PAD

[lindarocks]

There have been a lot of threads in this forum in recent weeks, all around the same basic issue - what's photo a day and how do I use the PAD meta gallery.

Half with my 'work hat on' I did a quick survey of the metagallery earlier today - it doesn't really matter when because it strikes me that what I found is pretty representative of a typical day. I looked at the most recent 36 posts. Of them 16 (44%) were making no pretence at all about being PADs - and yes, I did check to make sure the shot wasn't linked to two galleries - they were posted by people with nothing remotely resembling a PAD in their galleries. One pic had been posted several times before because there were comments on it that had been there for several hours (long before the time of posting) and 9 shots were PADs/PESOs/PWIFLI shots that were taken days/weeks/months/years ago.

Yes, it's true to say 'it's a free country' and 'I pay my sub so I can do what I like with my space'.

All of this though flies in the face of the reason why the PAD metagallery was introduced in the first place. By the time there were a dozen or two people trying to do a PAD, Jeanne started her own version of the meta gallery but keeping it up to date was a pain for her. Slug was lobbied and the meta gallery was set up so Jeanne didn't need to keep her list up to date any more.

It was done not so any one could showcase their best work (after all, that surely is what the 'show and tell' feature in the forum is for), it was done so anyone who wanted to attempt a photo a day for a year could keep up to date with one another's postings and so that 'moral support' or 'egging on' could be given to those who were flagging or in need of inspiration.

These days, it's hard to find PAD attempts in the PAD meta gallery because there is at least a 50% chance if you click through to a photo that it's not a PAD attempt at all.

I think PAD is the photographic equivalent of an endurance race in essence - it's a long haul and can be painful but the satisfaction/elation when you get to the end is immense.

As for whether PESOs or PAD most days count - it depends what you're doing PAD for I suppose - if you're doing it to have fun with a great bunch of people then yes, it's certainly that but if you want the personal satisfaction of having taken a new photo every day for a year, whatever the circumstances/distractions then I doubt that anyone who starts the year saying it's OK to miss a few will actually complete a full year.

To me, that's a bit like saying 'I swam the Channel' but I got out for a bit half way over because I once swam out from Dover for a few hundred yards then went back again - so that can count towards the whole distance. Or saying I'm going to do the three peaks challenge...but I've already climbed Snowdon so I don't need to do that today. (Sorry about the parochial English examples.)

I've seen people say 'am I cheating' - well if you set out to do a PAD then 'cheat', who are you cheating? Surely only yourself? As I keep seeing people say 'there are no rules' - isn't it about personal satisfaction though? I'd be interested to know if someone who has posted archive shots regularly in their PAD feels any sort of satisfaction about it at the end of a year. What can you say about that other than 'I've got a pbase gallery with 365 great shots in it' - is that satisfying?

Personally I'd like to see the meta gallery full of genuine PAD attempts but I think those days are long gone. Slug's attempt to be helpful to the early PAD people has backfired terribly in my view - come back Jeanne's link page - I'd give anything to see that back but full of current PAD attempts. If I could be bothered I'd set up one myself but I'm not the right person to do it. (I don't have the same 'glue' that Jeanne has!)

I expect that there will be lots of people who'll want to shoot me down in flames for this post (that's if there is anyone still reading). Think about this though, there would be no PAD meta gallery had there not been people REALLY trying to do a PAD.

[toddono]

All very true and well spoken.

I, for one, have been a bit underwhelmed and even discouraged to see people post shots from last week, last month or even last year, or a selection of "best of" shots, or the same post over and over again... Certainly, I think the whole point is take a picture and post it that same day... even if it's not the best shot you've ever taken. I have to say, I'm on my third year and I've yet to make it a full 365 and not miss a day somewhere along the way for whatever reason... For me, that's a let down. For others, it might not matter. And I respect anyone being true and honest with themselves and admitting what they're motivation and goals are in taking on PAD. But for me, I started my PAD for two reasons: first, the challenge of holding my camera in my hand each and every day, taking a picture and posting it. Sometimes with great results, sometimes shite, but everyday. Second, as a way of keeping my sanity. You see, my day job is making TV commercials, and I needed to get back in touch with my own creative soul; PAD has helped. And I was greatly encouraged by the community that had arisen around PAD; people tackling the challenge, taking (mostly) good pictures and sharing with each other... Now, I hardly sift through the metagallery anymore, it hardly seems worth it.

But there are a few still out there, camera in hand, taking a picture today and posting it today. To those people: Keep up the good work.

[clickaway]

Like Todd, I rarely scan the metagallery anymore.

I have an extensive list of favourite artists, and combined with other names I come across, via comments and notables in the popular galleries, I have enough work to look at.

