she laying on floor?

I love the *heart* formed by her hair...beautiful one Dave!

ps: no, resting on a glass-topped table.

Thinh: yep, I like that too.

i like it...i like it a lot !

Lovely! my favorite of the two... actually one of my all time favorites of harmony

Lovely shot—I like the slight softness (gaussian blur in overlay mode??)

I actually think it’s a much better picture without the rotation, though...

The reflection works quite well. Shes got a nice expression too.

what nice! I can't say which pic is prefer most, yesterday or today they are both beauties

Beautiful shot! The reflection makes this shot excellent. :-)

Interesting composition. Love the tones and contrast in her hair.

Stunning shot! I love the toning.
& I share your opinion - I prefer this one over yesterday's, though they're both great.

another great portrait Dave. great detail on the hair

well, David.. you should stay at home more.. :)
wonderful picture, can't even compare with the last one.. both are great in their own sense..

It's a wonderful moment you captured! Very nice.

Simply wonderful, gotta get me some kids! How did you get her to look so pensive and unselfconscious. One of your very best portraits IMHO. So much better for the rotation.

David,

I visit your site quite a lot but very rarely leave a comment. You have some really great images here and tis is gaing another one of them.

If you would allow me I would like to leave my toughts about the g8. Maybe this is not the right forum for this but here it is...

crankphoto.com posted this comment as part of the article:

"While photoblogging is not a competition (or is it considering the countless ‘rating’ sites out there?)..."

The world of photography in general has always been a very competitive world. Unfortunately the ranks and the rates sites make for a very good incentive for people to want to be on top, and is this is for sure the case in this particular situation.

Lately I have been questionning why I post, what I post and who I am trying to please...It seems to me that the world of photoblogging is becoming a bit obsessed with the number of comments we get on each photo.

Renato: I think the photographs on The G8 are wonderful, but I'm just a bit irritated that my assumptions about the site – that it was sole-authored, and that the images represented some sort of chronological development or story – were incorrect.

You're right though, the world of photography is competitive, but individual bloggers – should they want to – can't compete with a collective of professionals. For example, The G8 are ranked first at coolphotoblogs.com, and on the basis of the images that are posted on The G8 that's fair enough. However, coolphotoblogs.com are also the initial judges in the first round of judging for the 2006 Photoblog Awards which means that the vast majority of solo photobloggers listed there (over 1000 last time I looked) probably don't stand much of a chance.

I guess I'm just not sure about i) why they weren't upfront about being a collective, and ii) why they deleted several comments on one of their entries that drew this to people's attention.

What a beautiful shot, soft and delicate. I think, though, that I would prefer this not rotated like this, but the heart formed by her hair might not be the same in a different orientation.

Otto: after Arthur's comment earlier I did think about rotating this one back again, because in many ways it does look better as a straight shot. However, in portrait format the 'heart' shape isn't anywhere near as noticeable so I decided I'd leave it as it is.

Hi David,

I am trying to convince myself that I should be bothered about the G8 thing, but just can’t seem to get too worked up about it. I suppose I expect to be deceived on the internet. I do find it humorous to see their about page changes every time I refresh, though (hold on, did your comments for this entry just change, or am I on something?!?).

As for deleting comments, yeah that’s pretty sad, but again, its their site.

When it comes to awards, I understand how you would be upset to come second place to a 5-man team of pros masquerading as a single amateur (which was my assumption of the site as well). But I’m still not convinced that multiple folks on one site is breaking the rules of photobloging (where is that rule book anyway?). I’m ok with it. Same thing with pros, I think it would be great to see more blogs by professionals. BTW, regardless of what your income from photography may be, I think most would call you a pro anyway.

This shot of Harmony is tops as usual for your children shots. I mean, how can anyone not find them adorable?

Keep up the great work!

