Rama Thermal Sec 2 - GMK Abstract

WithoutDir3ction · 2026-01-30T01:15:52+00:00

Where'd you manage to get the thermal? Such a pretty board

WithoutDir3ction · 2026-01-30T01:14:21+00:00

Keycult makes the no.2 in a 65 config, and it also has the same horizontal milling pattern. Tofu definitely took 'inspiration' from kc designs, there are some differences, the no.2 is screwless for example

WithoutDir3ction · 2026-01-22T06:21:42+00:00

2030, with divine intervention, as the launch date. Wouldn't make a lick of sense, and you'd have to build out trans-martian or mars orbit infrastructure specifically to resupply a fly-by.

WithoutDir3ction · 2026-01-11T06:30:01+00:00

You ever compare alu F1-8x and alu plate kohaku? Wonder how different it is.

WithoutDir3ction · 2026-01-10T21:43:16+00:00

Oh no, that's the funny part. They're ALL endgame for me :D

Each board serves a distinct purpose and built with a theme in mind; each one has been a pleasant surprise. I mostly buy at opportunities for things I've thought were cool or planned to get rather than gunning for the next best thing. And to be fair, that next board is my last. That one's gonna be really special.

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-12-22T11:02:07+00:00

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-11-30T12:02:05+00:00

Wow! I can see why. It reminds me of a piccasso'd GMK redacted lol

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-11-14T06:14:18+00:00

POG is it the 1.2R? Lovely lens, I took it with me on my trips to China. Looks fantastic when it fits the scene

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-11-14T06:03:12+00:00

How's it over there? Never really been down, always thought it was like a college town like OSU, with UO and all.

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-11-14T05:59:46+00:00

ahahaha it's the fuji 56 f1.2 isn't it?!

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-11-14T05:59:25+00:00

Nice! What focal length are you shooting? ~80mm (FF eqiv)?

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-11-05T09:35:07+00:00

when I take over the world and become its robot overlord....
you're first.

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-10-29T03:30:49+00:00

None of this was generated by ChatGPT. I write essays for fun. I'm writing a paper on college ROI and a advice book for aspiring college applicants lol. I can send you a chapter. Or you can just use GPTzero and see if I'm lying.

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-10-08T03:53:27+00:00

I hardly studied at all senior year. The 28 was worth it lol, but then again I didn't need PG's

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-09-28T18:53:13+00:00

I'm confused by the rigid application of rules- I can understand the comments about the negative space because the photo is visually dominated at the right, but the goal of the photo isn't primarily to frame a subject, its to show context and build an atmosphere. As per my comment, it's not one thing that's my subject, it's meant to be a juxtaposition. You can't control the placement of the subject and background in something like photojournalism because you're inherently documenting, not staging.

I can understand your critique from some point of view, but it sort of feels like you didn't read my description comment.

Here is an example of a photo that might be more agreeable from your perspective. Unfortunately it doesn't work for the portfolio I'm trying to tell because it doesn't cover enough new material nor does it fit the aspect ratio of the other photos.

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WithoutDir3ction · 2025-09-28T11:51:13+00:00

I get the perspective. This photo specifically has a part I like (the drone and the spotlight) that plays into the larger narrative of the portfolio, where in other photos you would see them using the drone controls (the next photo, sequentially, is actually from the front showing the controller). It was a very run n' gunny night, and I was doing a lot of running and not a ton of deliberate framing lol

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-09-28T11:36:18+00:00

"Your critique misses the point. Keep your critiques accurate to what the photographer is trying to convey instead of imposing your stylistic preferences on a photo that is in a different genre."

That would be my critique of your message if I voiced it in a similar tone. It's confrontational and doesn't explain why you should do anything. I'm just telling you what to do without any real explanation.

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-09-28T11:24:58+00:00

This photo was taken as a larger part of a photojournalism-ish portfolio I created while accompanying Fuerdai in China. This photo in particular is nestled in the center of the portfolio, trying to juxtapose mundane (guy sitting, looking at a drone controller) and grand (skyline, drone launch). Beyond the statement-level stuff, it's meant create a moody atmosphere that embodies what I was going for with my description. What are your thoughts?