I really don't care anymore whether someone is doing a PAD or not; of more interest to me is how pleasing, creative or interesting the work is. But, yes, it leaves a rotten taste in my mouth when people cheat, and they are much less likely to get a complimentary message from me.

I'm just accepting that there will always be people out there to abuse the system, and get on with it.

Ray (virtually three years of padding, but with some admitted gaps!)

[mesullivan]

I find myself only looking at the meta gallery about once a week as there are so many non pad photos in there. I too have a pretty extensive list of favorites I try to check every day. The list gets modified every couple of weeks. I tend to find people when surfing pbase and if they aren't adding much then I drop them from my favorites.

With my work schedule I often post something shot 1, 2, or 3 days ago but try to shoot every day. This month I have been only posting for days pics I actually shot on that day. It's tuff with days I work consuming almost all of my waking hours on those days but I try.

With so many posting in the meta gallery that aren't really pads, it's disheartening and I don't see myself continuing with PAD after my year is put in, but I intend to finish the year and must admit at times it's fun and I'm always learning something from it.

[chawkins]

I PadDed for a year plus. I made attempts to continue an entire second year of PaDing. I'm at what should be year three of PadDing, and have pretty much given up, although I carry my camera with me daily and would really like to do a true PaD gallery. I created a new gallery titled "Random Acts of Photography." It was Not linked as a PaD gallery, but the other day I switched everything around and it is now back in my linked PaD gallery. I DO feel guilty!!!!!

I have bitched about misuse of the meta and now I'm doing it. Partially because of links to my PaD gallery by my family members and partially because I want the attention when I feel like I have a good shot or one that I like. Damn!!!

I feel like I paid some dues by finishing a year of true, Padding but I know I'm now an abuser. What to DO????

Cheryl

[gsansoucie]

I've been working on my 2 cents all day. I realize we all have our own view of PaD (Take a Photo, Post a Photo). I am not a professional, I have very little time to take photos. In the summer, with extended daylight, I am lucky that I have enough light outside when I get out of work to snap a few photos.

While I do agree that the outright PaD metagallery abuse is absurd, it is the only metabase I peruse. I've found a number of great photographs/photographers that way.

(For myself) I happen to think it really doesn't matter if I "stock up" on photos (say on the weekend) and post them throughout the week if I know I won't have time to shoot during the week. In those cases, I usually do my Post Processing on the day I post. For me, at least, there is so much to learn about all the different PP options. Sometimes you find you have a totally different photo during PP (at least in my hunt and peck way of doing it)...

I guess that, for me, when I decided to "swim the channel" I brought a raft with me because I knew my limits. Who knows, perhaps after a few times across this channel with the raft, I will be able to attempt the crossing without it.

On that note, anyone who can swim 1/2 way across the channel, return, and live to tell about it gets a nod from me

-=Glen=-

[toddono]

OK, let me be clear about this... I'm not the PAD police, nor do I want to be. And I imagine Linda feels the same.

I think everyone has to approach PAD the way that they need to. And, as I said earlier, I respect anyone who is serious about how and why they're taking on the challenge. You step up to the plate, at least take a swing.. I respect that. As I said before, I'm in the middle of my third year and I've yet to complete a straight 365 without a miss, so who am I to judge how you go about it? I think what I lament is the accumulation of debris in the PAD metagallery and those who like to game the system, as well as those who aren't serious about PAD.

Again, the rules for me are simple: take a picture, post a picture. But I understand that might not work for everyone. You do it the way you have to do it, but at least make an effort... I'll respect that.

[ksgant]

I just started my PaD and I'm attempting to truly make it a "photo-a-day"...meaning I take and post the picture on the date of the day. The exif data is always posted and I name my pictures with the date they're taken. I do this not to follow any rules or anything, it's more for myself in my attempt to try to actually create something worth posting every single day. Like a personal challenge.

I personally can't judge others if they just want to go back into their portfolio and post an image a day because they have much more talent than I do and I enjoy seeing and learning from others. But if their intent is just to spam the PaD galleries then it's not really worth it.

[clickaway]

I will admit that if it weren't for my own particular circumstances and having time on my hands, I would probably not be doing PAD three years on.

I don't have too big a problem with those who have completed a year or more of proper PAD and post in the meta gallery.

I'm more annoyed at people who post a photo of their Aunt Jean's wedding from 1991 just so they can be seen.

[jillburhans]

Cheryl..i too "abuse" the meta gallery from time to time. I feel to harp about what a pad is and what it once WAS is a waste of time. I look at many of the images on the meta gallery plus favorites because I feel that I can learn from other's regardless of whether or not they want to categorize their image as a pad. However, I will agree that I will not vote on an image that is refreshed every hour or so just to gain the votes. Nor will I vote on a image that is voted on based only on personal reasons.