Darren: I guess the main reason I was bothered by this is that I felt as though I'd been misled in some way. I started blogging quite some time before I thought about selling my work and I guess I approached this in a blogger's frame of mind. For example, if I visit other photoblogs I have a set of expectations about the nature of the work I'm seeing; i.e. that it's sequential in some way, that it's the work of one person, that some days will be good and others not quite so good. So, for example, I can follow Sam around Toronto, join Kathleen on her walks around Durham Township, and when I do so I know that there's a sequential story to their work and that one day (to a greater or lesser extent) builds on another. And I guess I thought the G8 was much the same sort of venture. However, they've done the reverse journey to me (and most other people in the photoblogging community); i.e. they're a set of pro's getting into blogging. And I guess that's fine (if you define photoblog a little more loosely than I do). I'd just much rather they'd been upfront about it.

As for the awards thing: I've think you've hit the nail on the head. Yes, I'd be upset to come second to a "... 5-man team of pros masquerading as a single amateur", but I wouldn't be upset coming second to a 5-man (or woman) team of pro's. It's the masquerading bit that's the problem.

David, when have we ever said we were one person? Our about page has stated that we ere "dark creatures" from day #1.

If you want to have a chance at coolphotoblogs, consider yourself lucky, I didn't know it was illegal to have a group photoblog on the net, I have no e-mailed coolphotoblogs to remove G8 from the rating system, so don't worry no more!

Cheers, and good luck winning the frist prize!

I must say, I didn’t spot the heart until I read the comments—it was more the way the side of her face looks slightly uncomfortable after the rotation that grabbed me.

I think the cardioid lock of hair looks equally good either way: and whichever way round, it’s a lovely shot. :)

Darkness: as I mentioned, I think the work on G8 is truly wonderful and I have no problem with group photoblogs, prize-winning or otherwise; and no, you and your fellow "dark creatures" didn't ever claim to be one person ... but I don't imagine I was alone in thinking that you were one person.

My point, such as it is, is that there seem to be certain expectations in the photoblogging world as to what constitutes a photoblog, and I guess that the G8 violates some of those expectations. And that's fine; you weren't obligated to correct our misunderstandings of your project ... even if you were aware, or suspected, that we held them. We all live and learn.

As for coolphotoblogs: I'd much rather you didn't retract your site as a) you deserve the traffic, b) you deserve the ranking you hold (though it might be better if coolphotoblogs and other blog directory sites introduced a category for group blogs), and c) you're reducing this to a single issue (which misrepresents the point I raised).

I've just read the comments on your recent entry where you state that you're "getting "flooded" from chromasia and other people who are 'mad' we're more than one person, something we have never clamied to be." They're "mad" because they made an assumption, as did I, that turned out to be incorrect, and that's always irritating, no matter what the circumstances.

Anyway, the bottom-line here, as far as I can see, is that it doesn't much matter anymore as your about page now explicitly references the fact that you're a collective.

Beatiful image again!

Oh, and Harmony, if and when you read this, my apologies: I should have left the "dark creatures with an 's'" for another day.

Great shot! I am a fan of Harmony. (Actually, my name is Harmony, too. In Korean hwasung=harmony) One thing though: I think the gravitation field is toward the right, so when you rotated the picture it seems a little unnatural. It seems like Harmony is rubbing her face on the table. (Maybe the reason I am thinking like this is because I am a physicist.) Well, anyway thank you for the great picture. I hope someday I could meet Harmony myself, (maybe after my graduate school starts at the University of Cambridge, as I said I am her fan ^^).

And as I took a more closer look, her hair looks like it is attracted to the glass by some force. In this case it looks like electromagnetic force (since the picture is rotated and usually we tend to think that the gravitational field is towards downard of the monitor). I rotated my LCD monitor to take a another view of the picture and I think that the unrotated version looks more natural. The problem is the "heart". So how much importance does the "heart" have in this picture? If you ask my opinion, I would rotate it back again. But anyway, in this way or in the other, it is a tremendously lovely shot!

I liked yestreday's shot better...a lot more passion from the subject. But both kids are equally cute so I can't claim one is better than the other!
That dark area around the forehead seems off to me? Is that due to what hwasung mentions above?

(Thanks for linking!)

What I love in this shot is the expressions and the reflection. This is an amazing picture.

Great shot.

Priceless shot.

Beautiful! She's really got the flair to be the world's next top model! Love the soft focus, too.

