~ Photo Cafe' ~ Photographers - Episode #51!
~ Chat Transcript ~
27th of January, 2024
"Winter BBQ Party!"
H.12:00 PM SLT
[The following Episode #52 will be on:
10th of February 2024]
[12:06] Kika Yongho: Hello Photographers!
Here we are, ready to see your pictures being “grilled” on our “Winter BBQ Party!” episode, yay! Are you ready for it? Did you bring your “so-so” pictures for a positive constructive feedback?
[12:07] Kika Yongho: If you’re ready.. Great: we are too! If not.. Time to upload your pictures! You still have a few minutes before we will start so hurry up!
In the meantime.. I will entertain you with my usual news and announcements: for sure you’re all ready for this!
[12:07] Kika Yongho: So, our news today is related to the upcoming month of February and the “Recycled Expo” format we have here. As you can see around you, the current exhibit, which is “Leviathan” by CelestialDemon. If you didn’t see it yet, please take your time to cam around us and admire the beautiful art.
[12:08] Kika Yongho: You will find a notecard with the expo notes in the easel with the Expo poster, sign his guestbook, purchase the art exhibited, tip the artist in the tip jar on the tables! And you gotta do it now cause on the 24th of February the new exhibit will be out on display!
[12:09] Kika Yongho: At this point I was going to ask around for a volunteer to propose a past exhibit for the quarter February > May, but.. I had a volunteer in the meantime who sorta “spontaneously” offered their photos for us to display! Are you curious to know more?
[12:10] Kika Yongho: Well, the opening party will be on Saturday the 24th of February, starting 10AM SLT, with 2 hours of music before our usual episode at 12! Our DJ will be Ⴆҽҽ (Filipa Emor), which will introduce the visual journey with her great tunes!
[12:10] Kika Yongho: I will tell you more in the next episode so for now you gotta be patient and go ahead with our.. “Winter BBQ Party!”, for which I pass the word to our host Josephine! Thank you all for attention, I am roger and out!
[12:11] Josephine Delvalle: Dear photographers and artists, welcome to a new round of our biweekly discussions.
[12:11] Josephine Delvalle: Last time we talked about what you want for 2024.
[12:11] Josephine Delvalle: One wish was to give each other help. The opportunity to show a photo that you are not 100% satisfied with here in order to receive benevolent, friendly assistance. Cecilia Nansen gave a nice example that I would like to quote here: Constructive comments – advice. Like ‘if you want this to be minimalistic, a good thing could be to de-render more things’.
[12:12] Josephine Delvalle: This means not criticizing, but giving advice on how the photographer can achieve the desired effect better/easier/clearer.
[12:13] Josephine Delvalle: Has anyone brought a photo he/she would like to discuss?
[12:13] A. (ava.darkheart): Do real life photos count?
[12:14] Josephine Delvalle: Sure, any photo you like to talk about.
[12:14] Josephine Delvalle: Great, Bee, please
[12:15] A. (ava.darkheart): oh wow Bee
[12:15] Josephine Delvalle: Please take a moment to let the photo ‘speak’ to you.
[12:16] Josephine Delvalle: Then I would like to ask the photographer to tell us what story the picture should tell/what message he wants to make with it.
[12:16] Josephine Delvalle: So we can see how accurately the statement resonated with us. Does anyone have an idea how to convey the message even better?
[12:18] Josephine Delvalle: Bee would you like to tell us about the message/story of the photo?
[12:18] Ⴆҽҽ (filipa.emor): This picture was a total surprise to me. To be honest with all, I took it because it was one of my boring moments in SL. I was playing with anypose and checking the limits of it and… Suddenly this pose came out. The settings came after. Since the pose is “strong” I made simple settings and added the shadows.
[12:19] A. (ava.darkheart): c
[12:19] Josephine Delvalle: And what is your ‘so so’?