Afterall, I am here because I like photography not some exclusive club on Pbase. Hense the reason that I am a member in the HPS..which I attend from time to time. God help me, if it is a MUST for me to attend every meeting.


God forbid if I post a image from two days ago because of time, not based on the merit of an image.

Sorry, folks but the days of the PAD seem to have evolved into something else.

[bassrock]

Guilty as charged!

I have been doing PAD for coming up to 3 years but my stamina has waned and now I manage only to post on average every other day. This is partly because work gets in the way, and I often do not get daily access to the internet. I still try to take or make a picture a day but often post some that are day or so old.

So, why do I still post to the PAD metagallery? I think because it is the sense of community that it provides. I have built up my favourites through PAD and rarely get comments from, or comment on, PBasers who are not involved in PAD.

I do not often look at the general recent posts, simply because there are so many it is impossible to keep up, but also many are 'record pictures' and are not trying to tell a story - sounds pompous doesn't it but I think most of the PADders are looking to do more than simple snapshots.

What I suggest is that PBase sets up a few more metagalleries - one for nature, one for candids, one for nude etc. People posting could label their images as one or more of those. That way, we could perhaps get back to smaller communities in PBase focussed on shared interests.

I guess this is a long way of saying that I think the problem is that PBase has grown so large it is no longer a shared community experience, and that PAD is the last remnant of the old way of doing things - back when digital cameras had less than 6 MP !

So, I hope my less than daily posts do not offend Linda. I do my best

[clickaway]

Bill,

I base my 'community' around my favourite artists and see little need for lots of categories. I like candids, but I may like nature and nudes too; it really depends on the style and quality.

People don''t seem to expand their Favourites into more trhan one group. Apart from my "Favourites", I also use that function to list people I have met and also those that quite often take part in the Thursday challenge run by Bev Harrison and Lee Rudd.

[ericvision]

Guess I must be guilty too!

I am now well into my third year, and I admit that for the past few months I have not posted an image each and every day - there are some gaps. Partly this is because my interest in photography waxes and wanes, and I don't want to put up several samey images; partly it is because I don't have my camera with me each day; and partly it is because I have no access to the internet some days.

Just now I am 'abusing' the meta gallery by posting images I took while on holiday - I am posting one image for each day I was away, and am putting them up at 3-4 hourly intervals, whether they receive views or comments or not.

About a year ago I suppose I was one of the PAD insiders - one of the gang, whose images got about 150-200 views and 30-50 comments each day - so I was part of a community. I stopped commenting so much, and, inevitably, the number of visits and comments I receive has declined to almost nothing. I suppose I still post to PAD because I want some of my images to be seen! That and because most of the people on my favourites list, and whose photos I still look at (even if I don't comment or vote), were all old school padders who still wander the halls of the PAD meta-gallery - so it's kind of my way of letting you all know that I'm still here and still (sort of) active on Pbase.

I must admit, though, that I never ever look at the metagallery - I think that, as Jill says, it has metamorphosed into something else. What can we say? I suppose we ought to just call it evolution and accept it or ignore it.

I keep hoping that the enthusiasm I had for photography two years ago comes back, and that I can start being pleased with the photographs I am taking... That's another reason that I still lurk around posting to the PAD gallery.

Of course, my enthusiasm would be reignited if someone were to at least inquire about purchasing one of my images.... (hint, hint)

[halesr]

I guess I should say thank you to the originator of this thread. It helped me decide to change my PaD gallery to a "Formerly PaD" gallery and not link it to the meta gallery any longer. Perhaps someday it will again become a PaD gallery with a meta link. Who knows?

I seem to be past that need and the evolution is just not me anymore. I still browse and comment, mostly from my favorites' list and that seems sufficient for now.

Hope all who PaD enjoy the experience and find it useful in their growth.--Rene

[lbou]

I began PAD im March 2005. It's been to me a wonderful stimulation. Thanks to others' comments, encouragements and advices, slowly I found my own way to experiment with a camera.

At the beginning, yes, I tried to post daily what I shot on the day.

But now I do differently.
And I disagree with such an obligation. Why?

Because if I progressed in photography, it's mainly because photography has been to me, and is still to me, a place for freedom in thinking, in emotion, in imagination. A place to learn.
If I had followed such rigid rules, I would never have evolved as much as I did.

My ethic on PAD is:
a) not more than one a day in the metagallery ; to me, this is the most important rule: respect others, don't take too much place;
b) if possible, to upload a recent picture and a picture edited the day I upload it,
c) to put a picture which means something to me when I upload it (because I "feel" it or because it has something new for me or... reasons may be many).

Daily, I "think" about what I'm doing in photography, choosing and editing images. My PAD is really a daily exercise of photography. But not necessarily a daily "shooting".

I think this reflection, this work, maybe, deserves a small place in metagallery?
I hope so.

Lucie