I think that having a separate gallery for these kinds of images is a great idea and is a compromise for both ways of thinking - if you are a traditionalist then you dont ever have to look at the creative gallery. If you are creative or want to experiment, its an excellent way to share and encourage others to think outside the box.

A great example of thikning outside the box is the recent Audubon (US) Photo comp winners - they show how you can take technically perfect images that are also incredibly beautiful and artistic. These kinds of images inspire ordinary people and that is what our birds need. We need to engage with the public and sometimes a pin-sharp bird with a clear background, whilst technically perfect, is not always inspirational. Please take a look: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2016/the-2016-audubon-photography-awards-winners

In reality, we need ALL kinds of bird images. We need the technically perfect for ID purposes and scientific pieces, journal articles, magazines etc but we also need images that inspire imagination of the 'non-birding' public in a way the 'usual images' just cant do.

Georgina "aka Squawker"

I really don't care much either way. So I'll take what might be considered a slightly querulous tone and ask whether
there's a need for it in view of other sites not so devoted as birdlife to strictly ethical birding, and if future weekend workshops
would get into 'creative' photography - with all that might imply. As they say, be careful what you wish for!

Cheers all
Tony Ashton

I agree we should aspire to having images as good as those from the Audubon competition winners on our site, but do they need to be included in a separate gallery?

It is not clear how much post processing these images have had, but they surely they could be in the 'Premier Images' gallery. As Georgina has said they can be technically perfect and artistic at the same time. I do believe however we should normally disclose the post processing details of images that we post.

Rob started the discussion by including two example images - one of an accidental blurred exposure and another of a creative 'fine art' image. Georgina's image is of course excellent and I would be happy to hang a copy on my wall but I am not sure that there will be enough interest across the membership to warrant a separate gallery - but if the results of the poll prove otherwise I am happy to go along with it. An alternative would be to have a competition theme once a year especially for "creative images" where you can submit images without disclosing the details of post processing.
I for one already seem to spend too much time in front of the computer rather than taking photographs

Chris Dubar

I think it is a good idea. I am not a "creative" person myself but I appreciate that others are so I support the new gallery

Sorry the above majority. The idea is totally lost on me.

Wonderful idea - should bring forth some amazing images!