[12:20] Ⴆҽҽ (filipa.emor): I was surprised with the comments on flickr and I think something is missing here. I dunno what is it…
[12:20] Josephine Delvalle: thank you Bee
[12:21] Josephine Delvalle: Please keep in mind: It takes a bit of bravery to give a photo for discussion. Stay kind and helpful. Ava will start
[12:22] Sio Skytower: c
[12:24] A. (ava.darkheart): Actually i wondering if there is anything to comment on this picture. There is nothing missing in my opinion. The pose show exactly what you describing, boredom, like this moment we close our eyes, let our mind roam our body moving with no purpose… the editing is just perfect, minimalist, show even more this feeling of something impromptu and wild at the same time, like when there is no purpose behind… i love it
[12:25] Josephine Delvalle: Sio please
[12:26] Sio Skytower: Loving this as an Anypose user and testing limits = a lot of fun and modest frustration at times. My only comment is the level of ‘twist’ at the waist is very strong, maybe too much? Personally, I like the way the avatar is contorted but has this balance on a heel, toe and shoulders and head. I probably would have also tried a number of angles too unless it got boring/less fun. It seems like the kind of image that suits B&W really well and might only benefit from some gentle tweaks like contrast to your eyes delight, I’d be so happy with this myself. It captures this cool twist of a body that looks both extreme but also effortless and almost relaxed, you may know my RL cat, he does things like this too!
[12:28] A. (ava.darkheart): c
[12:28] Josephine Delvalle: Ava, please
[12:28] A. (ava.darkheart): Just i wanted ask to Bee what she thinks it could be missing? An element or something in the editing?
[12:30] Ⴆҽҽ (filipa.emor): I really dunno Ava. I love the picture. But I wonder if the editing was the right one.
[12:31] A. (ava.darkheart): it is, well just my opinion and taste of course.
[12:32] Josephine Delvalle: Anyone an idea about editing improvement for Bee?
[12:32] Sio Skytower: c
[12:33] Josephine Delvalle: Sio, please
[12:33] Sio Skytower: Could try a Bokeh effect….adds a little ‘something’ – a bit of grain too – Warning: I have been playing with photograin a lot lately
[12:34] ᴍʌᴛᴛ (matthsuogan): c
[12:34] Josephine Delvalle: Matt, please
[12:36] ᴍʌᴛᴛ (matthsuogan): image of a woman lying on the ground with her eyes closed, arms spread, and body appearing tense or uncomfortable it suggests a willingness to let go and be open to experiences even if they uncomfortable or challenging. and black and white format enhance emotional intensity of the image allowing viewers to focus on the raw expression. is beautiful and creative done.
[12:37] Josephine Delvalle: nods
[12:38] Ⴆҽҽ (filipa.emor): Thank you all for your comments and suggestions
[12:38] ᴍʌᴛᴛ (matthsuogan): nothing to add it self is beautiful but can play with contrasting and lighting. Done
[12:38] Josephine Delvalle: Thank you Bee, wonderful and special photo
[12:38] Josephine Delvalle: Ava, you have a photo for us too?
[12:40] A. (ava.darkheart): yes i have, it’s a real life one
[12:40] Josephine Delvalle: We are curious
[12:40] A. (ava.darkheart): but before i show to you, i would like explain the moment before:
[12:42] A. (ava.darkheart): Ok so… it was 2 summers ago, i was walking on a huge sandy beach, lost in thoughts, you know about everything and nothing, life. I sat a moment and next to me i noticed a little and thin dead grass stalk in the middle of the sand, still planted, but totally dried by the sun. With the wind, this grass stalk turned around itself, made few perfect circles with it axis and little branches. I was totally amazed, my mind went deep into something about life, resilience, the traces that every living things leave on this planet, etc… it was an intense and very poetic moment, made me emotional and i remember i even thought to wrote few words that came in my mind. Finally i decided to take a pic… and big fail. It’s flat, linear, no feeling inside, and we see nothing. This was the most disappointing picture i took.
https://gyazo.com/2d0211509e397653429000cc5e22d393
[12:43] A. (ava.darkheart): The thing is i expected to show everything i described before, and the picture shows nothing. Done
[12:46] Kika Yongho: c
[12:46] Josephine Delvalle: Thank you Ava, Kika, please
[12:46] Kika Yongho: I have a comment / question for Ava.. Did you try any possible edit to this shot? Done
[12:47] A. (ava.darkheart): yes i did… it was worse. Circles in the sand was even more invisible
[12:47] A. (ava.darkheart): but maybe i didn’t try the best way, no idea
[12:47] Josephine Delvalle: Anyone an idea for Ava?
