Greetings from The Tropics

[Dingo]

Good morning.
I am from The Colonies, an antipodian convict currently located in the tropics of Australia. My ancestors escaped from the Motherland about 120 years ago. I think it was due to health problems with the coal dust. My great grandfather resided in Trimdon and worked in the mines.
I say all this so that you might understand that I still have strong links to the UK and consider it my third home. So much so that I kidnapped a young blonde from Manchester, packaged her off to Aus and kept her captive. She currently acts as the gaol keeper. Such is life.
My interest in photography is diverse. Its not so much a passion; just something to do between tasks set by the gaol keeper. I have noticed my images shifting more to the grey scale of late. Perhaps its due to my ageing nature. Then again, like Monet, my cataracts seem to be interfering with my colour rendition.
I have no ambitions to please anyone other than myself with what and how I photograph. Those that are pleased are either related, considerate friends or those who have nothing better to day. Nevertheless, feel free to comment, start a conversation, or tell me I have absolutely no talent at all and should have taken up woodwork or tennis.
I am particularly interested in the historic perspective and the development of photography as an art form and means of communication.
I am also autistic and constantly medicated. Don't be offended it I say something that sounds somewhat direct. I don't really know how to say it any other way.
I am looking forward to seeing what others do here.

Cheers
Tom (alias the Dingo)
The name Dingo comes from the Australian wild dog and its similarity to my surname. Dingos are famous here for their whine (they don't bark) and their liking for tourists and babies, of which they take a bite from quite regularly. It seems my ability to make small children cry when I speak to them brings me closer in character to Canis dingo.

 

[Digital Finger]

Welcome this shot is my favourite of those you have posted to date>

As this is a learning Forum you will get constructive criticism but it's always to encourage you not put you down. I hope you will find we fall into the 'considerate friends' bracket

 

[Dingo]

Hi Digital Finger.
Learning? I didn’t know that.
I’m not a good learner. Too pigheaded. My psychiatrist says it’s the autism. I believe her. I have to. I have no other excuse.
It’s OK though. I’m one of the high achieving ones so I’ve been told.
It does mean that I take people literally, don’t understand humour all that much, always say what’s on my mind, have very little empathy for others and wonder why people can’t think like me.
It’s taken me 70+ years to get where I am. There have been a few hiccups along the way.
One of the things I am particular about is photography. Mine is a mental process, not a physical one. I take the pictures and process them according to my own thinking. I know people don’t think the same which is why I don’t tell them how so take their own pictures. For the same reason I think it rather peculiar for someone else to tell me how I should take mine.
This may seem a bit strange but it’s how it is for me.
I’ll be as polite as I know how but you might find my responses to criticism rather harsh at times. The reason is that I only show others the photographs I value and want to talk about. Everything about the picture will be exactly as I want it (except printing it which is my favourite way of looking at photos.).
I hope you will be tolerant and allow me the chance to spend some time here.
If it feels like it might be a problem, tell me now and I’ll happily depart.

Ps. If you don’t know what autism is, look it up. It might help you understand what I’m getting at.

 

[Dingo]

Just to show you how cute I can be, I’ve included this shot, taken by my grand daughter. It’s my favourite.
I seem harmless enough, don’t I?

 

[Digital Finger]

Hi Digital Finger.
.

I'm sure there'll be no problem


Learning though is useful: there was a time when none of us knew how to take any sort of picture, and we continue to learn all the time - and this forum is here to help us - we learn about how our images can please us even more if, just as an example, we adjust the processing slightly.

I agree we only have to please ourselves but others' points of view can give us new ways of appreciating and exploring photography.

My photography has definitely changed from the great feedback (aka constructive criticism) I have had here, and it has definitely changed for the better in that I am much happier with my images now than I was a few years ago, even though at the time I thought there was nothing wrong with them , now I appreciate the subtleties of tone much more.

I am an experimenter ( as you might see from my pics) and so want people to tell me what can be improved, what works and what doesn't and why etc

 

[Dingo]

It’s possible I might learn something useful. I’ll be the first to say.
It’s just not,what I’m looking for. Then agaithe bestbsurprises are those I’m not looking for.
I’ll be kind.
Along the way I might be able to share some of my knowledge.
It having read any ‘how to’ photography books or watched any you tube instructional videos or attended any classes, I have an empty cup as far as technology and technique goes. All my gear works on auto or close. The less I know the better my brain works. I’m looking for an expression of an idea.
To achieve this I have an approach. I’d live to share it with you over the time. It might allow others to see photography from a different point of view, one that doesn’t rely on understanding much about cameras, processing and the like.