Barb, and Wynette I suppose you would rather the thread go back to a coffee club that it was in the past.
I get nothing from doing this except the feeling that I tried to help someone with my experiences from the past.
Geeze, Don, that's rather insulting - I think you know that's not what I would like to see in this thread or the main Marans thread - hence the reason I started the SOP thread. The "coffee club" atmosphere is actually why I don't post much around here any longer.
Anyway, as far as pictures as opposed to seeing a bird in person - I stand by my comment that everyone
who is breeding to the SOP needs to have one to refer to. I cannot think that ANY judge would say differently, and they are the ones we are breeding for, if we are showing. If you're not breeding for show, of course there's no reason to own one.
It's not that I don't appreciate pictures - I certainly do, and there ARE things you CAN see in them, just not enough to make a complete decision on a bird and a picture would never replace seeing a specimen in person. Things such as feather color, eye color, amount of shank feathering, tail being open enough, etc., you can see in a picture. But many other things are much more subtle - you can't see, for example, a tiny side sprig (unless you have a camera with macro abilities), angle of back, even degree of tail angle are not good to judge via picture. Even color is sometimes difficult to see in a picture if it's very cloudy or excessively sunny. Also, size, which is lacking in our breed, is difficult to judge via picture. But since we don't all live in the same town, we must rely on pictures, and I think those of us who offer feedback (I really hate the work "critique" - just me, though) are usually really good about mentioning things that should be looked for when we see telltale signs of it in a picture. THAT is, in my opinion, the importance of a photo and for sure, it can go a long way in folks understanding what to look for in their breeders.
I do not find it helpful to degrade anyone's stock - I have said, and will continue to say - there is ALWAYS a way to make your point without being abrasive or unkind. If someone asks for feedback, by all means, give it to them! Just please, PLEASE do it in a helpful way.
OH - and last but certainly not least - Don, I have been thinking along the same lines as you, about arranging a local judging demonstration. Why don't we work together to make this happen, and perhaps we can get the APA's permission to tape it & post it here! That would ROCK!
