2023-11-21 Fine Art Photography SIG meeting notes

We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-0:00pm

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.
The Fine Art SIG is a place where artists support each other and nurture creativity in others.
Unrequested criticism can feed an artist's fear of failure and stifle their creative growth.

ATTENDEES
Bill Adkison
Robert Barley
Mike Barry
Judy Cannon
Heather Coe
Rich Ernst
Jim Fellion
Jim Limburg
Jack Lipscomb
Walt Lyons
Paul Marcoux
Ed Ogle
Jim and Joan Sayre
Steve Shanahan
Albert Wang

OUR MAIN DISCUSSION TOPIC WAS "Making Photographs into Abstract Art" presented by Joan.
We also discussed "Topaz Photo AI", "AI in General", and "What do you do with your images". Our discussion on "How to accept criticism" led to the topic for our next meeting which will be to have some of our work critiqued.

RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration for Still Life Photography)
AI replacing models and social media influencers
An agency created an AI model who earns up to $11,000 a month https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-influencer-aitana-clueless-agency-tech-spain-2023-11

AI replacing models and social media influencers
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/spanish-agency-became-sick-models-145135188.html
A Spanish agency became so sick of models and influencers that they created their own with AI

Harnessing the Power of NPN Image Critiques
https://www.naturephotographers.network/the-art-of-image-critique/
Lots of good ideas, best article that I have read.

Beginner’s Guide to Photo Critique| Use This Checklist Before You Upload
https://www.slrlounge.com/beginners-guide-to-photo-critique-checklist/
Technical aspects of critique, but includes "telling the story"

10 Photo Critique Tips to Challenge and Improve Your Photos
https://expertphotography.com/10-ways-to-critique-a-photo/
Covers technical aspects but not much about vision, which I think is the most important aspect of an image

Vision 11-Critiquing photographs
https://luminous-landscape.com/vision-11-critiquing-photographs/
Some interesting ideas...

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIQUES AND PERSONAL PROJECTS
We looked at several members' image

PICK A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING
We picked "Constructive Critiques" for the December meeting topic Critiques can help us improve our work, as they show us the work through other people's eyes. I suspect that several photographers are reluctant to show their work and ask for a critique (I know that I am uncomfortable when somone critiques my work), but it can be valuable. We discussed this at the November meeting and decided that we would help each other get more comfortable with critiques by having everyone submit 3 fine art photographs with short explanations of the goal for each image for an anonymous critique during our December meeting. We need to know what your goal is for an image if we are going to discuss how well it is achieved. If there is no goal for an image then it can only be measured by the judge's criteria, which may or may not be the same as the photographer's. An image can be technically perfect but have no vision, and therefore be of little value.

Please send 3 images with goals to Jim Limburg (jlimburg1@gmail.com). Jim will present our images anonymously at the December meeting, and we will all provide CONSTRUCTIVE feedback. Remember, we need to support each other and nurture creativity in others, and not feed an artist's fear of failure and stifle their creative growth. (I mean be nice, but be helpful too.)

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 12/19/2023 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be anonymous constructive critiques.
2. We may discuss other topics if there is time
3. We will pick a topic for the next meeting

If you don't have any images that you want to have critiqued, that is OK, you can just attend the meeting and participate when you want. But learning to accept criticism is important.

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.