Hi Dave, this is a beautiful composed shot, I love the framing and processing, superb. On another note I have to say I would find myself agreeing with you over G8 I also assumed it was one person, and that is up until reading your comments page this morning!

Very powerful shot !
The symetry is magical...and this soft Black and White just beautiful !
Great !

in my opinion, this is much better than yesterday's shot. I like the fading outlines in the mirror and also the mirroreffect. Very good job.

I love your images today and yesterday.

With regards G8, I feel the need to comment. I think we all have preconceptions and an internet 'moral code' that may or may not be held by the majority. The difficutly seems to arise when one finds out that one's own moral code differs from another's.

I appreciate your comments about how G8 could have been clearer although I feel less mis-led than some appear to be. I do have one question though...a number of bloggers have blogger friends and I often see reference to occasions when bloggers have been out shooting with x or y. So if they were to go shooting together and suggest alternative shots that independently neither would have taken does that constitute 'collaboration'? It's all in how we interpret things I guess.

But it does make life interesting.

p.s. I am sorry that your shot today has been bogged down in debate. It's still a magical image.

David,

Let me say this from the beginning, not to raise any confusion. I also was under the assumption that the g8 was one person rather than a collective.

You mention that you assumed that the images represented some sort of chronological development or story. Does it really matter? How many of us have raided the archives looking for something to post? Does this make us less of a photoblog? If we get stuck into chronology maybe a lot of us are not really photobloggers but simply websites that share their photos?

With regards to them being a collective, I just typed “define photoblogging” into Google and checked the definition on Wikipedia:

“Like more common text-based blogs, photoblogs usually have one author, but some have two or many more authors.”

So, don’t they have the right to be a collective?

You are right, the photographs on the g8 are truly stunning and that is the main reason why I visit. Don’t ever recall leaving a comment…

Also, as far as I remember the g8 always had this on their about page:

“The photographer doesn't matter here......the photo does.”

Very true…It’s the photograph that really matters…I think it’s this obsession with ratings and comments that maybe is distracting us into not following our hearts with regards to photography and our passion for it…

The G8 site has always stated "The photographer doesn't matter here......the photo does". They have done a fine job of ensuring that their photography is the real focus of their website. They never mislead anyone and they deserve to be at no 1 at coolphotoblogs.com. It’s also great to see another website get a shot at this position.

I love the images on your website and have been a regular visitor for years but I find it very distasteful how you seem to have used the popularity of the site to push this particular issue.

Please remember what is important: The Photographs. Not ranking, status, comments or who took what when and with what equipment.

I'm an admirer of many photographers, and many individual photographs - great works by the likes of Adams and Bailey and McCullin and Leibowitz and blah blah. But I have to say that this has gone straight into my top five images. Ever. Period.

I don't have an issue with the rotation, in fact I originally thought H was leaning against a white fridge and that was where the reflection was coming from, and knowing that it's rotated hasn't actually dispelled that (in a 'oh NOW i see it' sort of way), so I guess it works both ways up. But for me, the heart formed by the reflection (I'm guessing by luck), the high key, the technical excellence, all add up to me to one of the great images. You are an artist.

Gush over. Now I'm off to see what all this G8 nonsense is about.

A quote from one of the g8 photos:

"Only been part of the photoblogging community a little while, but already got to know some fantastic photographers I otherwise wouldn't have met"

That's a significant 'I' there.

Otherwise, I just like their work. I think there should be a 'collective' section for competitions though.

chromasia, that is very low of you to talk like that about g8. you really put YOURSELF in a bad picture here, not g8. their photos are amazing, unique and something special. they ARE definetly the best photoblog around.

Another great image with all kinds of emotion. I must admit though that as soon as I saw this one I thought about one of the only Asya Schween images I can stand to look at. "Thank God She's Breathing" Use caution viewing her images some can be disturbing.

Rod

I agree with s.a. This was very childish. All this drama was unnecessary, as from the beginning the G8 about page said "...creatureS" -->PLURAL.
Anyone who assumed it was ONE photographer only misled him/herself.

