Ok folks, here's the proposition for your feedback.

What about creating "An Interview with ______" as topics. This, to ask "interview" like questions of individual artists on the site. This may require a PM to attract the attention of the artist to the topic (as not everyone participates in discussion forums).

An example might be "An Interview with ::Heidlerr" and example questions might be:

"I quite admire your posting ___________. Can you explain more about your technique for capturing the shot in your posting _____"
... or
"______ , reviewing your gallery, how do you think your images have changed (technique/style/composition) from the beginning until now" ....or the like.

We can certainly ask such questions in the individual images but, unless we happen to review and then subscribe to all images, we often miss important tips provided in the dialogues. This may be a means of highlighting artists who we think are worthy ..offering some additional recognition of their work ...and providing a means to know more about thier work/technique/art in a more public forum and supporting questions that may span their entire gallery, not limited to specific pictures.

Thoughts?

I think its a good idea Rob but may be better suited if it were incorporated into the AOTW arena where nominated artists could also discuss their techniques as well as providing bio's.

Interesting thought Phil. Thanks for your response.

I was trying to avoid a constraint. If it was constrained to ATOW (or Artist spotlight) it would apply only to the few so featured and would be lead by a vote/panel to determine who the party would be.

In this suggestion, it could be Anyone opening the Interview selecting Anyone to be interviewed and Anyone could pose the questions (within the topic) thereafter. The artist can determine the degree to which they're able/willing to participate.

So, by way of example. The topic could be:
••••AN INTERVIEW WITH ::philUK••••
with the first question
"I note, in your gallery, an interest in photographs of rally cars in motion. Can you explain first your interest in these events and second what techniques you deploy to present your images"
<-- such questions span images in your gallery and your answers may pique the interest of others who are interested in the photography of moving aircraft, birds in flight, or simply a love of dust in their lungs. *wink* You're a great example of an artist with a both a large and diverse gallery and (clearly) a willingness to participate. There's much to learn from artists on this site. Such is the notion and a means of delivery.

I think it's a great idea. It could work really well if artists want to participate... but it needs to be considered that not everyone is equally accessible or on the net each and every day. What happens when someone asks a question and have to wait a couple of days for an answer?

That aside, this sounds very good. It should definitely be a nice change from most of the other pointless threads around here. ;)

Who decides on the artist, and who asks the questions (or can anyone ask them)?

Once you have figured these things out, I see no reason why you can't just go ahead and get it going!

Great questions both.

"What happens if someone asks a question and have to wait a couple of days for an answer" <-- no problem. Same as now. You respond to Topics as able. But also, the same as now, the response remains for review by others (not just those "interviewing") as part of Caedes knowledge.

"Who decides on the artist, and who asks the questions..." <--- you answered it Sam. Whomever has an interest can open the interview with the artist. Whomever shares the interest, can read or ask further questions.

One key difference is that it should be thought of as a Question and Answer dialogue. Questions of the artists and the artists response. By following this format it does not become a debate and surely not an arguement, just a thoughtful exchange intending to draw from the artist.

Ooops.. one other thought. It would be prudent for the the interviewer (whomever) to determine the interviewee is willing to participate in advance. This could be done by PM or email.

____

Perhaps we could storm over some example questions to stimulate some thinking.

____