lew_carver

<blockquote> <p>Talking about empirical principles of beauty, there is this app <a href="https://www.eyeem.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EyeEm</a> that assigns aesthetic score to all your photos</p> </blockquote> <p>Yes, I think you are correct. I would guess that such programs rely on neural networks programmed with empirically derived data. Getting too old to keep up anymore.</p>

<p><blockquote>I was always on the opinion that there were certain empirical criteria for beauty, or a good photograph. </blockquote></p> <p>I too think that is incorrect. There are empirical rules regarding the capabilities and limits of human visual perception. At present, however, I don't believe empiricism plays any role in aesthetics. But, I'm open to being wrong; got sources, references?</p>

<blockquote> <p><a name="00dvMQ"></a><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=695896">Oliver Racz</a> It's not the pictures themselves that annoy me, but more the trend of using this effect without any consideration.</p> </blockquote> <p>I haven't yet encountered that as a trend and I have to admit that I liked "density" because its visual qualities expressed my feelings regarding the subject of the image. But yes, a flood of images created through the use of some "new" technical or aesthetic rubric is mostly going to be monkey see, monkey do, with little aesthetic value. And if one is not also enthralled with that type of look, it is not unreasonable to be annoyed by having to wade through them.</p> <p>Speaking for myself, Images developed with high saturation, extreme or wavy tonal curves and excessively creative use of HDR can feel like an assault on my sensibilities. Intellectually I understand that's my problem. But the mind is an emotion driven thing. With each felt assault the ability to recognizing and appreciate the artful use of such techniques is diminished by just a bit. So it is doubly annoying. The artist's life is a surprisingly difficult and perilous one ;) </p> <blockquote> <p><a name="00dvOi"></a><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=19592">Jeff Spirer</a> Things I find annoying are drunks on the steps outside at 3AM or a car parked so mine can't get out.</p> </blockquote> <p>Jeff, I understand what you are saying, and such aesthetic annoyances as Oliver and I have expressed are certainly petty in some contexts. But also, certainly not in others. Often there are multiple valid perspectives on a given subject and I think this is one of those cases.</p>

<p>Not as annoying as the bad HDR fad.</p>

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<p>D7200 1/60 sec. f/9 17mm, Nikkor 17mm-55mm f/2.8<br> <img src="http://i86.servimg.com/u/f86/17/50/72/69/hangin10.jpg" alt="" /><br> Untitled</p>

<p>D7200 1/80 sec. f/8 34mm, Nikkor 17mm-55mm f/2.8 (Cropped 4632 x 3195)<br> <img src="http://i86.servimg.com/u/f86/17/50/72/69/spring11.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="483" /><br> <strong>Spring Foreshadows Fall</strong></p>

<p>D7200 1/125 sec. f/9 45mm Nikkor 17mm-55mm<br> <img src="http://i86.servimg.com/u/f86/17/50/72/69/spring10.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="472" /><br> <strong>Spring Pastoral</strong></p>

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<p>As to the Title question:</p> <p>Aesthetically, it's irrelevant to judging the work. Ethically, that would depend entirely on the relationship between artist and model.</p> <p>As for the rest I can only give my personal reactions:</p> <p>I guess somebody has to help adolescents with their auto-erotic fantasies. Though I found two of them to have at least some aesthetic value, I rather liked the one with smoke. And the last, the one of the (somewhat ithyphallic) arm and fist grasping the model's shirt visually interesting though personally I found it unsavory in its implications.</p>

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<p>I have to say that many of the posts here are impressive, humbling and inspiring. Thanks for sharing and motivating better work.</p>

<p>Nikon D7200 Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 (Cropped 5521 x 3394)<br> <img src="http://i86.servimg.com/u/f86/17/50/72/69/the_de10.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="430" /><br> <strong>The Devil in Spring</strong><br> <strong> </strong><br> <strong><br /></strong>From a set taken several weeks ago but took me this long to get anything out of it.<br> Nikon D7200 Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 (Cropped 1851 x 1881)<br> <img src="http://i86.servimg.com/u/f86/17/50/72/69/japane10.jpg" alt="" /><br> <strong>Japanese Magnolia With Forsythia</strong></p> <p>Nikon D7200 Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 (Cropped 3643 x 2624)<br> <img src="http://i86.servimg.com/u/f86/17/50/72/69/abando10.jpg" alt="" /><br> <strong>Abandon House With Trees</strong></p>

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<p>Thanks yes, I have seen the adds for the 'air' series. Not yet on shelves AFAICT. I'll keep an eye out. At ~12lbs/5.4kg for the 1550, lighter would be better. But given that we have few such trips left in us it may be hard to justify the extra cost. The gitzo wont fit so it's a candidate for a marine bag. Though a bit costly and a bit of a pain in the butt, I think the Pelican 1550 will justify itself through reduced fretting about either impact or water damage.</p>

<p>Thanks to all; I have decided to go with a Pelican case. We will be landing on the Pacific west side more likely to get dunked. And other folks will be tossing my gear around at several places.</p> <p>I really do appreciate all the input.</p> <p>Thanks again,<br> Lew.</p>

<p>In reply to the questions: Small boat landing on a (mostly) sand beach. The only trick is the weather. It's supposedly a walk in the park when weather is good. If the weather is not nice some people can get knocked down by waves. During the landing I will wear my camera backpack filled with clothes and boots. I have to use forearm crutches so I will have to rely on others, who will be available for that purpose, to transport the gear from boat to land.<br> This is done only once each way with all gear as there is a dock at one end of the trek. There is a night hike that requires a beach to beach boat ride each way. I would only want the D7200 and the 17-55mm on that trek. Chance of bad weather higher on that one and no official help with gear. <br> I very much appreciate the help given, thank you all.</p>

<p>I have to make a wet landing on the Pacific Coast of the Osa Peninsula with D7200, three lenses, and a tripod. Any tried and true techniques would be most appreciated.</p> <p>Lew</p>