But the fact that you would raise this much drama, for something this trivial, only makes you look bad, dave.This is a sad day for Chromasia.

Love the reflection, very nice shot.

What strikes me odd about the whole thing regarding the G8....is I have never know ONE photographer who would choose anonymity with regard to their work...let alone FIVE. "Professional" photographers? I wonder. Why would they bother? Why not start a blog as yourself, openly reference your own work, open up a creative two-way discussion, and build a positive and educational community? Oh wait....I forgot where I was!!! :o)

Oh dear Dave...looks like you've upset some people. Keep it up mate! ;-)

While I am shocked that the G8 is a group, I'm not neccesseraly surprised.
I don't think that it affects too much in the world! I've seen flickr blog listed in a few competitions for photoblogs and there is no way that that is the work of one person... more likely to be combined efforts of millions and moderated by a handful.

I would have appreciated it if they told me who's shots were who's or something. And I don't really beleive that anonimity is something which can really be held by a photographer on the internet in this day and age.

Its an interested topic for discussion, and it could make people think twice about how things are.

As for your shots, this is back to some of your best after somewhat of a stale period for me (no idea whether moods or whatnot affected this but its good).
The rotation isn't needed as it forces people to pay more attention to the image at the moment ;)
contrast is spot on ;) but I'm not sure whether its PP or ISO? but there seems quite a bit of noise in this small image :S

:-)

It's very easy to be swayed away by statements like “The photographer doesn't matter here......the photo does.”

It's basic human nature to compete. Competition fosters creativity and motivates one to perform better. How many of us can simply keep posting articles/ photos on our own blog when we know that the site will never rise in rankings or no one will visit it? Believe me, it cannot keep us going for more than a few days. I strongly support David's concern about five photographers being pitted against one. If he is worried about being second on the photoblog rankings, that is justified too.

She doesn't look too happy, poor thing. It's a lovely shot, though.

Suba - I started my blog for my own purposes, and thats still the way it is now.
I certainly do not need comments or a "rise in rankings" to encourage me to continue posting.

I can't help but think all of this is very petty and small minded. Maybe we should be out taking great photos, rather than bitching about things that at the end of the day, are truly not that important....

I like this.

Beautiful shot.

Great Photograph ;-)

I wish I could comment on the image posted today, but I cannot help reading some ridiculous comments by some truly talented individuals. I'll admit I too have been caught up in being 'rated' and 'noticed' by people, simply because I am trying to establish myself in the photographic industry. Being a recent graduate from a prominent university in US, there is undue pressure to unequivocally rise to the top of the profession I choose. However, we need to keep this -photoblogs- about the photos. So G8 was more than one person. They could have told me they were Magnum, I wouldn't have cared. The images are captivating and original. Thats the bottom line. And thats what people should care about. They never once lied or tried to 'masquerade'... they made it very clear that they were not going to divulge that information and I -as well as many others- left them[his/her] respectfully private.

DJN - Keep up the Gr8 images and leave the G8 alone.

All this competition amongst blogs really pisses me off. Everytime I get an email from someone wanting me to vote for them on coolphotoblogs.org or the like I start to wonder what the hell I'm doing with a photoblog at all.

I can understand that people want more people to see their work, to share it in turn, but when, like little children, people are begging for attention and affirmations, when it becomes more important than the images, when the photoblog seems to exist only to generate hits and rise in the rankings I just don't understand. I don't get it at all.

I would rather there were no competitions, no ranking sites. We're smart enough as people to realise that sites we like will likely link to sites we will enjoy as well. Photoblogs.org provides with the means to view the sites that other people bookmark. Why the need for rankings sites? Popularity can be manufactured, it makes a hell of a lot more sense to me to go out and find the sites you will genuinely like instead of having them spoonfed to you by anyone who can get enough of their friends and family to vote for them.

Thanks everyone, not least because I think this is one that Harmony will cherish when she's older.

With respect to the G8: I don't want to rehash the points made earlier but I would just like to point out that the subsequent discussions on this topic, both here and elsewhere, have very little to do with my reasons for linking to the original post on comment by Kevin at 10:08 PM (GMT) on 9 August, 2006

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