Second Life Photographers or Image Makers?

There is a debate on " New World Notes" about what should we be called. Photographers or image makers?
I like to call myself a SL Photographer, and I have been doing that from the beginning that I am on the grid.
But reading the comments of this article, it is not very obvious for everyone that we are making photographs.
"Photographs, after all, are created by exposed light hitting a film or data strip. That doesn't happen in Second Life. " according New World Notes.
If that is the definition, then we have to admit that they are not photographs. But I think there is more to it than that. Pictures, taken with a digital camera, aren't exactly photographs either, to my opinion, as they are not photosensitive material being burned with light. So all the professional photographers, who were taking pictures with a reflex camera, and now with a digital camera, are no photographers anymore?
The composition, light and subject of a picture are still important to catch an image, to make it more than just an image, and for being called a photograph.
Ari Blackthorne wrote an interesting view on this matter, by saying "Being a 'photographer' is a process of envisioning the image before it can actually be seen - anywhere. You look at the scene and mentally place your camera around the vicinity, imagining the viewfinder to obtain the look you want. Then, position your camera there and decide if it's what you saw in your mind's eye. So a really good picture is rarely accidental."
This is a well put answer, I think, to define in our view, what a photographer is doing, and why he is called a photographer. Even though the polls, at this moment, show a little advantage for screenshots, images above photographs.
Another interesting question would be, if the pictures seen on flickr are photographs or not. Because a lot of images are being post processed, that it is not clear anymore if they are brushed or filtered in such a way, that it is more the skills of Photoshop which are being applied, than the skills of a photographer. But that is a whole different issue, which was not the object of the article.
So, in general, I don't really care what it is called, but I am convinced that I make photographs in Second Life, as you have to use the same skills in SL as in RL. There are other factors, okay, but it doesn't change the real vision of a photographer.

What is the matter with us?

The last days I have been post processing some Second Life images. As my avatar has changed, I wanted to put that in a picture, which you could also see in my previous post.
Now, I have been asking to work on that idea, and I made two extra pictures with that similar idea, and posted it to flickr.
Apparently, someone, and it is supposed to be a very dear friend of mine, has done a picture like this one some months ago, and she had the idea again from another RL photographer, and is now upset because I am working on that idea too, although with a total different meaning.
What I am trying to say is, that we, by looking at the flickr stream of our colleagues photographers, may work on another idea, to my opinion. As long as we don't steel the image itself.
If my work is better or worse doesn't even matter, if I think it is good for me, than it is.
Flickr is to my knowledge a site where people can encourage others, by commenting the work of colleagues. I never ever once gave bad critics to another picture.
You don't expect this, at least not from your friends. When they have something to say they can do that in IM or by email, not in public, on flickr, to other friends of mine. Than you are going too far.
Now, I am deeply disappointed in this happening, so I have decided to step away from all this. I will keep on doing what I was doing, as I am grateful to the friends who keep encouraging and supporting me, but I hope that everyone will use their common sense in 2008.
If I will continue to post articles to this blog, remains to be seen.
Yet, it seems that all people are very, but very fast upset in Second Life, and I don't like that. It all began with fun, but where is it ending? Thank you Second Life, I prefer my first life, where I have real friends.

For your information you can find here the three pictures, so you know what I am talking about.
The inspiration started with a rl picture.

Josh Sommer's "Stepping out."


Bella March's ""Break out Bella"


Looker Lumet's "Look(er) in the mirror"

Time for a change

Looker Lumet is stepping out of the flatscreen to help former Looker with his Second Life's avatar.

Outdoor pictures

When I have the time, and not logged into Second Life, I like to take a walk in the neighborhood, and take pictures. As in this time of the year you can find some amazing views in nature, I decided to put some of them on my blog, although it has nothing to do with SL. See it as a little break in these times of holidays.

Sunrise

Contest at the New Mardes

Since this weekend, the photographs for the contest at the New Mardes Club have been exhibited.(first floor)
The whole month of June, you can vote on the weblog of secondlifecrew.be.

