The Monthly Photo Project, Here.

Hi. Let me explain the title, it will take a while, if you have

time..;)

 

RATIONALE of TMPP:

 

In my last post of "interesting places=interesting pictures?", I have

come to the conclusion that many advocate a Project-Like scheme of

work. Have something in mind, dig into it and get everything out of

it. This doesn't have to involve travelling as I once thought .

I thought a Monthly Photo Project in this forum should be a good way

to illustrate how many of us handle this Project-like workflow.

 

This forum has long been an assortment of ideas. Most of the threads

seek answers. This Project will provide answers, by everyone of us.

 

I have seen POW, but there wasn't any theme. Noone has a common goal.

Its basically a critique - a - week kindda process. Not meaningful,

IMO.

 

I got this idea from a local forum. We started about 3 months ago and

responses had been wonderful( depending on our monthly theme of

course). We had something to work for every month. Our goal was

different every month.

 

 

CONCEPT:

 

Beginning of every month, someone appointed here will set a THEME

(discussed with concensus prior) for the rest of the month.

 

For e.g, THEME BLUE for Feb .

Everyone (I hope) will try in that particular month, to shoot

something based on THEME BLUE. We then display them here. There are

no limitation to the number of posts. This should not be a contest.

 

The THEME- setting person for the month will then select another

member to set the next theme for the following month and so forth..

Themes must be discussed prior by participating members here. The

appointed person has the final say.

 

 

POSTING:

 

I assume the best way to do this is to simply start a thread like :

 

"TMPP(month):Theme XXX: Title"

The pictures can then be categorized (is it possible in this forum?)

under TMMP section. But to have a better impact on viewers, the

pictures should be displayed in the main section and then categorized

later, imo, so that everyone can see it first hand.

 

 

CRITIQUES:

 

Pictures of TMPP can be critiqued and rightly so should be. It works

like any other pictures for critique, but more focussed now.

 

 

 

GEAR:

 

Being a Leica forum, I'd think displaying works from Leica gear is

more apt, but I could be narrow-minded.

 

 

Forseen Problems:

 

1) Lack of participation. SOme forumenrs may not like a theme, some

may be overzealous. This happened to my local forum too. Its all up

to us.

 

2) Other pictures( non MMP) for critique may get neglected. But I

don't really see that coming once TMMP is up. They work bilaterally.

 

 

___________________________

 

 

These are just some of my draft ideas. I sincerely hope everyone can

give this some thought and contribute your ideas. I believe this is

the best way to get us closer and have something to work for

everymonth, everyday. It will also be the best learning tool for all

of us.

 

I know many of you guys are busy with work, photographically or

otherwise, but this shouldn't take up too much time. Besides aren't

you tired of FS, WTB posts?! ;)) everyday?!

 

 

TMMP will also encourage those who post very few pictures to start

doing so. Afterall, what are cameras for if one don't use them.

 

PS: I forsee one day, the Leica Forum will publish a website with all

our MMP works.One Theme, many pictures.

 

I have not contacted Tony R. I seek your guidance and opinions first.

Im hoping TMMP to start in FEB, but depending on input here and from

the moderators, this could come later.

 

 

YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE..

TMMP=TMPP! sorry for the confusion. It has always been just TMPP.

The most interesting post so far and no answers yet?!?

 

I am IN Travis, thanks for a really good idea! I hope that many others will join too. (Maybe you should put a FS in the header, just in case :O)

Jordan, thx. If response is poor, I might just change my nick to Phil Kneen.;)

Like the idea. But for making it more complex, what about a B&W catagory too? Other than toning, B&W shooters would be out in the cold in February (sorry for the bad pun).

 

Chip

Chip, thx.

 

You see, TMPP is something that FORCES you to look at things around you differently, to shoot differently . To improve one's senses if I may say.

For B/W shooters, its a good chance for them to use some colour in their work, based on colour themes(if one is suggested for the month).

We can have all the rainbow colour themes in several months. Once thats over, the B/W people can revert to their film choice.

Hey, Judy, let's put on a show. Yeah, Mickey, we can clean out the old barn, and Mom can make our costumes....

The most appealing part for many might be the idea of having their work as some sort of 'publication'- you mention specifically- website.

Looks like Bill spoke his mind (succinctly!)... maybe you need Phil, uh... Allen Herbert in on this.

<p>I like the idea, Travis. Image themes are working well on several forums I participate in. Depending on the nature of the theme, it might be a good idea to announce the topic well in advance, so people have time to shoot, process, scan, etc. </p>

 

<p>If a particular theme is color-oriented, and B&Wers feel left out, they are always welcome to post non-color images on <a href="http://www.biphoto.com/bwforum/index.html">The B&W Forum</a>. </p>

Check over at the street photography on http://www.topica.com. They have a weekly 'salon' that's much like what you're suggesting. Most folks use Leicas, although there's a nice smattering of Holgas, digitals, older rf's and SLRs.

