Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

[Diochra]

Should we keep going with the originals, switch back to repros, or bounce between them monthly?

[MO-Pard]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

Although, I wouldn't personally rant or rave either way. I do appreciate a good original.

With that said, I think the membership does a good job or posting good and/or original images they have found. This seems to happen with great frequency.

I do however feel a little more in favor of the repro images for the cover and there are several aspects which promote this...

1. We gain an opportunity to see some unique or specialty impressions which unless we attended every single event; we may not. And as a side note, I sure don't want to see folks posting every repro image they do, so once a month the submission is a controlled and comfortable forum.

2. I believe it also pushes us to raise the bar on our impressions, research and overall progression. Personally, I won't do an image anymore unless it is something fresh or unique.

3. I think we need to support our artists. Having images made is fun, but living historians have them made in part to share (as in points 2 & 3), and I can see declines in images made a real possibility. It's an expensive craft and if they aren't making a small dent, they'll stop coming to good events.

My $.02

[joey12thga]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

I think it should go to a original photos only. Exceptions being signifigant events in the hobby such as the passing of people and major events in the preservation world.

The cover photos with ‘enactors has boiled down to being nothing more than a hardkewl popularity contest. I personally have gotten tired of going to events and hearing “Oh man I am gonna submit this to the A.C. Cover contest next month!.”

Stick with the originals because this way many of us may be able to see the photos people have in their personal collections which otherwise we may never see.

Save the glampaigners' pics for your Facebook pages and Unit websites.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

What Joey said.

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

As I see it, this is a forum by and for re-enactors. While the "original cast" naturally informs what we do and how we do it, there are places online where Civil War history can be discussed exclusively. I see no problem with this site, a forum for history-based re-enactors, showcasing our history-based impressions to our own community. We don't deserve accolades or awards for re-enacting, but where is the harm in acknowledging well-composed photographs that are often the culmination of our research? By the same token, should we disallow AAR's of our events in favor of quotes from the O.R.'s?

[joey12thga]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

The problem I’ve noted is that in many cases that the merits of the image are not the deciding factor in placement upon the forum. As has been seen in the past there have been many instances of guys going on unit forums and mass emails telling people to go vote on the Images this month just because it is theirs or a pards. The worse thing I have seen is where people have done the same thing but telling their friends to vote against an image because they don’t like a particular group/person. Which in some cases have resulted in photos being posted that I would consider to be less than stellar and not deserving of the recognition or even awarding “honor“ to some bunch of jerk wads.

Sad that most people cannot act like adults and resort to elementary school games but it’s life. So instead of having a popularity contest why not just have the original image, and be done with the unit rivalries and petty politics. All the while showing us new images with which to compare our impressions to or try and replicate.

I am sure this is will hurt some of the glampaigners feelings that they cannot show their new “kewl” coat and image they had made at the latest EBUFU before they bailed on account of rain or the local “Battle of Y’all Come BBQ Pig Jig Stampede and Car Show” but that’s why they make social networking sites such as Facebook which many of the current membership belong too.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

What Michael Comer said. :)

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[KPavia]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

We already have a section of this forum already dedicated to original photos. Limiting the cover to show only originals seems redundant. I would advocate that the AC cover be mainly for well researched repro photos with a few originals thrown in to the mix.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

What Hank said :)

[gschult3]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

All - I see both sides of the issue and excellent arguments have been made for both. However I believe AC employing good wetplate photographs of those who go the extra mile in their impressions is a positive thing.
As there are great arguments for both sides in this thread perhaps doing a 50/50 mix could be the right answer as a compromise? Sharing period photographs on AC is an important and beneficial thing for all of us here. So too is recognition of our community’s own who make incredible efforts with their impressions which are, to me, important to share and recognize.
Having said all that I’m unbiased on the subject of collodion wetplate photography as related to profit, I pursue period photography as an amateur and only for my own personal historical interests.
G. Schultz

[Andy Ackeret]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

What Joey and Michael and Hank and Pete said.

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

What Andy said.

[AndrewGrim]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

I think we should stick with originals. If we are trying to recreate the mid 19th century then we should look at every source. I have yet to see a modern wet plate that has made me think it might be an original, most fall short and some are mockeries. Now putting a reproduction next to the original inspiration might be interesting. All we learn from a modern image is who spends their time on suttlers row or the parking lot instead of participating in the event.

[Coatsy]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

Sticking to originals would be great. I actually think there would be intelligent discussion of the images, time frame, etc on the fourm.

Also what Joey, Hank, Mike, Jim, Andy, and Bob said...

I'll leave my glampaigner stuff for my facebook and motivational posters... :)

[JimKindred]

Re: Cover Photos: Originals and Repros

Folks,

Take your event type discussions / arguments some where else, they have absolutely no place in this thread and we are not going to put up with it. That song and dance is very tiresome for the moderators, any more post such as that will be deleted.