Photos Taken

hamlindp · Sat Sep 06, 08 8:45 am

OUCH

davidcomp · Since 03 Mar 2008 28 Posts

Damn holly thats harsh, not every one rips like you!

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

pdxmonkeyboy · Sat Sep 06, 08 10:11 am

hdhooker · Since 05 Sep 2008 4 Posts New Member

Hello all. I've had a few great and really kind emails from members with great comments and I really appreciate the people who took the time to write. I have also received some great constructive criticisms of my photos and some input about how to take better ones and I also really appreciate that in the same way that you as kite boarders would appreciate it if anyone gave you training and help that would enable you to improve your skills. I have received a few requests from people to take photos of them in action so just to be clear about things and where I'm at right now, I responded to one inquirer as follows:
" .... Thanks for contacting me. I appreciate your comments and questions. This is gonna sound weak but here is where I'm at now. I went to a great deal of work to post all those photos. Each photo has a small version and a large version (click on the small photo to see the large photo). Over 500 photos in all. I never had seen kite boarders (other than one or two at a great distance so when I happened by Reeders Beech and saw all of them up close it blew me away. I took a lot of all kinds of photos. I took photos of what looked good to me. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD HOLDING THE CAMERA STILL, KNOWING WHERE THE BOARDER WAS GOING TO GO NEXT, HOLDING THE CAMERA AND LARGE LENS STILL WHILE THE BOAT WAS ROCKING AND THE OBJECT WAS MOVING SO QUICKLY. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE OBJECT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMERA LENS. Taking some perfect photos requires a lot of skill and much luck sometimes too. I got some emails telling me some great ideas on what to shoot. I was really pumped and getting my camera and a few lenses together to go out again. I KNOW WHIT WHAT I KNOW NOW (from the one day I did shoot) THAT THE NEXT BUNCH OF PHOTOS WOULD BE TWICE AS GOOD. I WAS REALLY REALLY ANXIOUS TO GO BACK OUT.
Then I read what Holly wrote about the photos being lame. Almost scolding me for not looking at what others had photographed before even attempting to try and capture your sport and share it. I reflected on the work I'd done (actually was up 'til after 3:00 in the morning getting them all posted. Offering to give anyone the photos for no charge. Even had a person telling me I could make some $$ on some pics and responded that I HAD NO INTENTION OF MAKING ANY MONEY. I JUST LOVED TAKING THE PHOTOS OF SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL. Anyway, it was hard work, it would have got a lot better and I was really pumped to go out again the next day (some kite boarders had really sent me some good ideas on what to shoot, when and where) when I happened on Holly's snub. I know 100% that I should have brushed it off because there are always going to be those who disagree with you and you can't change your life to avoid them. But, for some reason it really got me square in the nuts and I CANNOT FIND WORDS THAT EXPLAIN WHY WHAT SHE SAID HURT SO BAD. Maybe it would be like if you posted pics of your kid and somebody said he was ugly and ................ no, it's not like that. I'd really like to figure why her comments hurt so much. Maybe I'm thinking that if she thinks like that then others do too and I don't want to make a fool of myself again. Nobody likes to show the best they can do and be told they are lame and be scolded for not this and that .................. Maybe I'm thinking "screw them all, what a bunch of aloof snobs" ... I really don't know but I know I have no desire to go out and photograph again. I guess that makes me weaker than I'd like to admit to being but so far that's what I am and can't change it. I have been fishing for over 40 years now and always take a camera with me. I don't take the standard "guy holding up the dead fish" photo, rather I take photos of boats near me who are reeling in a fish and where everybody in the boat is all excited and grabbing the net and I capture everyone in the boat and many of the photos are very good. I'll usually find out who the people are and then send them finished photos. In several years I have never heard anything even clsoe to the "lame" comment and I just love making people happy and surprising them that way. I guess I'll do that more. I AM VERY VERY SORRY TO SAY THAT I'LL NEVER PHOTOGRAPH A KITE BOARDER AGAIN. HOLLY JUST LEFT SUCH A DAGGER IN MY BACK WITH HER RUDE OBSERVATIONS THAT IT REALLY TOOK ALL THE FUN OUT OF DOING THAT FOR ME. My attitude about that is not something I'm proud of and I'm sure that anyone would tell me to "grow up and shake it off" but they did not go through what I went through to post all those photos and do not know what all of it meant to me. Comments like "close-ups are more desirable" or that "photos with the subject centered in the frame are more desirable" are exactly what I needed to hear and made me anxious to return but being told that the fruits of my passion were lame and that I ....blah blah blah ..... was so far out of line to me that ................. I just don't want to have anything to do with the sport in general any more. Count me now as one who drives by seeing kite boarders and says something like "some of those snobby bastards are real jerks" That's not correct or even close to accurate but it's where I'm at right now. I know it doesn't apply to you so I'm VERY sorry to group you all but that's kind of how those things can work sometimes. Sorry to go on so but don't know how to explain how I feel in shorter explanation ....."
Dan MacNeil
the website guy
ftnw@comcast.net

