Did you ever arrive at highschool and someone told you something about YOU didn't fit the expectations of the group?

There is this group think in the Poser/DAZ world that says 'only the newest brightest thing' is acceptable.

You must use gamma correction because the scientists say so. You must upgrade to the newest version of Poser or Vicki... because everyone else is. You must use this lighting and these shaders and weight maps and this newest thing. You MUST!

With that in mind... what really bugs me in the latest crowd pressure push is photo-realism. Everyone in 3d assumes everyone else wants their renders to be photo-realistic. Here... even I am including YOU in on this conspiracy. That's how widespread it is.

Is Poser for hobbyists anymore? Does every hobbyist want a photo-realistic render? Can every hobbyist afford it? Maybe ( curse the stars that made me say this ) is there a free app out there that can allow for more photo-realism than Poser or DAZ can ever offer on their platforms?

Do most artists realize that the art in the galleries that really kicks ass are mostly heavily postworked non-photorealistic rendered works? Sometimes even ( dare I mention ) rendered with shadow casting OFF!!!! And shadows added in total control in postwork.

Has anyone considered that photo-realism means that not only the shadows and lights have to seem real... the characters and props in the scene have to seem real?

How are we going to make the 3d doll's face and body asymmetrical? With morph packs sold in the stores? Doesn't the skin texture play a big part in the unique look of each 3d character? Symmetrical morphs and skins don't lead to photo-realism... they do though sell units in stores.

How about this... if we're going to be knocked in the head constantly with the sell of 'You must jump on the photo-realism bandwagon' that they actually sell what they are promising.

I have yet to see an actual photo-real 3d character sold for DAZ or Poser. They are all mass-market, generic, completely symmetrical models with generic re-useable skins.

Maybe they're secretly telling us it can't be done. Like the captain trying to catch Moby Dick... the dream will consume them...they're warning us in some weird way?

Maybe I'm in the minority ( if so thank god!! ) and photo-realism is a want of most folks using Poser and they think falsely that a photo-realistically render engine will solve all their problems. And all that I've said seems like musings of a crazed prehistoric.

Am I the only one who feels pressured to jump on the photo real bandwagon?