Very busy, but the depth of field seperates your subject from the background. I think it is amazing how you can capture these untypical expressions on you daughters' faces. In most photos of children, they either look stunned or like they don't want to be there.

Amazing work as usual, David.

Dave, while I don't think this photo is completely without merit, I do have a bone to pick with your acquiescence to the "getting a photo up every day is more important than maintaining a standard of excellence" philosophy. I have watched several sites plummet in quality (they will remain nameless) if for no other reason than the importance of a photo -- any photo -- every day, rather than waiting for a truly good picture to post. I think that if, for whatever reason, you're slightly ashamed to post a photo and are only doing so to fill space, you aren't doing the photo justice and you're also going to look back someday and still be ashamed of it.

In summary, I think chromasia deserves a break, rather than a dilution, from its normally great quality. I really enjoy the work you do here and it's so much better than the "competitors'" stuff. Keep at it, and don't be afraid to rest occasionally.

Andy: the image-a-day thing is a personal target, and I'd rather stick to it than not. I do take your point though, sometimes this means putting up something that isn't as good as other stuff. But, a) I do like this shot, though it's more for the family album than to 'wow' the audience, and b) chromasia is a blog, not a gallery, so I don't feel compelled to post at the same standard every day.

Actually, having read back through your comment, I noticed your point regarding “getting a photo up every day is more important than maintaining a standard of excellence” philosophy, and, for me at least, the two are part of the same thing rather than mutually exclusive: i.e. if I hadn't decided to put something up every day I probably wouldn't find the time to take anywhere near as many shots, and as much as anything else it's the image-a-day thing that has driven my improvement.

What does everyone else think about this?

It's something I wrestle with quite often, Dave. Ultimately, the question is moot, though, because it's your personal space and work. As a blog, it's sometimes about just that--photos of family and friends that wouldn't ordinarily see the light of day but that show your spin on the day's events.

It's a catch-22, as Andy and you both have mentioned. Posting every day forces you to shoot, while at the same time increases the odds that one some of those days the photo will be less than your best.

Not that I have the answer, because, as I said at the outset, I struggle with it myself.

The problem with the photoblog community is that 95% of the people post for their viewers. Though some photobloggers might claim that the site is entirely for themselves, and it just as well may be, many many many people actually cannot wait to get comments, and feedback on their photos. So naturally if the photographer posts a shot and claims it to be "for themselves rather than the audience", it will not be as popular, and people might say that it's lower quality than the photos that are intended to be 'eye candy'... hrm..

In this case Dave, even though you say this is not a gallery, it in fact is very much so. You post a photo for people to look at and then entice them to interact with you by always saying "Let me know what you think" ... a 'blog' is similar, but it focuses on the individual writing the entry, rather than the reactions. Here, the focus in most part is on the image, but in a very large part it is about the reaction that you get from your viewers.. If this was truly a blog, I don't think you would be compelled to justify yourself for every move you make, and to respond to every comment you get. Look at how much sam from ddoi interacts with his audience.. not very much... he just does what he has to do and people accept it. The difference here is that this in fact is a gallery, and people do accept 'greater' quality images.. simply for the fact that you've already posted hundreds of them.

It really is a tough choice. But whatever. Ultimately the choice is yours.

miklos: I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't interested in my audience or their comments, not least because I don't see any point in producing art that isn't viewed. And I guess that's the point here: some of the stuff I put up I would consider to be art, and would like it to be viewed as such, and some of it isn't - it's just photographs of the things around me that I see and like but couldn't capture in a way that would make them art.

So ok, yes, chromasia is a gallery but, on occasion, it's a blog, and if I'm honest I prefer it when it's the former, but not because of the reactions/comments I get but because it indicates that I've managed to take a good shot that is better than "just" a photograph. But I don't have the time or the skill to produce seven pieces of art a week, and I'm not prepared to drop the image-a-day thing unless I absolutely have to.

Also, I have a fear that if I do miss a day it will be all to easy to miss another, then another, and that I'll end up only putting up the stuff that I think is really good. And I think that would be a shame, a) because it would probably lead to me taking less photographs (because I can't always find the time), and b) I like putting up stuff that I'm unsure about because I don't think that I'm always the best judge of what works and what doesn't.

chill out chaps - It's a lovely happy photo. Smiling with your tongue out is harder than it looks. As the saying goes - quality not quantity ! Luckilly you manage to achieve both ( or at least that's my humble opinion )

I wont directly get into the debate ensuing but my comment may be pertinent although at a tangent.

Would you really add a picture to your familly album if it was not either flattering or of specific importance? ie the grimace of a mother during childbirth may not be flattering but would be of specific importance.

