Manthos' photostream  

I am here to honestly share images - as well as ideas evoked by images - with others as fascinated as I am by the uniqueness in which photography can capture a moment in time.

All comments are welcome whether of criticism or not for I am here to share ideas and images as well as to attempt to learn from others.

Start of profile update.

Today's date is the 17th of May 2009 and I would just like to add this in the form of an update to my profile in relation to the actual matter of comments being made on any of my images. I think this is an appropriate point in my self-description to do so.

I have so far, for over two years, responded to every single comment made on any of my images. Today I have decided to stop doing so unless I consider that my response can actually add to anything contained in the comment made. Of course, the appreciation for comments made by others remains there without a doubt.

Yet why add my response to a comment in the form of an additional comment if this in fact adds very little or nothing to the comment made by someone else?

My reason for responding without fail so far was quite simply one of appreciative politeness. Yet I have come to believe that one can remain polite as well as appreciative without necessarily responding to all comments made on one's images. I do hope my decision gives no cause of offence to anyone since clearly that is not my intention.

One final thought on this matter. It may seem like I am overstating my case since I really do not receive all that many comments on my images anyway. Regardless of that I appreciate every single one of them even ones that may be considered critical of my images. That is the reason why I thought I ought to clarify my position on this matter.

End of profile update.

(Back to the rest of my self-description as it was originally added to my profile).

My opinion of the images posted by others will always be as honest as I would like others to be sincere in their opinion of my photographs as well as hopefully of photographs posted by others.

Please do not feel obliged in any way to return any of my comments by making a comment on any of my images on a quid pro quo basis. That is not the purpose of my presence on Flickr nor do I consider a valid reason for being here the arithmetic exchange of comments on a give and take basis. I would rather listen to your thoughts and share ideas with whoever is willing to do so honestly.

So my presence here is not about numbers. I am here to share my opinion and to listen to yours if you so choose to share it with me and anyone else who may chance upon it.

Sincerity comes from the heart as well as the mind of the viewer.

I truly see photography as an attempt to communicate with others through the use of images in the same way that one may see poetry or any other form of writing as an attempt to communicate through words.

Images are wordless yet they may give birth to countless words through our response to them. Words reflect our inner state or are at best mere attempts to reflect that state.

Sometimes I wonder whether I ought to write less whenever I comment on an image yet usually I find it necessary to outline as precisely as possible my emotional or intellectual response to the image viewed.

Outlined to such an adequate as possible extent that I cannot accept the less than satisfying possibility of restricting my comments to brief exclamations of admiration even though to begin with usually that is my initial and basic though silent state of response. One of admiration for the image viewed.

Then my mind begins to wonder as to the cause of this admiration.







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