ShipSpotting.com Forum

Shipspotters all over the world => Site related news, functions and modules => Topic started by: csaba on August 31, 2015, 08:30:57 PM

Title: Very similar photos
Post by: csaba on August 31, 2015, 08:30:57 PM
It may be just me, but it seems that there have been quite a few number of photos posted of the same ship by the same photographers that are very similar to each other. Same ship, slightly different background. Same ship, little bit more or little bit less zoom. I haven't done any follow up to see if any have been removed but thought to check in with other members and share this observation. I don't want at this time to post links to said photos as I don't want to call out anybody, but just wandering what is the point? It doesn't, in my opinion, ad any value to the site or to the collection of the picture of the said ship.
Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Captain Ted on August 31, 2015, 09:29:20 PM
Casaba,,same dates too ?,, because what I lerned the rule of 4 pics per ship is for any day you take a picture of a ship. We have here tugs, 70 pictures and 1/3 of them are from one person. I inquired with the site and got the answer that the 4-pic-rule as above stated counts only for a day where you take it.
In other words,,technically one could take a picture from one ship every day of the year from the same angle and one still would not violate the rules.
I my opinion that makes no sense and should perhaps be changed,,SUGGESTION: 8 per ship max per photographer, one can get it from all angles with 8 shots (fwd/aft both sides and 4x45 degree angles). If that is not enough than I have a problem with understanding what peoples thinking or what the point is about that.
Any input from the ADM team ?

Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Daniel B on September 01, 2015, 12:21:12 AM
There is a tug seaman-photographer in Norway and he answers to the name of: Tomas Ostberg Jacobsen. He always ask photographers to post quality and not quantity.

But then, who listen to his wisdom? Seems like asking some 20 years old car drivers to slow down when they return from a party!

Compare his postings to the fuzzy black and white photos from the Vancouver archives and you will understand why this website is becoming less and less interresting...

Good nite everyone, have fun...  
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: csaba on September 01, 2015, 03:19:53 AM
Captain Ted, yes they are of the same date, that is what caught my attention in the past several weeks. And I completely agree with limiting the number of photos of same ship by same photographer...but where exactly do we draw the line? Same angle with very different background would ad lots of quality to the photo, IMO. That is just my thought as I like to see more in the photo then just the mugshot of a ship, providing that the ship is the main target.

There is a tug seaman-photographer in Norway and he answers to the name of: Tomas Ostberg Jacobsen. He always ask photographers to post quality and not quantity.

This is very much true and should be included in the rules, in the confirmation e-mail when somebody registers, on the top of the page when photos are being uploaded etc
Cheers...
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: DEREK SANDS on September 01, 2015, 07:08:01 AM
Hi Everyone,

Of course it would seem sensible to limit photos of one ship by the same photographer.
But actually policing it without an automated response to the photo would be a hard task and require many more admins I would think. 

best regards

Derek
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: jadran on September 01, 2015, 10:02:23 AM


Reading the first entry on this Topic ....... I think that Csaba actually meant,, and was referring to those shots/photos,, where (e.g.) on the open sea at a quite distance, you can see, a "long board" (that is actually photo of a tanker) ... and moreover,  you can see almost the same "this long board" posted on 4 photos (change of angle is minor !!! possibly due to distance ).

In any case,, I think Csaba is well pointing-out a concrete issue for this site,, and I agree on any positive attempt for improving the mentioned case(s).
Regards (J)


Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Cornelia Klier on September 01, 2015, 10:28:47 AM
I have been reading this thread, and I am a bit surprised about the discussion.

I know this site was originally meant for shipspotting. Shipspotting in my understanding means, to go on the shore and "spot the ship" - and document it by taking a photo. Just the way, some are doing it with trains. This is my understanding for shipspotting and it has always been like this.

Shipspotting has nothing to do with creating an album of the most beautiful photos you ever have taken. Shipspotting is making a documentary of a ships life, same ship, different day, different weather, same location (ok mostly same location as not possible to travel around so much). That meansm, you can take photos of the same Hamburg S
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: simonwp on September 01, 2015, 01:15:27 PM
We have debated this many times before, and it is clear that there are two main types who post on here, those who are happy with 600 photographs of the same ship, and those who prefer 600 photographs of 600 different ships, of different ages. I'm personally in the latter group.

Some people take photographs to post on here, and that is the main reason they take photographs. Others take photographs for their own benefit, and just post on here when they have the time etc. Again I'm of the latter. My pleasure comes from planning the trip, looking at, and photographing the ship, then sorting, cataloguing, and editing the photographs when I get home. Posting on here, or any other site or Facebook Group, is a minor part of my enjoyment.

I only post one shot per vessel unless it is something of significant interest. And I do check first to see if any similar shots are already on the site, and I don't post if there are. I am currently also posting scans of my older photographs, and, again only one shot per vessel name. But I don't expect everyone else to do the same.

However, there are many different views on this. When the site first started most members had very similar views on things like this, but, as the membership has increased, so has the number of different views on this, and other matters, such as deletions, and posting photographs of older vessels. As long as members are tolerant of other members views my view is that there is no issue, we should allow multiple shots of the same vessel, plus shots of older vessels, until such times as the server space starts to get full, then a decision may have to be made.
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Clydee on September 01, 2015, 10:15:07 PM
As you say simonwp, we have debated this issue many times.

Some comments seem to assume that the site is one album which can be overloaded with photos of one ship, like the Queen Mary.

I see it as a collection of individual members albums. To me it does not matter if 300 members each have an average of 3 photos of the Queen Mary in their personal albums, a total of 900 images.

Always provided each member complies with Site Standards for each pic, the site will be an interesting  representation of many members' enthusiasm for shipspotting from a variety of locations and occasions.

I am sure there would be fewer members contributing if each had to look and see what others had done before doing their own thing.  

Many members have their own policies for uploading, and self deleting, multiple shots of individual ships,
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Captain Ted on September 01, 2015, 11:35:59 PM
@ Clyde,,, I am your line on that,,, but when I see that some members uploading pictures of one ship over and over again, then my understanding starts to fade........
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Clydee on September 02, 2015, 12:38:37 AM
Hi Ted

I agree with your dislike with "some members uploading pictures of one ship over and over again" when there is little change of angle or location.

To me there is more enjoyment using the site when judgement is exercised when selecting images for uploading.

Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: csaba on September 02, 2015, 03:20:10 AM
,, but when I see that some members uploading pictures of one ship over and over again, then my understanding starts to fade........
Agreed with this Cap. Ted

To me there is more enjoyment using the site when judgement is exercised when selecting images for uploading.

Yes, this is very much correct. I usually take 7-8 pix of a ship but upload only 1 or 2 unless the angle is very different. If they are similar, I just ask myself which one I like more.

Cornelia, I liked your post, it all makes sense. My OP referred to photos like, "take a photo-zoom out, take another photo-zoom in, zoom out a bit more and take another photo" and post all 3. I just don't see the point, even if the photographer may  ::)  ???
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: jimmcquarrie on September 02, 2015, 07:33:00 AM
Cornelia Best comment of all 100%
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: pieter melissen on September 02, 2015, 08:30:19 AM
Shipspotting for me is about the ships. I came to this site because I searched for a photo of (a) specific ship(s). One good shot is usually enough for my private purpose and 55 is not necessary. Therefore I am particuarly interested in seeing pictures of ships that do not trade in the usual places where about 90% of the contributors here get their pictures from, and of ships that are no longer with us. (even if they are "vague" examples from a Vancouver collection). For me it is one of the most attractive aspects of the site, that it is organised in such a way that simply clicking on the IMO number ("this ship") will give a virtually complete history of a ship, (and the option to see whether shots of the ship under different names are on the site or not).   

I apply the same policy for my own "spotting" activities, I am more pleased when I can shoot a ship I have not seen before, than shooting a regular trader. Routinely and while I am on the job anyway I shoot most of the ships I see at a trip, but afterwardsI will file them and probably remove examples of earlier shots that may not have been the best. (over 10 shots in a file is mostly already too much, after all 20MB RAW shots take some harddisc space).

