Re: Photo Swap

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>What does everyone think?

Well, since you asked, I'll tell you what I think... I think that at first
this sounds like a great idea and I know that there is a somewhat similar
VM swap going on.  However, for Realist slides, it does not work for me.  
Here is why:

When I am out there shooting, I am shooting for myself.  I try to take the
best pictures that I can in a way that I feel is the best for me.  Taking
pictures for someone else is a different story.  Does not work the same...
After you develop and mount the pictures you took with the swap in mind
I am sure you will be tempted to keep the best for yourself.  On the other
hand, when you get someone elses' pictures, you will always wonder if you
are getting the best of the crop...

I love to *share* slides... Yes, I have seen Shilo's slides from Japan and
I liked them a lot.  However, I had no inclination to keep them for myself.
I enjoyed the exchange but would not want to keep the slides, except for
one or two (for "souvenir") that Shilo was kind enough to give me.  What I
would like to do is visit Japan and take similar slides for myself.

I like taking pictures and I have the chance to visit a few interesting
places (Greece, etc)... At the end, I select the best of the subject
and throw the rest away... I do not feel confortable with the idea that
I am taking pictures to exchange with someone else... If that happens, I 
know that I will be tempted to keep the best pictures for myself and swap
the rest, some of which might have ended up in the trash anyway.  I don't
like the idea of trading "second class" material.

There are two exceptions to the above:  First, if someone is paying me to
take pictures, I'll do it and I will not have a problem because while I am
doing it I will know that the slides belong to someone else... I have 
shot one wedding and would like to do more... Yes, I did like and wanted
to keep some of the pictures but at the end I gave them all away...

Second, I like to collect images (including Realist format slides from the
50s) that are offered for sale.  Part the historical value and part the 
fact that I don't know those people pictured in the slides.  Also, I would
collect slides taken by celebrities.  I'll be happy to pay for those images
but I do not like the idea of trading my own work for it.

So, let's see... I would take pictures for the sole purpose of selling them 
for money and I would pay money to buy someone else's pictures..., BUT I 
don't like to trade straight.  Does that make any sense? -- George


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