Sorry Dave but... Sod technique, blogs and galleries this is just unflattering although thankfully not as bad as some of the recent efforts. These kids are gorgeous and images that suggest otherwise are rubbish

I guess it's a Catch-22 for you, David: you know you've set an incredible standard, and you know that todays shot, despite being beautiful, will smack of repetition to many viewers, so you (in my opinion unnecessarily) justify it and play it and yourself down. Yet if you don't do that, might people think that you are 'losing it'?

Personally I don't mind the repetition. I would miss Chromasia if you took a break for a day, and I respect why you post daily. So my twopenneth: keep posting daily, just don't post anything genuinely not to your high standards merely to fill.

Miklos makes a very good point. I just started a photoblog, and was inspired to do so for several reasons. In no particular order, I wanted to showcase shots I was proud of; in order to justify the 1-shot-per-day style I wanted each shot to either have been taken that day, or at the very least PPd that day; I wanted to force myself to take more shots so as to learn more, quicker, about both my new camera, Photoshop, but most importantly photography itself.

Sometimes I do post shots that aren't as 'candy' as others, such as a recent portrait of my girlfriend. If I had posted it to dpreview.com I suspect many people would have said, nice shot but a bit soft, but I'd PPd it really nice. I also had run out of 'candy' shots, which forced me to look more at what appeals to me. But I do love that shot and that's what I wanted people to see that day!

I do hanker after comments; I like to know (or think) that people enjoy what I produce from my camera; I definitely enjoy it myself, and that's the main thing, but I also admit to getting a little buzz when someone unexpectedly pops in and posts a comment. Most of us would be lying if we said otherwise.

Sorry for the huge comment! I'll keep it to three words next time, I promise!

I have added you to my website, hopefully that's okay. A link back is not mandatory, but greatly appreciated.

The philosophy of a pic-a-day pushes you to keep taking shots whether you're well or sick, hot or cold, dry or wet. As you say and I recognize, it forces you to keep going, to keep learning, to keep experiencing, to keep circling your subject to study it from different angles.

Of course, such a method will yield some great days and some that are lesser. Even then, no one's evaluation will match anyone else's -- just read the daily comments.

David, and I think most will agree and many have said: your best days are spectacular and your worst are nicer than most other's best.

I know that before you posted a shot that you didn't like and did not feel worthy of your art, you'd skip that day. That you haven't missed any is a real testimonial to your efforts and to the fact that you do get out there and do keep searching for wonderful subjects that can be presented in interesting (and, hopefully, artful) ways.

You have a very good sense of who you are and what you are attempting. Just keep doing that.

I think you have reason to continue to post daily, even if a shot does not meet hoped-for standards. I have found your dedication to daily photography inspiring. I came home from school for the summer, and I stopped posting daily pictures because I often run out of patience on this 28.8kbps dial-up. To my dislike, this has led me to stop taking pictures so often because I don't need "today's good one". So, as you said, if you skip a day, you surely can skip another.

The DOF keeps looking better and better as I observe this shot. It looks like your family enjoyes the pier.

Dave,
I am curious...do you pose your kids or just shoot them as they go about their business. This shot, for example. Was this a family outing, a photoshoot, or one in the same?
Blake

I agree with post #2 - quality over quantity (although I do love how often you update...).

Hello!
Well first of all greetings from Mexico, i was surfin the net when i found your blog and my God! I found your pictures, they are so beautiful!
I love photography, i take pictures, i love to take them, i love how everytime you see a picture you remember everything, you awake your senses, you remember the sounds, the weather, the people, why you take them... thats why i love photos...
And your photos did that... the eyes of the girls, their smiles... you are an artist... someday I hope, i'll show you mine so you can tell me what you think!
Congrats!

I guess there is a difference in posting a shot a day and actually going out each day to find something to photograph and posting that image on that day only. I find doing the latter puts pressure on to come up with something acceptable rather than something brilliant. It does take time (as well as luck, planning and a great ability) to produce consistently great images every day. I feel you manage to do better than most in this regard David.

I have been a commercial photographer for over 20 years and have recently started up my own blog site in an effort to take more photos just for myself. I find you never stop learning in this field and I get inspiration and motivation from sites such as yours. Keep doing what you do, as you do it so very well. In the art world criticism comes from many quarters, you have to learn to accept the valid and ignore the rest.

eh...i LIKE the blog/gallery.....keep doing what you're doing.

I've only been posting to a blog for slightly more than a month, but I've wrestled with the same question: Am I posting for me or for an audience?

Ulitmately, I decided I'm posting for myself.

I do edit my work and post images that I think are up to my standards. Lately, I've included more personal narrative, and that approach seems to add even more value to what might not seem like an interesting image (to some).

So I applaud your honesty and dedication, David. Your site is quite inspiring and is among the handful that gave me the courage to start my own blog. Keep up the great work ;)

As a daily visitor to this blog...I'd rather be disappointed with an image that does'nt quite do it for me, than to see the image I saw yesterday.

keep it Dave

Steve

Dave,

Your reasons to post daily are not only valid, but inspiring, as so many comments have confirmed. That I can appreciate, and applaud. I, too, am inspired often by your site and the daily updates are always welcome.

