Apologies if been asked before, but does PAD work for you?

[troonly]

mmmmm interesting.

I feel closest to Boegheim.

PaD means I do carry the camera everywhere, and have taken shots that work, but I wouldn't have taken without the PaD pressure.

But some days yes it's pretty rough - today's a good example. But a week or so ago I had a dozen good shots and no way of letting people share them (or should that be 'show them off'!).

I don't have time to get around the PaDs at the moment so my hit rate's low. But personally the 'diary' element of PaD is starting to hit home. Is that photography or documentary I don't know.

I do feel if I stop PaD the camera might fade away.......

Of course it's up to the individual if they want to PaD or not there are no rules... so just enjoy.

My highest hit photo is a year old tomorrow




ps - being between jobs really helps the quality of shots......

[leggings]

Let Me Clarify:
I like pad and the idea of it. It is very good to develop a sense of composition. However, what I found was that I was getting bogged down with digital photos and had negatives piling up waiting for something to be done with them.


Duncan

[prideofanglia]

I've loved doing PaD since I started at the beginning of August, but I have to say it's starting to tire me out a little bit, both physically and creatively, and I can't really see myself sticking it out beyond the end of my first year.

There are times, which seem to be becoming more frequent, when I really could do without the pressure (admittedly self-imposed) of always worrying about what to post and whether watever shots I have are good enough, how many comments I get, whether my hit rate is down etc etc

Of course on the plus side the quality of my work has (I think) improved dramatically in the 7 months I've been doing this, and I've "met", virtually and in real life, some exceptionally nice, interesting and creative people through PaD, so the upside is huge, but it does get a bit too all-consuming for me at times. Like other people, my current plan is to finish my year and move on to other topics, and more coherent groups of shots with a theme, rather than disparate individual images. I'd also like to escape some of that "snap it and throw it up" urgency of digital, which PaD exacerbates, and experiment more with film, while you can still buy it!

[pheebs67]

It's been interesting to hear folks points of view. I'm still at a stage where I get what I want from PAD but can see myself slipping into a PAD when I can type of gallery for Year 2 which showcases the better shots from specific subject galleries ...

I think the pressure of PAD forces me to carry my camera around and hence has lead to a few shots that I wouldn't have captured otherwise and forces me to take time out of everyday life to devote time to Photography .. Life can be a steam roller sometimes and the dull bits can take over ... photography for me is a release from that ....

Overall I think PAD is what you make of it ... if you want to post strictly - 1 shot per day that you have taken on that day, then go for it ... if you want to post a shot each day, but maybe have taken a day before, then why not ?... there are no rules ...

If you don't do PAD and still post good shots in galleries, I'd imagine they'd be noticed in popular galleries listings ...

camera0bug - Thanks for the offer of lunch. If I'm ever in the US with time to kill i'll let you know ... (I'm UK based)

[gpaai]

I experienced the "Jeanne Syndrome" first hand this morning.

[leggings]

If you don't do PAD and still post good shots in galleries, I'd imagine they'd be noticed in popular galleries listings ...

Not necessarily, there are a lot of very good photographers that do not do pad and rarely get into the popular galleries if ever. On the flip side there are a lot of photographers that are very good and do pad and only get one or two votes per photo. Their galleries are not seen because often people only look at one photo and not the whole gallery. Then there is the recent and probably still on going incident of someone, pardon me, prostituting themselves for votes so that they can be at the top and sell their work.

Duncan

[pheebs67]

I experienced the "Jeanne Syndrome" first hand this morning.

I wouldn't say so ... Your shot still shows effort over and above point and shoot IMO

There's plenty of other shots at the top of the "Crap" pile before your shots!

So then ... to anyone who feels that PAD no longer offers the critique you're looking for, how about we all agree to, openly and honestly, critique each other's work over the next month or so and see what happens ... ? I personally try to do this anyway ... I avoid putting a comment like 'That's a good shot' without backing it up with a 'but personally I would like to have seen the distracting line PS'd out" or whatever ... If I can't offer a suggestion then I won't make stuff up for the sake of it though ...

Anyone wanna play?

[adalberto_tiburzi]

Anyone wanna play?

Don't ever try to do that with MY photos..

*joke, of course

[pheebs67]

Anyone wanna play?

Don't ever try to do that with MY photos..

*joke, of course

OK I won't ..... if you swap your 5D for my 350d ? Deal ?

[gpaai]

Anyone wanna play?

I just purchased a 20D with an EF 70-200mmL IS USM lens. I'm afraid that critiquing my work at this point would destroy me since I have no clue as to what I'm doing at this point...

But sure, why not, go ahead...

Gary

[leggings]

I think I figured it out:

http://www.pbase.com/leggings/fin_film_ ... _last_week

[mesullivan]

I think that so far, doing a PAD has helped me in a lot of ways. I consider it an exercise that is part of training in hopes of getting better. I work very long hours so the days I work (3-4 a week) it is often difficult to do a shot so I sometimes shoot a few days ahead. At first I felt like that was cheating but as some have said, you gotta do what you gotta do and it's all about doing it in the spirit of the PAD.

I think if you get to the point that you think doing a PAD is not helping or even hindering you or is causing unecessary stress, it's time to stop it. I hope to do mine for a year then move on to something else. Everybody has to make their own decisions for themselves.

[picchick]

I think PADing is whatever an individual WANTs it to mean to them. Whether it be a challenge to be creative or forcing them to 'get out there' and just 'do it', it's unique and it's personal.

Sure, we all have days where we say "man, I just don't feel like doing this..." and those are usually the days that something completely extraordinary might present itself to me. And yes, I've taken a plethora of good shots one day and posted one on a day where I didn't have time to shoot. Picture a Day doesn't necessarily mean TAKEN that day, it's just a picture A day that's posted. To each their own. Are there really 'carved in stone' rules to this? I guess I missed them...

Regardless, one person's CRAP might be another person's TREASURE.... don't write off an image because you don't want to share it with the world. Just keep shooting!!!

[bobfloyd]

The month of Feb proved to me that I am not always the best judge of my own work. Several of the shoots I think are some of my best work in years got little traffic or attention and several of the shots that I nearly did not post because I felt they were "crap" and just place holders actually got voted for.

As several others have said, let PAD be what you need it to be and do it the way it will give the most back to you. For me, now, it is the push I need some days when I don't feel like it to still get the camera out. I need to do that. One of the people I worked for in college was an aspiring playwrite. He once told me that he had made it his goal for that year to write everyday. Something. He expected to write junk most days, in fact but he felt he needed the discipline. This is how I am now approaching my PAD but I certainly do not expect everyone to feel this way.

To each their own and I wish them all well with that.

[pheebs67]

Anyone wanna play?

I just purchased a 20D with an EF 70-200mmL IS USM lens. I'm afraid that critiquing my work at this point would destroy me since I have no clue as to what I'm doing at this point...

But sure, why not, go ahead...

Gary

Hi Gary - I've added you to my usergroup called "Critique" - Don't worry, I haven't got a huge pedestal to be standing on. I'll just give you my honest opinion of how I would have approached a shot or how I would be interested in seeing a shot in a different way Hopefully some of it might help!

Feel free to do the same ...