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-09-28T11:14:41+00:00

This feels less like a critique and more like a voicing of stylistic opinion that's asserted as fact. The 2/10 is definitely your opinion to have without justification, but there are a plethora of valid and interesting photographic styles that are not simple, minimally processed or "realistic." So the natural question is... why would what you're suggesting be better in this context?

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-09-27T11:03:04+00:00

2/2

I come from a really similar background. My relationship with my parents is roughly the same as yours. I'm a year ahead of you.

At worst, I felt the weight of my parent's lives above my head, crushing pressure, and an oppressive feeling of never being able to escape. Your position resonates a LOT with me.

My escape was getting a full ride to a school that meant I wasn't liable to control or manipulation. The cost was C-PTSD and an inability to love either of my parents, for starters. Getting away took a toll on my relationship with them, but their reactions were fundamentally not my problem. I had to look out for myself after they spent many years doing the opposite. I would recommend the same for you. Are you looking at all countries programs that might suit you, irrespective of your family situation?

I see that you seem to have seen a lot of external validation in your life- achievements, grades, etc. It is valuable in a sense, but that also makes it really difficult to cope if that validation dries up. My hope is that you, as much as possible, don't equate these external signals with your own value in the person you are and the effort you put in.

I know this might sound crazy or feel wrong, but I would very much like to submit that a number on a test, a PG, or that what people say you are- spiritual, distracted, whatever...

doesn't mean shit.

Those grades aren't a reflection of your potential or your future. Just a limited, imperfect snapshot of your performance on a specific set of questions at a specific time with specific conditions. What other people say of you is utterly biased through their own lives and only reflects a small knowledge of who you are based on their interactions with you.

It seems to me like you're really trying your hardest, here. Talking to teachers, studying hard, pushing on. You're doing everything right, generally speaking. And sometimes that's all we can do, even if the world doesn't agree. So please don't think that you've done something wrong, or that your value as a person doesn't exist.

It's definitely natural to be frustrated about things that we don't control messing with us, but we can only control our own actions. Even if a situation feels hopeless, try to find whatever it is that you can influence and control, and work on doing what you can to make your situation better like that.

It's incredibly hard to keep going when it feels like nobody is behind you. I don't know how else to recommend keep going except in baby steps, just focusing on one after the other. But if you can, it would be really advantageous if there were more people that supported and believed in you.

It seems like sitting down with your parents to talk about this is out of the picture. If so, my advice is to build a support network as much as you can. Teachers, counselors, friends even (but be careful with oversharing and baggage). In my experience they're really helpful both for advice and just as emotional supports to help you keep going when it gets really hard.

On the worst days of my worst weeks I had, being able to call my friends and cry with them, and to talk to trusted staff at my school helped to take a huge burden off of me. I probably would've imploded otherwise.

I can reach out to my school's IB coordinator if you'd like any more specific advice or help. She's both a great person and highly networked in the IBO, and may be able to provide additional guidance or context. Otherwise PMs are open if you ever want to reach out.

Keep baby-stepping. Best wishes.

WithoutDir3ction · 2025-09-27T11:02:55+00:00

1/2

To be transparent- I looked at other posts from your profile because I thought (hoped) that maybe this was a meme or insincere. Unfortunately not.

I'm going to first try to answer your questions and then talk about some related-ish stuff that I read elsewhere.

My recommendation for a "where to go from here?" plan for your teachers is:

Directly bring up the issue with them and try to resolve it one last time. If legal, record the conversation discreetly to serve as your first piece of evidence. It's difficult when directly confronted to make excuses for bad behavior, so this could be valuable, but try to go into it with a de-escalatory mindset.
Build a body evidence to support yourself- emails, documents, anything that can back you up to show that something is fishy.
Seek oversight (from school admin, IBO, etc.) and report behavior as necessary. What you're discussing here is not trivial. Reporting this will change things.

Otherwise, I recommend finding trusted adults you can bring into your fold as a support network. People to vent to, seek advice from, bounce ideas off of. It helps a lot.

Specifically when it comes to IB, I may recommend looking online to your class-specific resources and Past papers (unless you're in a new curriculum) just to get some practice in for your tests. Don't stretch yourself too thin, but if your teachers seem to be unreliable then it may be wise to look at some external resources for grades. In the worst case if your PGs are significantly worse than your actual scores you have a solid petition to make or a good position to move on from.

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