It is all about the law of diminishing returns, the more shots of a ship you see/take, the less interesting it becomes. As far as I know I have never uploaded the same ship twice her...

So yes, this approach does not favour the views of some that ships spotted should be uploaded. My view is ratheer that ships not or rarely spotted before should be uploaded. Repeat uploads should be limited, not by policing, but by self restraint.

 

 
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Cornelia Klier on September 02, 2015, 09:21:04 AM
I think, the problem here is an attitude, that everyone has different attitude here, and everyone who says here "I do like this" actually says "I do like this and I expect others to do likewise". It does not work like this, of course.

Also, I disagree that a ship that is seen often becomes uninteresting. It is very interesting to follow the life of a regular trader throughout the years. Many of the regular ships to Hamburg, now are gone South or elsewhere.

I think, the way it is here now with the regulation 4 photos per ship per day is a good solution and it does not do anyone a harm, either.

Of course, then we have the "common sense" topic again: Although I do prefer to upload photos of a ship I have seen before, some ships I have seen so often, that I do not upload photo everytime I have seen it, but only if it is in a certain different situation/weather etc.

It is impossible to find a solution also for areas like Hamburg, when one ship does attract around 20 shipspotters and all take photos :) I think, we have to be tolerant and just take it as it is, for the quality, we have guarantee because of site rules.
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: pieter melissen on September 02, 2015, 09:26:18 AM

Also, I disagree that a ship that is seen often becomes uninteresting. It is very interesting to follow the life of a regular trader throughout the years. Many of the regular ships to Hamburg, now are gone South or elsewhere.
 

by that time she will have a different name and sport different colours, so yes that makes a ship interesting (for me) again. But posting a shot every time she calls at Hamburg looking exactly the same, is overkill to me.
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Eric Leschevec on September 03, 2015, 10:14:08 AM
 Taking photos of ships can become addictive , as many ship spotters would be aware of , taking the same photo of a ship many times over and posting it can be a bit of a pain in the stern for some , happens on other ship forums also , in Australia one forum has members putting on the same photo of a tug all the time , it leads to overkill .
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Captain Ted on September 03, 2015, 12:38:30 PM
@ Pieter
I can follow when different spotters have a similar picture on the Maas or Elbe and such, but when the same spotter posts the same vessel again and again,, it destroys some of the integrity ? of this site.
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: jadran on September 03, 2015, 01:10:16 PM

This is an opposite situation/case !

I always keep wondering why for the *Funnel Marks* is only available "one photo space" for a funnel mark of a particular Shipping company in the Category: Shipping Companies Funnel Marks/Superstructure Logo Boards

Makes me moreover wonder, what would happen if such *Rule* was applied to any of the Ship (only one photo 'permitted to be shown' on this website of that Ship).

On the other hand, I can think, that a Company insignia mark on the ship's funnel, can become and also be quite interesting, when multiple seen i.e. from various angles, close or even closer distance, subject to variety of the shot(s) composition & seen on different funnels of the ships being within that Company's fleet.

Only a thought ...............
I know that this entry is out of the general meaning of this particular Topic, therefore I sincerely apologize  ( I can remove this entry if found necessary).
Jadran

Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Peter S. aus N on September 03, 2015, 01:34:55 PM
I agree with Captain Ted. There is absolutely no need that a spotter posts again and again the same ship and most time 5 angles !
peter
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Tomas on September 03, 2015, 06:58:39 PM
If i may chip in an... Idea, or perhaps more a ideology (at least for me), when you feel like you'll gonna make a photo you have done before, thy walk an extra mile, make 10 percent more effort in the photos, try make a photo in a setting you havent done before.
It aint impossible, i have done it hundreds of times, and i am perhaps the posterboy of mediocrity photo-vise.

All the best, and try a bit harder (if possible)
Title: Re: Very similar photos
Post by: Clydee on September 03, 2015, 09:16:45 PM
Tomas I follow the same ideology, except that I drive to another location.

I often self delete an earlier shot if I get a better one from the same location/angle

You are no "posterboy of mediocrity photo-vise."  You are an ideal many aspire to.