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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:89012} 10/4/2007
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You did a spledid job on each one of the two images, Andre! (Actually it means that I should rate it with 14! :-))
Under such hard conditions most of the time we see "moving phantasms", the bluriness of which is way not only some thought out motion blur of the subjects but also motion blur because of motion of the camera itself. (Oh well, we can always say afterwards that it was "luxagraphic work" ;-)).
The two images are very complementary to each other. We have a closed space on the left and limitless open space on the right. It's mainly people on the left and mainly machine on the right. Low speed on the left and high speed on the right. And many other pairs of complementary properties.
But on both of them we have a world goinf to work, or perhaps returning home. This world looks like a single thing but it consists of individuals, each of whom has the own story, the own problems, dreams, fears - the own life. And all these lives cross and somehow exhibit a collective behavior... the promises of "individual freedom of personal development" almost turn to a farce as each individual follows the "mainstream" out of the very well understandable fear for the own survival.
There is much action and motion in the images, but one very important point is that the objects that do not move are crispy clear and sharp. It is they that provide the frame of reference in which any motion can be defined - can be perceived as motion!
Excellent work!
Nick
P.S.: Directed to the biggest part of spectators here: Wake up! >:-D
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Andre Denis
{K:55922} 10/9/2007
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Thanks Nick for taking this images "virginity" in the comments section after more than two years without a comment :):)
I thought you might find some things to say about it since so many of your latest images are following a similar "life in the city / chaos in the city" theme.
On a side note... I can't help wondering things like... where is that lady with the two bags of shopping now?
Anre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:89012} 10/9/2007
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Well, Andre, it has been about time for a comment on this image! Perhaps it is yet another example of the "sentimentality" I was talking about, that really turns many blind for such images?
Your last question... the lady with the two bags of shopping... I think this is one of the purest engines that empowers us to shoot such images. Maybe it is something like knowing that that lady is "one of us" - own story, own life and yet we all boil in the same pot of soup. Simply human life and very down to earth if you like. And the city is quite good in providing us so many "own stories", which I find a very human attitude at the end. And much more beautiful than any other thing to me.
A side note from me now, I must inspect your past images very thoroughly. I guess many small treasures are hidden there.
BTW, what about your account. Are they still searching for what might have happened?
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:55922} 10/11/2007
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Hi Nick,
I think the capture of people in everyday life is one of photography's largest contributions to archiving history. A simple snapshot of anywhere in any city today might be ignored by most people, but as you said before, the passing of time just keeps on adding to the interest. Old images can be almost considered to be a little "dna" of human life.
I have to keep writing and bothering them about my account I guess. On Tuesday, I asked at the band for them to track down my money order. The bank tells me that it has not been cashed so far. I have a few options with Usefilm, but it is difficult talk to anyone in charge there because nobody returns my emails? I get the feeling this whole place is being run by "bots" automatically.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:89012} 10/12/2007
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Hi Andre!
Yes, I also consider such work of photographers as a great contribution to documentation of history, exactly because it doesn't deal with "great events" only but also with what everyday life is, allowing us thus to experience past trends, ways, etc. It's like a social study but in a more documenting than judging form I guess.
That many things here run automatically by "bots", well, that's clear to me. If we consider seriously the "featured critique" we see that 90% of them are just random picks that were made with some automatically running process once a day. Which of course speaks for itself about some "quality" aspects of this site ;-) I did programmed such sites myself and so I can assure you that most of the work is just automatization. (Unfortunately.)
Nonetheless it's a real frustration to see such an indifference towards important emails, like those you already sent. I don't think that this behavior of them supports anything good. Perhaps the makers should take the time to run the site more seriously instead of writing "LOLs" in every third message. Adding the design and implementation flaws that lead to so many interruptions in recent times, and adding the fact that this site *is* also based on the donations of the users, they should at last start thinking seriously about improving the quality of service.
I think that starting a discussion thread about thes things, and especially about your account, could move some few things to the right direction. Tell me if you decide to do so, Andre, and you have my whole 120% support. And you know, I can get very posinous verbally ;-)
Wishing you all best luck and the ability to upload 4 images per day again. (I wish that also for myself!)
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:55922} 10/13/2007
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Hi Nick,
Thanks for your concern.
I have already started a thread in the Suggestions forum and got a little response from one person.
I have just found out from my bank that the money order has not yet been cashed, so the possibility of it being lost is still a possibility.
The thing that I don't like is the lack of response from anyone at all from Usefilm to explain the situation.
I very rarely upload more than one image a day anyway, so that part of it doesn't bother me much.
As you say, this is a very good site in some respects, but there are a lot of things that could stand to be improved. I can understand why so many old time members have gone to other sites.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:89012} 10/14/2007
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Hi Andre!
I can assure you, I followed the happenings about your posting to the suggestions and the unacceptable neglecting of your post, and now they got me going!
Andre, it is simply not a question of how many images you upload daily. This is simply your own decision. It is a question of seriosity and professionality of the delivered service of UF, for which I'll use any mean of reasonable thinking to push it to aceeptable levels, since what is is happening here in the last few months can only be a joke!
No online forum can be considered to be OK, when such an indifference exists towards the very own members! If they insist on simply neglecting the concerns of the participating people, then they sign the own fate of being pushed aside to complete unimportance among similar forums.
In addition, it is simply inhuman to let you wait without real responce for such a long time. If the concerns of the individual participant are ignored then the only possible logical conclusion is that there is only interest about mass, but not necessarily about quality of service!
I really have to also add that I wish to myself that people like you have the possibility for more uploads, even if they decide that one single image is enough for a day!
All the best and a fast solution to your problem.
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:55922} 10/14/2007
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Hi Nick,
Once again thank you for your support regarding this topic.
I agree with you. It is hard to believe how some companies (or websites) survive with the kind of service that is offered. It is only because of the community of friendly people that most of us stay here. It certainly is not the service :)
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:89012} 10/15/2007
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Yes, very unfortunately Andre, it evolves in general more and more to the direction of mere friendliness of the people themselves and less and less friendliness of the organisation/company/whatever which the customers/memebers/enthusiasts belong to. Such phenomena belong all to the same category of introducing products fast and without the appropriate testing. Like for example software, calculators of even cars and airplanes. The blind following of the doctrines of new marketing (deliver, deliver, deliver) delivers also unacceptably low quality.
But perhaps we, the "consumers" of service, are also responsible for this situation, since we keep our mouths closed most of the time, instead of speaking our minds clearly and aloud. Where are the other supporting people? Nobody cares until it hits him/her. And of course the many sheep can't complain about being eaten by the few wolves, as long as they do not form a clear front against them. ;-)
But OK, there will always be enough black sheep that go for open and direct argueing! ;-)
So I continue my tirades in the hope to awaken at least some two or three people here!
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:55922} 10/16/2007
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Thanks again Nick,
I think you have woken a few up by now :):)
Thanks for all your support.
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:89012} 10/16/2007
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Well, I hope that some guys woke up at last, Andre, but I'll smoke the pipe of peace when your lost donation is found again. Or at least when somebody just tells you that they're working on that.
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:55922} 10/17/2007
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Thanks Nick,
It has been done!!! Finally!
Thanks for your help and support :)
Andre
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:89012} 10/17/2007
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Great!
But now you real problems start, Andre! Go to your computer and start uploading! Now! ;-)
Nick
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Andre Denis
{K:55922} 10/17/2007
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Thanks Nick,
I'm working on it!!!
Andre
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