I guess what I wanted to "discuss" here wasn't specifically chromasia's updates more than just the general philosophy of "quantity over quality" as it applies to photoblogs. It's indeed possible that I'm worried about chromasia's fate becoming similar to other blogs (improbable, given the standard it almost always upholds), but really I am trying to pick a larger bone than that of chromasia's specifically.

I think the viewpoints expressed by others today are eye-opening and I'm glad to have sparked a debate (or was it you?), for I am totally convinced of the daily-or-die factor's motivation for the photoblogger. I know because I've tried -- and sometimes failed -- at posting a photo every day, so the fact that you can even do that is amazing. I just wanted to make sure chromasia didn't go to the dark side. I like it just the way it is.

Personally, i treat this as "Dave's Blog". It'll be much more beneficial for me to come here looking at your experimenting shots than trying to admire 'wow' shots for the former is much more though provoking. This said, i'm not hoping to see experimenting shots everyday, there is still a standard i expect of chromasia (which incidentally is not flawed in anyway with the experiments). A daily post is a motivation and a great personal target. I've taken that from you and started posting daily too.

Forgive us if we keep comparing the shots with that of yesteryears but that's human nature.
This aside, i think this photo is great. I love the lighting contrast on ur daughter as usual but i still resent the disturbing chair. =)

I don't understand why there would even be a mentioning of sacrificing quality on this photoblog... I have seen many other pages with much wose work, even if they don't update daily. Personally, I think this pblog is amongst my top 3 for quality of shots, interest of subjects etc.

A night shot tour with Paul... Hm.. I'd love to join..

I think that you should keep posting a shot a day, because even if you may be unsure of the shot, a lot of other people may really like it, you just never know.

I like having a shot a day, even if i dont like that particular shot, its always interesting.

dude ... relax ... there is nothing wong with this pic, its fun to look at and lets face it, the lkid is cute ... nice one

keep posting, please. i have been viewing for more than a year and would wonder what was wrong if you ever missed a day. your good shots are excellent and your "bad" ones are always better than mine on my finest day! Keep up the good work!

nice discussion, On one hand this is just another blog that i take time out to view as often as i can, on the other hand this is a gallery and great art, this site inspired me so much i went and got myself a 'proper' digital camera [canon eos 300d] over my shitty point and shoot cheap thing.

whether or not this photo or any others for that matter, are posted for the hell of it to keep up the one-a-day idea, rather than for its 'quality' is ... erm can't find the right word... but quality is your own interpretation and opinion of a piece whether it be the a photograph, sculptures or paintings etc. and for me, everything i have seen on this site has always been of quality and something i thoroughly enjoy. and for me anything that gives inspiration is quality.

well done and thank you!

Beautiful b&w...

Dave, I have only just discovered your site yesterday, and I think it's fantastic, not that it matters what I, or anyone else thinks. Comparing with others would be difficult because I think your style, like anyone else's, is unique. I do hope that you are aware that you were one of Time Magazine's "50 best web sites", and that's how I found this site (from CNN). That's quite an achievement.

As for this debate, it would seem to me that, given this award from Time, you have certainly proved your talent. You don't have anything to prove to anyone. Post whatever inspires you, and people will keep watching. You do not owe anything to anybody, and everyone that has been here should feel fortunate that they have had the opportunity to be inspired by you.

Don't impose standards on yourself, otherwise you may hesitate to shoot, instead just continue to capture what inspires you, and quality will take care of itself. Expression should not be confined to rules and standards, and what you choose to create and share with the world should not be dictated by anyone else. Do what makes you happy Dave.

I'd just like to echo what other people have been saying. The photos of your kids aren't entirely to my taste, but that's up to me - it doesn't stop them being great photos. Anyway, you can't post a masterpiece everyday.

I look at photoblogs because they give me inspiration for taking my own photos, and to help improve my own photography. Understanding why I don't like a photo is as much a part of that process as understanding why I like others.

I appreciate you putting up a photo every day. I know there's going to be a new picture there everyday, so I come and look. I've come across other photoblogs with photos (almost) as good as some of yours, but if days and weeks pass between updates then I lose interest and stop checking.

The other reason I would stop looking at a blog is if the photos stopped providing inspiration for my photography, and there's no sign of that happening with Chromasia. Keep up the good work. You've got a lot of fans!

This photoblog has been chosen as one of TIME MAGAZINE's 50 coolest web sites: http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1072872,00.html

I come here every day now and can only agree with their choice.

Nice going David !!!

Thanks everyone, and I guess I'm going to stick with posting an image a day and am reconciled to the fact that that means not everything will be great. No worries.

And thanks for letting me know about Time Magazine :-)

What jcyrhs said. Couldn't have said it better. Just be comfortable with your decisions and keep doing what works for you the rest will take care of itself.