 

The photographs and critiques are pretty interesting. I think this week's salon theme is 'obvious'.

 

Plus, there's a lot of good discussion outside of the weekly salon project. The discussions lately are actually pretty interesting -- they've been tending toward the shrill lately -- but I kinda like that.

I like the idea. I would add one constraint to Travis' outline - that only one photo per participant be allowed. This may start out small judging by few posts to this thread. I remember when Tony Rowlett started this forum - weeks could go by without a post - look at how healthy it is now.

Doug, thx. Yes, its quite bad ;( sad. I guess most forumers have other priorities in mind.

 

Well, I gave it a shot.

This is going to be a fine project!

Don't give up so easily, you chicken !

 

Main suggestion: KISS

 

Other suggestions:

 

Set a 6 months horizon with a theme assigned to each month. You could post a long list of potential themes so that a short list (6 themes)could be voted by the forumers.

 

Select the themes so that they are colour independent: "flowers" can also be photographed in B&W; "Blue" can't.

 

I for one am with you on this. Get sure that Tony and Co. are too . . .

 

Best regards. Just do it ! (Tony permits . . .)

 

-Iván

Thx Ivan. I will try to get Tony and ask for permission and his thoughts. Anyone has his email?

Travis,

If you look on the Contax G Pages website, you will see that they do something called the "G Whiz Weekends". Similar in principle, but only one weekend long. I think a week or weekend format work well because it gives you up to 52 different topics to work on throughout the year.

Erik.

Erik, thx.

I would think that a weekly display is fine but a little cramp, although I like the 52 topics a year idea.

Hell, I take barely a roll a week myself! ;)

 

BTW, please do not treat this project as a "going back to photography school" kinnda thing. It's not. I know most of you guys are pros and have been working on personal projects, and have probably worked on hundreds of themes before.

 

Recently, on the eve of New Year, there was a project called "eye in the city" held in 3-4 different south east asian countries on the same day. 31/12/02 . A one day event where photogs from these countries went round recording the last day of the year in pictures.

These are just some of the things people are doing outside their pro-life.

Travis:

 

The concept looks good. Would it be worth approaching Tony & Co. about creating a new catagory to look for these items in?

 

Cheers...;>)

Travis, I think you're missing the point of my earlier posting regarding your project (and maybe I didn't make it clear enough).

 

What I meant to say is that your idea is already being pursued -- more or less successfully -- in the topica.com street photography group. In addition, the topica group is now doing portfolio reviews. Folks interested in this sort of thing, might want to take a peek over there before embarking on a brand new venture. The topica streetphoto salons have been going on for quite sometime, and there's a lot of lessons that have been learned over the years.

 

Granted, you're proposing monthly topics instead of weekly, but it's essentially the same thing -- a salon with a topic. Rather than trying something from scratch, you might want to hook up with the topica group, lurk, and see what's going on. The emphasis, yes, is "street photography" but I think most folks in the salon appreciate 'boundary pushing' so long as the photography is interesting and compelling.

 

The earlier point about "Gee, let's start a club. We'll sing songs and make bear costumes and entertain the whole wide world" is a good one. It might benefit more folks to take a look at the stuff that's already working -- and working pretty well -- rather than trying to start something from scratch and take one or two years to learn -- essentially -- the same lessons over and over again. Plus, most folks over at topica streetphoto are Leica fans, and there's a lot of good gear talk, critical examination, navel gazing, and flaming to keep most everybody pissed off and occupied for years to come. :)

 

Just my two cents ...

CHris,thx! I perfectly understood your points. This has been done somewhat, I know. I myself have been following themes from other forums, local and foreign. Even for my own perusal, I have try to do something personal themes but not for show or critique.

 

Point really is, should we have one here or not at all? Depends on the crowd really, Im not here to push for it in anyway. Just wanna hear what you guys think.

 

thx again Chris!;)

There doesn't have to be some ungodly amount of administration. Folks on the People Photography board post their "No Words" threads. This seems like that.

Chris: I do think that we should be required to wear funny hats while posting and discussing on the monthly project.

 

 

"Peggy, It wouldn't be a Lodge without funny hats!" Peggy Sue Got Married - a very funny movie.

 

Doug

Travis, since its your idea, whats the first topic suggestion? If you want to do it, just go for it. If you want a unanimous vote to go ahead you will never get it, so try it and who knows it may take off!

 

PS I like the one photo per person idea. It can promote self editing which is sometimes a problem for people.

Thx Joel ;). I'll keep that in mind.

 

regards,