DD-berty

Today saw the first DD I've ever selected as a CV.  



I can't even begin to tell you how, after being an avid suggester for years and thinking wouldn't it be great to feature DDs, ...how utterly terrifying the process actually was. There was lots of hand-holding and head-patting (thank you, Astralseed) before I finally hit the submit button.

Featuring DDs is not the only thing I've been asked to do here, but it certainly is the most visible and following in the footsteps of deviants like Timothy-Sim and xbastex (who I remember best since they were the CVs when I was only just getting my feet wet in photography) and working in the company of a really exceptional team for an outstanding category can be more than a little daunting.  So even though I already knew that all of you are immensely valuable to this entire process, being on the other side really drove the point home.  

I need you guys.  And it's why I'm asking for your help with great big wide deer eyes, the kind that make you want to shoot it help it.



Suggesting a DD is a quick and easy process.

If while browsing through deviations you come across an exceptional or noteworthy example of photojournalism on the site, please send me an omg-have-you-seen-this-yet note. deviantART is HUGE, I'm only a volunteer with a full time job outside of dA, I don't have any superpowers, and sometimes (like today) I have no coffee so never ever assume I've already seen it.

You can send me a note one of two ways:

Use the "send a note" feature on the sidebar of the deviation's page.
Go to my page and either hit the "send a note" button on top.
_secret  Or if you already watch me, just send me a note anytime from your message center.

THEN:

1. Please title your note "DD Suggestion"
2. Include a thumbcode or a link of the deviation you're suggesting.  (I will love you forever if you make the thumbcode or link the first thing at the top of your note. Seeing the image first makes it really easy for me to find it later in my messages...this way I won't have to scroll down to be reminded of what it was you were suggesting.)  
3. You don't have to, but please tell me why you think this image deserves to be featured as a Daily Deviation. Every CV says this, but it's true: suggester comments are often the reason we go back and review an image we are unsure about.   DDs are not about what I like and what I think is great all of the time.  It'd get pretty boring around here if it was. I want to know what impresses or moves you about it and why you think the community should see it.
4.  Note: If you don't want to be named as a suggester tell me otherwise I will list you as one.



Guess what.  I love self suggestions.  deviantART has been pretty clear in their FAQs that this is perfectly acceptable.  You never know who might one day see your work, buy it, promote it, teach you, or become your new best friend on dA....and all of those things come from visibility. It's what professional artists actually work for and it's smart business.  If you've created something you think is DD-worthy, shoot me note. I can't guarantee I'll feature it, but I will always read and consider it and maybe other photos from your gallery.




Technically good pieces that tell a story.  There are tens of thousands of photos that fall under this category and hundreds if not thousands of new shots are uploaded everyday.  I'm looking for exceptional pieces that stand out from the crowd.  If it made you stop and think. If you stared at it for a long while because it captivated you...it's probably worth sending my way.  Because this is photojournalism, sometimes the moment trumps skill, so if it's newsworthy, I'm interested.  I'm looking for quality, but I'm also looking for great journalism and sometimes you can get that even with an iphone camera.



Remember that I can't give a DD to someone who has had one in the last six months.
I only take Photojournalism suggestions, I cannot feature anything else from another category or a deviation in scraps.  
Send your suggestions to only ONE Community Volunteer!
I can't DD a deviation that is a contest entry unless the contest has already ended AND winners have been announced.
Obviously, I'm not going to (intentionally) DD anything that violates dA's policy.  I try to investigate the validity and appropriateness of every image before I submit it for a DD, but I'm not superhuman and I can make mistakes. I hope I don't, but I know it's possible.  If ever you see a violation, please come discuss it with me rather than leaving disparaging remarks on the deviant's page.

And that leads us to...



You guys are a classy bunch so I doubt this will ever be an issue, but...if it ever does become one:

Firstly:

Secondly: Sometimes when we look at photo we forget to add another person to it and that's the photographer.  Every photo has this invisible person who was there living, breathing, witnessing, and experiencing exactly what you're looking at.  This is photojournalism.  It covers the world. It covers diverse peoples, cultures, events, political or religious issues, and even rival sports teams. Both the subject in front of the camera and behind it can come from anywhere. And they are real.  

Please don't make the mistake of thinking the photographer was or still is immune.  We're tough, but we're not made of stone and many of us have scars, physical and emotional, as well as opinions about the subject matter just like anybody else.  

Photographers and artists have a job to do, a story to tell, and we're not uncaring insensitive robots when the photos we take happen to be controversial or uncomfortable, in fact, that might be the whole point.  We want you to feel about it.  We want to get you talking. Maybe you weren't there, but we were and this is what we saw. This is what you missed and it's important.  That's the purpose of news. That's the purpose of photojournalism.  In fact, that's kind of the whole purpose behind DDs and that's what makes them special to so many people.  They expose us to new work, new deviants, and new ideas. They get us talking and they get us learning.  But it doesn't give anyone the right to be abusive.



I think that should about cover it.  The much much shorter version is in the widget on my main page and the truth is most of you have read FAQs like that up there a hundred times on this site.    

What I want to leave you with, mostly, is my sincere hope that you will send me your  suggestions, your ideas, and your questions. Be involved.  Help me encourage your fellow deviants. The Photojournalism community is so outstanding that despite the minor panic attack I had trying to submit my first DD, I couldn't wait to share it with you.  There's so much talent out there. Please help me not to miss any of it!

always,