My experience as a FPI selector

https://purpleport.com/group/general-chat/184407/Do-you-want-to-help-choose-Front-Page-Images--FPIs--on-PurplePort-/ 

B.

Shandaz said

Russ Freeman - you just made me LoL - 'I hate borders' - Really? Framing is one of the best ways to represent art and stunning images and most great photographers do it. Also you guys pick images with ugly Stamps and names on it all the time...

Also, the problem is that this image was never recommended for an FPI - I don't think it made it to the list at all

I don't want to point out images - But if you are telling us here that all the images that go on the FPI list are worthy - While this one is not - I think people would totally be awestruck 😂

I said I dislike borders, not hate them. I don't hate anything aside from people misquoting me.

You asked for my opinion, which I gave. I understand you don't like my opinion, and I am okay with that since you are not the first.

I haven't looked at all 82,793 of the images in the FPI collection, but it is silly to think that anyone would like every image.

Anyone who wants to join the team should read this: https://purpleport.com/group/general-chat/184407/Do-you-want-to-help-choose-Front-Page-Images--FPIs--on-PurplePort-/

Russ Freeman - Everyone else who is selecting FPI's 

It's not about if everyone would like every image.
What you certainly should be doing 

1) Remove your personal preferences when voting and vote for images that tell stories and evoke strong emotions

2) Look for images that have a lot of effort involved, and create a lasting impression

3) Stop having such a strong bias towards 'Studio Images' - I agree with model safety - but this is a photography website - not a book club. It's about striking images not a 'safety handbook'

4) Stop showcasing images that are overly photoshopped because then we are ignoring a lot of true artists

And lastly - For everyone else who reads this - please do not start suggesting images that your friends post just because you want to crowd the FPI Queues.

We need to all work together to make Purpleport FPI gallery truly striking!

Alyssa Taylor said

Firstadekit Absolute agreement, it encourages dangerous behaviour. Whether that was live or abandoned track, there is always a risk and may encourage others (which I understand isn't our responsibility) to use live track to hit a similar, I admit beautiful, image.

This may be a reason it was voted off or not suggested.

 

Not going to comment about rail tracks, but are you sure that that pic was actually taken on a rail track? I might be wrong (I often am - ask my wife), but to me it looks like a composite.  

Shandaz said

1) Remove your personal preferences when voting and vote for images that tell stories and evoke strong emotions

My images are generally about shapes, or light, rather than storytelling. Why are they less valid than story telling images?

Shandaz said

2) Look for images that have a lot of effort involved, and create a lasting impression

I couldn't disagree more, it should be about the final image and not the amount of effort involved - even though most of my images take a lot of effort!

Shandaz said

3) Stop having such a strong bias towards 'Studio Images' - I agree with model safety - but this is a photography website - not a book club. It's about striking images not a 'safety handbook'

I don't think there is a bias towards studio images, just that the vast majority of images posted are studio images, hence there will be lots of studio image FPIs.

Shandaz said

4) Stop showcasing images that are overly photoshopped because then we are ignoring a lot of true artists

All of my FPI images are straight, with very little post-processing, indeed many of them are finished in LightRoom with no PhotoShop involved.
While there are some heavily processed FPIs, they don't seem out of proportion to the amount of such images uploaded - much as point 3.

We each have different opinions about what makes a good images/FPI, and I think with over 100 FPI pickers any biases are ironed out

Orson Carter said

Alyssa Taylor said

Firstadekit Absolute agreement, it encourages dangerous behaviour. Whether that was live or abandoned track, there is always a risk and may encourage others (which I understand isn't our responsibility) to use live track to hit a similar, I admit beautiful, image.

This may be a reason it was voted off or not suggested.

 

Not going to comment about rail tracks, but are you sure that that pic was actually taken on a rail track? I might be wrong (I often am - ask my wife), but to me it looks like a composite.  

That was my instant impression too - a rather too obvious composite. However, a closer look makes me less certain - so I think, on balance, it's just an unfortunate impression.

I can't get past the green skin though.

Orson Carter said

Alyssa Taylor said

Firstadekit Absolute agreement, it encourages dangerous behaviour. Whether that was live or abandoned track, there is always a risk and may encourage others (which I understand isn't our responsibility) to use live track to hit a similar, I admit beautiful, image.

This may be a reason it was voted off or not suggested.

 

Not going to comment about rail tracks, but are you sure that that pic was actually taken on a rail track? I might be wrong (I often am - ask my wife), but to me it looks like a composite.  