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

fuk Dan
don't let it get to you

Holly will make you step it up and it will be better in the long run for ya
she is also very to the point which is probably why it stuck ,,so hard
everybody has to start somewhere
this is forum BS
is has no substance in life
(ok very little) Surprised

Bettyboarder · Tue Sep 09, 08 10:20 am

Dan look at the whole post you have tons of people telling you they are awesome. I would take what all those people are saying over what Holly is saying. Holly is always like that on the forum. I think it's a shame for your photo stoke to be ruined by her rude comment. All photographers start somewhere and it's takes time to understand kiting..I really enjoyed your photo's and kiters are the biggest ham's out there. Come back out and if you have questions or want advice on who to shoot just ask (maybe not Holly though Laughing

) most of the kiters are really friendly and cool.

Diggy · Since 25 Nov 2006 342 Posts Gorge to Coast Obsessed

Dan,
Its the internet and there are many whom troll for reactions here, don't take the bait. Your shot are good and if you keep taking them there will be much appreciation mixed with some flaming. Don't take anything on NWKite or anywhere else on the internet too hard, its not real life.

Thanks for taking the time to take the photos and post. I hope to see more of your photos in the future.

rjm · Since 12 Aug 2008 1 Posts New Member

I think some of these are great. I like the close ups - if there were a bit more clear they would be outstanding. While I like to see the whole setup - seeing the expressions on peoples' faces is great - keep up the work! Some day I would like to see myself in your pictures.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

wahhh

Sella · Tue Sep 09, 08 10:56 am

Dan this is an easy fix.......your next picture post should be all shots of Holly. You think she is harsh???? Just wait until 1000 of her nwkite friends get a chance to critique her skillz.

Holly is very blunt but also a very cool person so no worries because there is NO SUCH THING as a bad kiteboarding pic. PM me and I'll let you know when and where she is riding. Smile

Looking forward to more of your photo goodness.

carlitos · Since 02 Feb 2006 81 Posts NE pdx

D.

i already sent you an email explaining my pov on kite photography the very next day after you posted those amazing shots. PLEASE do not take any of the negative feedback from this forum personally. i know its difficult to shake it off, but i dont even know who this Holly chick is. for all i know shes just some crazy b----- that trolls this forum for any opportunity to get reactions. there are many that do it all over the internet as others have said here. she is nobody and her comments were so lame and pointless that i cant see how you would take them personally anyway...keep shooting. and please keep posting the shots.

carl

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

Keep it up, the more shots taken the better everyone looks and the better you get at doing it.

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

A comment like the one which started all this has many repercussions to the person who said it (short and long term). My hat is off to you, Dan, especially now that I know you took your pics from a rocking boat! Now THAT is some challenging action photography. I really hope Holly's comment doesn't discourage others from posting their photos here. The photography on this forum is one of the outstanding things about it.

Ethan

ecg · Since 25 Aug 2008 10 Posts PDX New Member

Hoping you got some action shots of him yelling at people. I've seen it in person, but I was looking to have something I could hang on my wall.
Sorry O. Had to do it Razz

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot