500th post for Photo of the Day

Working on a Powerhouse project, I’m loving the Kerry & Co images of early NSW – such a richly evocative, beautiful record of rural Australian life in the 19th century.

More please!

At the time of writing this comment there were ’0 responses’ – wondering if I could have a print for being first ;-)

(will think about a more helpful response and get back later today)

Fang
p.s. The very idea of a print (atoms) as an outcome for online effort (bits) appeals to me. Well done.

Mike and Mike

Thanks for the response so far. As for the print-we might do more of this in the future. It is great to get your feedback. The archival paper produces beautiful prints especially of the glass plate negatives!

Considering all the current doom and gloom I would like to see images that shed a new perspective on its topic with light and colour suggesting we all look on the brighter side of life – now why is that familiar? Aha yes those fabulously funny fellows from Monty Python! Thank God for comic relief.

Interesting thanks Annette

Would love to hear some views on the Creative Commons licensing as well!

OK – Here is my more considered response.

I love the idea of turning ‘bits’ into ‘atoms’ – reversing the idea that this blog already brings us a daily serving of ‘bits’ (the wonderful digital images) lovingly crafted from ‘atoms’ (the things you see as you walk around with your camera).

I’ll bet there are a bunch of cool things stashed away outside your limited exhibition space that would be really cool to see. Maybe from time to time you could feature an image of something potentially interesting from a storage area or some other ‘invisible’ part of the museum and use our reaction to it as a guide to things you might one day exhibit. Perhaps a modest display area could be refreshed periodically with objects (atoms) from popular images (bits) featured here.

I think you get the idea. I know the collection database can serve a similar purpose, but I think there is something special about the ‘thing a day’ aspect of this blog and the community of subscribers you have already built.

As for the Creative Commons licensing, I don’t see why today’s entry should bear the ‘No Derivatives’ restriction. Sure, it is beautifully cropped and the shadows are wonderful – but I’m the kinda guy who might want to remix it and pass the goodness forward. (But then again, I am biased ;-)

Great feedback Mike

So more of the behind the scenes-the stuff you don’t get to see. We too have been thinking about posting more derivative work so that it can be mashed-up, good point.

Thanks

I would love to see digital representations that show me something that I can’t see in the original object – for example, conservation photos that reveal surprising things (such as pentimentos, carvings or signatures that are almost invisible to the naked eye…)or enhanced photos of historical images that reveal things in the background that aren’t apparent when viewing the original.

These kinds of things give me a glimpse into the “back story” of an object or present a sense of mystery. They make me pause and consider.

As for CC licensing – what’s not to like?! But it would be nice to allow derivative works so that this content can fuel further creative endeavors. I understand the museum concerns on this issue, but I tend to be an “open” minded person ;)

Thanks Diane

We have photographers that work purely on conservation photography so we could post some stories on what they find about certain details. Good point.

I will leave this open for a few more days as I am getting such great feedback, thanks. I will then post a comment on who gets to select a print.

Congrats on sticking with it for the 500. Actually, as regards content, I just want more of the same. Whatever you choose to put up is good for me.

I can find stuff I think I want any day of the week by searching around the internet, the PHM collection search, or Flickr. But what I can’t find for myself, and what I like here is the serendipity of seeing something you’ve chosen, for your reasons, to show to us.

Thanks Bob for the comment and for your participation in this blog over numerous posts. It is much appreciated.

Ok we have a winner of the print of choice.

Thanks for all the responses they are highly valued and I am going to act on some of the suggestions.

Congratulations Mike Seyfang, you can select any Powerhouse image posted on Photo of the Day for your print. I will be in touch with more details.

Thanks again to all!
Paula

Congrats to Mike Seyfang.