Can send you the raw! Or this image can clarify your doubts -

Edited by Shandaz

Shandaz said

Orson Carter said

Alyssa Taylor said

Firstadekit Absolute agreement, it encourages dangerous behaviour. Whether that was live or abandoned track, there is always a risk and may encourage others (which I understand isn't our responsibility) to use live track to hit a similar, I admit beautiful, image.

This may be a reason it was voted off or not suggested.

 

Not going to comment about rail tracks, but are you sure that that pic was actually taken on a rail track? I might be wrong (I often am - ask my wife), but to me it looks like a composite.  

Can send you the raw!

As I said, I'm often wrong. 

Orson Carter said

Shandaz said

Orson Carter said

Alyssa Taylor said

Firstadekit Absolute agreement, it encourages dangerous behaviour. Whether that was live or abandoned track, there is always a risk and may encourage others (which I understand isn't our responsibility) to use live track to hit a similar, I admit beautiful, image.

This may be a reason it was voted off or not suggested.

 

Not going to comment about rail tracks, but are you sure that that pic was actually taken on a rail track? I might be wrong (I often am - ask my wife), but to me it looks like a composite.  

Can send you the raw!

As I said, I'm often wrong. 

No worries at all - About to rename my profile to - Danger-Shan :) 

Alyssa Taylor

Russ and the team have confirmed they have no problem with trespass images taken on live railway lines being uploaded. That’s despite it being a criminal offence in Great Britain.

I don’t agree with that decision personally, in fact I think it’s appalling, but that is their stance.

However, it doesn’t look like that particular image was taken in Great Britain and so different laws may apply.

Edited by FunPhotographer

FunPhotographer said

Alyssa Taylor

Russ and the team have confirmed they have no problem with trespass images taken on live railway lines being uploaded. That’s despite it being a criminal offence in Great Britain.

I don’t agree with that decision personally, in fact I think it’s appalling, but that is their stance.

However, it doesn’t look like that particular image was taken in Great Britain and so different laws may apply.

Edited by FunPhotographer

Just to clarify - 
1) Not taken in UK
2) Not a live rail line - the Whole section of rail was closed off and sometimes used for repair locomotives to go to the yard

FunPhotographer said

Alyssa Taylor

Russ and the team have confirmed they have no problem with trespass images taken on live railway lines being uploaded. That’s despite it being a criminal offence in Great Britain.

I don’t agree with that decision personally, in fact I think it’s appalling, but that is their stance.

However, it doesn’t look like that particular image was taken in Great Britain and so different laws may apply.

Edited by FunPhotographer

Several years ago a PP model was prosecuted by the British Transport Police for trespass on a railway track. It was widely thought that a member on here - someone who strongly disapproved of such pictures - had shopped her to the BTP.

To the best of my abysmal memory she got a hefty fine. 

[The model in question is no longer on here.] 

Orson Carter

Indeed, I would strongly advise any model to not be persuaded to pose at such locations in the UK as you will risk a hefty fine and criminal record. The photographer will likely get away with it.

@Danger-Shan

Thanks for the clarification.

Shooting on a live railway line - with a nude model. It's just too dangerous and would be totally irresponsible to do.
I would never do it, and I have multiple shoots on Railway lines. 

If you are ready to put in the work and have a team with you to assist, you can create images like this with most of the risks mitigated.

We drove at least 1 hour to get to this section of the line.
We had 2 assistants to help. One of them was the models boyfriend.
We shot very early morning, to get the best light and least people - while having the NIP danger and thrill

Create amazing stuff - But don't put people at risk.

Danger-Shan said

Shooting on a live railway line - with a nude model. It's just too dangerous and would be totally irresponsible to do.
I would never do it, and I have multiple shoots on Railway lines. 

If you are ready to put in the work and have a team with you to assist, you can create images like this with most of the risks mitigated.

We drove at least 1 hour to get to this section of the line.
We had 2 assistants to help. One of them was the models boyfriend.
We shot very early morning, to get the best light and least people - while having the NIP danger and thrill

Create amazing stuff - But don't put people at risk.

A business I used to be involved in carried out trackside maintenance, usually overnight, which involved obtaining formal 'possession' before any work could commence. In theory, we had exclusive use of the section of line and assurance that no traffic could use it for the duration of the 'possession'.

In practice, we always posted a lookout which saved lives on more than one occasion.

I hope the system of ensuring sections of line are safe for maintenance is more reliable in your neck of the woods than it is in the UK.