There's a trend that I've been noticing with some of the groups that I follow and it really annoys the crap out of me. Being a photographer, I follow mostly photography groups including a few that claim to be focussed on "fine art photography." A lot of the time I really enjoy looking at all of the photos featured by these groups and I occasionally submit some of my own. Now I don't want this to sound like I'm bitching because my photos aren't chosen to be featured, I have had a few featured by such groups, the problem that's driving me up the wall is some of the photos that are featured.
For instance, one particular group which claims to be focussed on "fine art photos" has a tendency to only accept photos that fall into the categories of: Super high resolution photos, photos with extensive post work done to really enhance the mood, generic landscapes, macro photography (usually of bugs), art nudes, and birds, dear God in heaven the birds! Now these categories are not exclusive, they have a tendency to bleed into each other, and there is nothing inherently wrong with any of them. The problem comes when all I see are the same damn photos all the time. I've only had a single feature with this particular group (a portrait of a particularly beautiful girl) but anything else I submit is turned down. Yet some grainy ass photo of the sun setting behind a bird silhouetted on a branch with quite possibly the dullest composition I've seen or an equally low quality photo of a really hot naked girl gets the up vote...
Now, I know what you're saying, "If it bothers you so damn much quit following the group asshole!" The thing is that I continue to follow the group because every so often I find a photo that I fall in love with, the problem that I guess I'm trying to get at here is that if you claim to be a fine art group, refine your damn standards or change your description to what you're really looking for.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast...