW forum a bit of light hearted fun.

I maintained a portfolio here for many years. After the botched reinvention I took it down. Partly out of spite and partly out of embarrassment, as the site became such a train wreck. My main reason for joining many years back was the NW forum, which I still enjoy. Although I will say that all of the whining about likes and resurrecting old posts etc. makes me rethink even that minimal participation. Until lately, I had always considered the NW forum a bit of light hearted fun.

 

Well, I think when it comes right down to it you can't please everyone. When it comes to No Words, some people like the old post resurrections, others not as much. Same with the likes. But hopefully most people see NW as light hearted fun. I sure do, even if no one "likes" my contribution to "Reflections". ;)

even if no one "likes" my contribution to "Reflections". ;)

 

I has happened to me too. Think of it as badge of honor. Also, to some, your photo probably stands out more because it received no 'likes'. :p

 

Its probably better to get no 'likes' than having too many 'likes' in an all too predictable way.

I has happened to me too. Think of it as badge of honor. Also, to some, your photo probably stands out more because it received no 'likes'. :p

 

Its probably better to get no 'likes' than having too many 'likes' in an all too predictable way.

 

That's one way to look at it. :)

 

I do know what you mean though. It's hard to take the likes too seriously. Even when I "like" a photo, it's not always because I think it's a great photograph. Sometimes I "like" them just because I think they're clever. And I don't put a lot of time into it either. I may rush through the pictures and miss a really good one.

Some days I'm in a likeable mood and like anything that hits the target in terms of the thread's theme. Other days I require something outstanding in order to hit the like button. Sometimes it is a matter of how much time I've got. If I am looking through yesterday's themes over coffee, before heading out the door in the morning, I may only post a couple of photos and like nothing. In terms of getting likes It doesn't matter to me if one of my contributions gets zero likes. I don't take it that seriously and until recently I did not think that others did either. I have noticed that despite some people giving many likes or others giving no likes, generally a good image gets more likes. Some people like pretty much everything posted and post a lot of images themselves and this reflects in the number of likes they receive. That's fine by me.

likes are fine. In 'no words' why have a list of names running across the page with the photo and then accented with a blue band. The concensus is they are not important... they are visual, so since we do not have an option to just turn them off maybe just post the number of likes in the lower right hand next to the like button.

I've a large number of pics on here, for good or ill. The trouble is the software is not up to the task of organizing, finding and deleting items or moving them around easily (poor administrator interface). Also it is difficult to find the "galleries" buttons unless you have been here a long time and have the patience. Most visitors rightfully find it all confusing. The slide show function doesn't work either for me. So much unfinished business on photonet...

I've a large number of pics on here, for good or ill. The trouble is the software is not up to the task of organizing, finding and deleting items or moving them around easily (poor administrator interface). Also it is difficult to find the "galleries" buttons unless you have been here a long time and have the patience. Most visitors rightfully find it all confusing. The slide show function doesn't work either for me. So much unfinished business on photonet...

 

This thread about portfolios made me consider trying to put something together. So last night I checked on the few photos I've uploaded over the last few years and decided that the best place to start would be to get rid of about half of them, - and I couldn't figure out how to delete them.

 

That maybe why people haven't bothered. Managing the photos is just not intuitive.

I couldn't figure out how to delete them.

Go to your portfolio / photos / settings in the chosen photo / delete./ ok.

Go to your portfolio / photos / settings in the chosen photo / delete./ ok.

 

Thanks Sandy !