[12:47] Kika Yongho: c
[12:48] Josephine Delvalle: Kika
[12:49] Kika Yongho: I would have tried with some effects combined like ++brightness, ++contrast and motion blur but maybe it would not have render the dramatic complex depth of thoughts behind it anyway. Done
[12:49] Ⴆҽҽ (filipa.emor): c
[12:49] Josephine Delvalle: Bee, please
[12:49] . S y m . ™ (symmetryskyline): q/c
[12:49] A. (ava.darkheart): yes, maybe i wasn’t inspired with editing, but this raw one doesn’t even show well the little dry grass
[12:50] Ⴆҽҽ (filipa.emor): I can totally feel your disappointment after reading your words and looking at the picture. Was a special moment and you couldn’t catch it. Did you try other perspectives? More close to the circles? make the picture more dark maybe? Done
[12:51] Josephine Delvalle: Sym please
[12:51] . S y m . ™ (symmetryskyline): It looks like the photo is from a vertical perspective – straight down, am I correct?
[12:51] A. (ava.darkheart): well same answer for both, from another perspective, circle was less visible, and grass a bit more, but it was disappointing same way, maybe indeed less bright first
[12:51] A. (ava.darkheart): not sure
[12:52] . S y m . ™ (symmetryskyline): I was thinking from a different perspective, not directly overhead, there would be more dimension, more lift to the grass.
[12:53] . S y m . ™ (symmetryskyline): Even, almost a direct horizontal perspective… lying on the ground. Done
[12:53] DaneAlbion: c
[12:53] Josephine Delvalle: Dane, your turn
[12:54] DaneAlbion: not a lot of use now but maybe taking the picture at a different time of day where the light might have given more shadow and definition. A great spot and a great idea though. Done
[12:55] Josephine Delvalle: nods
[12:55] Kika Yongho: c
[12:56] Josephine Delvalle: Kika, please
[12:57] . S y m . ™ (symmetryskyline): Ava, I like the photo, I hope you keep it as a memory.
[12:57] Kika Yongho: I think Dane hit the spot cause no shadows make the grass hardly visible. I tried a rough editing as we spoke and.. yes the color of the dried grass blends with the sand and there’s no real way to make it stand unless you really select it and maybe cut it out the scene
[12:58] Kika Yongho: But I wanted to add that you did well anyway to take the photo cause all those thoughts you described for us are now there again for us. Done.
[12:58] . S y m . ™ (symmetryskyline): RL is “a bit” more challenging that just swapping WLs.
[12:58] A. (ava.darkheart): yes, it was big sun above, i think it would be different maybe on sunset… but of course its too late now. Maybe one day i’ll try some edit again, now you all give me some hints. At least this disappointment made the memory. Thanks for your comment all
[12:59] ᴍʌᴛᴛ (matthsuogan): c
[13:00] Josephine Delvalle: ahh, a last comment, Matt, please
[13:02] ᴍʌᴛᴛ (matthsuogan): your experience on the beach was deeply moving but the photo did not reflect emotions you felt i think remember photography is about storytelling and use this as learning opportunity to to experiment with conveying emotion in your images. keep exploring and capturing moment that resonate with you.
[13:02] ᴍʌᴛᴛ (matthsuogan): in this case i am agreed with Dane and camera settings such ISO and white balance to achieve optimal exposure. Done
[13:02] A. (ava.darkheart): Yes, exactly
[13:02] Josephine Delvalle: A big ‘Thank you’ to Ava
[13:03] Josephine Delvalle: And thank you for all your helpful advices and ideas.
[13:03] Josephine Delvalle: We will meet again 10th Febraury for an interview with Peterkes
[13:04] Josephine Delvalle: Looking forward to see you and Peterkes in two weeks
