Where are the great shots? Am I a cynicist or a realist?

[Louis Pacilla]

When I see that Jim Galli has posted an image on the forum, I always take note. Your work is original and inspirational.

Don't know if it makes any difference but I think you have inspired many others. "Jesus at 100", I will never forget; you have given Jesus a tiny bit of immortality and that is a kindness.

For sure!

[Hugo Zhang]

Jim,

I have an idea for you that will be challenging and keep you busy for a while. Why not work on a book project based upon your pictures made with old lenses?

I have been inspired by your work and learned quite a bit from your postings over the years. I would love to buy a book by Jim Galli. My dream book will be a handmade book of 25-35 of your best pictures in contact prints. Second choice will be any book you make that comes with one 810 contact print. Some notes about lenses that were used for the pictures are nice too.

I think there are other members in this forum will be interested as well.

Hugo

[Jac@stafford.net]

Jim, I'm with Hugo's idea!

[David Karp]

Jim, as long as you like it do it!

Remember when you dropped off the Seneca? You set up the 2D and focused on a flower in front of my house. Just looking at it on the GG and seeing the soft focus image was fun! We didn't even make a photo. I still do it sometimes - No film. It's just fun to look at things a different way.

It doesn't matter if anyone else cares or appreciates your work (although we do) as long as you enjoy and care about it.

[Jimi]

Jim, kick that cynic out of the house. You got better things to do than sitting around being grumpy.

And get going with the book idea, already!

[faberryman]

I was going to suggest redoing you website. You have some great images languishing in a 2003 interface. You could spend some time organizing it and sprucing it up, and you would come away with a much more positive outlook seeing what you have already accomplished.

[Merg Ross]

I was going to suggest redoing you website. You have some great images languishing in a 2003 interface. You could spend some time organizing it and sprucing it up, and you would come away with a much more positive outlook seeing what you have already accomplished.

The website idea is a good one. I should follow your suggestion! And a book will also serve a similar purpose.

You are going to be a busier man, Jim!

[David Karp]

An interesting concept would be a book that talks about the qualities and characteristics of different lenses and then provides outstanding photos as examples. An art and educational book! I would love to see that book or any Galli book.

[Kerosene Hat]

Hey Jim, I love your stuff on this forum. And feel your frustration / boredom on the been-there-done-that angle. If I may...

I try to go to new and different locations (for me) and get some bad copycat images from the same iconic places. Then, sometimes, I am in an iconic location and get something new and worthwhile. This keeps my hope up. It's easy to get jaded and natural to want to take time off. When I was shooting small format, digital (and especially the chance to quickly get feedback on off camera lighting) got me excited again. Then, something was missing...I didn't "feel" it.

Took a couple years off, got divorced, got sick, got healthy, rediscovered film (MF) and boom. Got excited again. Then, realized that the medium and format (not just medium format, lol) do not a good image make. Got into LF, started to founder....kept going out, made some okay images...got frustrated....worked too fast took a workshop, worked more slowly, got encouraged... kept going.

No doubt I will get my own sea stack images (taking a Barnbaum workshop this June), and much of m stuff will not be memorable for the ages. I've come to terms with that and make the active decision to pursue my images for me. That includes the image making process, such as triable, workshops, disgruntled time away from camera, disgruntled time behind camera, some 'gruntled' time behind the camera and everything else.

We can't expect every image to be the one for the ages, or we'd never take the camera out, let alone, frame, compose, load camera, meter and trip the shutter. So, for me....the journey is the destination.

As I've let go of the ends-orientation, I enjoy the means AND the ends more.

Thought provoking post and one to make us all think.

[Bill Burk]

When I look at the work of local photographers, I am impressed with how well they showcase the local scenery.

It's liberating to know I can leave those landmarks to them.

There are some things I know better. And when I get those photos, I feel like I got what I was going for.

But after developing my backlog of about 100 sheets, I know what's missing.

It's the feeling that I got a negative that is essentially a license to print money.

Something tells me those days are long gone.