I would appreciate, for those who will read this article, to vote for my picture. Every avatar can vote only once. You can vote till the end of the month.
If you are not yet subscribed to Second Life, but you are a reader of this blog, or you think my picture is worthwhile to vote on, so, please do. You don't have to be a second life "player", you just have to like my picture.;))

As this blog is written in the Dutch language, I will give the exact link to the spot where you will have to vote, just click above on the highlighted weblog or click on the link at the top right of this blog.
Thanks for your support.

Looker Lumet

I was wondering......about flickr

Since my first log in, I have been trying to learn how exactly to take the best snapshots, and more in particular, how to post process these pictures in photoshop. With some ups and downs in those pictures, I can now say, and I don't think I exaggerate, I have managed to make a certain progress, seen from my first pictures until now. And I am still learning, and enjoy doing it.

My concern is more the flickr site.
As all SL photographers like to have responses on their pictures, because it encourages their work, I get the feeling that it is more depending on how the flickr site is been managed, then how good the pictures are. Of course there are exceptions, and of course there are some photographers who will always have the comments because every picture of them is just great.
I am not pretending to be one of them, but I try to make nice shots, to rework them within the time limits I struggle with, and to post them. And then get the encouragement from your colleagues is just the kick to go through with it.

Now, we all know, that the number of views, are not always the most important thing, but nevertheless it gives sometimes a good impression of the impact of the picture. (unless it is just flesh of course :-))

Well, since my first post, I have seen a certain progress, and since I became a flickr pro, I have also noticed more interests in my pictures. But as from last week, the views dropped enormously. In fact so dramatically, that it can not be, that suddenly my pictures are not that good or interesting anymore. I am the first to admit that not all the pictures can not be a success, but this.(less than 10 views?)

I was wondering who is "suffering" from the same effect, has flickr change something in the settings, does that automatically change, what is the cause of it? Could anybody give some answers.

From former blog posts, we know that the success of the pictures, mostly depends on the timing of the posts, but nevertheless, getting a view rate for every picture of more than 200-300 views, to a difficultly obtain ten views. Strange. Or isn't it? Or are we really that bad........?;))

Calling to the moon by Looker Lumet

As the death line is coming closer, I needed to find a subject, for taking pictures and submitting in time for the New Mardes photo contest.
Talking to friends, and asking for good ideas, there was a proposal to try a RL photography in SL.
Before thinking it over, my good friend, Dante Kish and Inex Dix, was already preparing this event, when I logged back in the next day.
What was it all about?
Well, there is a well known photographer, Spencer Tunic, who succeeds to take pictures of a group naked people, somewhere, in a famous city, all over the world. The idea was trying to do the same in SL. Only, there was not much time left, as we need to have submitted our picture before the end of the month.
So, in a few days, we would need to have a spot, where we could work without being disturbed, we would need as much avatars as possible, and all this had to be organized.
First we thought about our old Doornroosje, but that was not possible, due to the limitation and restriction of having things put there, and Eaglewolf, who possible could change that, was away for the weekend, and could not be contacted.
One day later, Dante had organized a beautiful place up in the SL sky. There was no better place to do it, no interference from outside, no one would know it, except of course the avatars who excepted the invitation of joining this event, and be part of something special in SL.
Sunday evening was it suppose to take place.
I did not count them, but there were a lot, who all were volunteer to pose naked in group in front of the "camera".
I do have to thank Dante, Inex, Winter, Sammy, and all the others, who made this happen.
Although I am still doubting to submit one of these pictures for the contest, I will have to decide very soon now, as the 30th of May is not far away.;)
But as an event in SL, it was very nice to do, and a very great experience.
A very big thanks to all the avatars who participated to this exceptional event!

Introduction

Looker Lumet is an amateur photographer, who will try to inform through this blog, about his experiences on the grid with pictures of avatars, views, buildings etc....
Feel free to make any comment on this blog, or make any suggestion.