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  • Welcome to the new site. Here's a thread about the update where you can post your feedback, ask questions or spot those nasty bugs!

So what would you think?

Roger Lund

New member
Personally I think the layout is fine. In fact some of the subjects are what made me create a account and check it out.

Contests are great, but you need people to manage them and sponsors to donate money or prizes. I think prizes would be the way to go.
Perhaps doing what others have done and offer a service layer aka, hosted images, or buy / sell , that has a cost. I think that the art showing should have a cost.

Perhaps what is needed is local group integration. AKA, start some local groups in person and have them use the forum to show results , host conversations. Same could be said for the competitions, or art showing. I think that allowing twitter , google plus, etc as a valid login method would be nice. as well as allowing your new forum posts to post to twitter, facebook etc.

Perhaps allowing hosted images and contest winners a public purchase option, for others to buy the print. This would be nice. Maybe the forum and the owner of the picture could split the profits.
Work with gear vendors to have members to gear reviews. Write articles. Tie these to a Face book and google plus account for publicity. Work with the same gear vendors to spread the forums name through advertising campaigns, etc.
Reach out to Local camera shops and offer to host a sub forum for them. Invite them to participate in the contents, the art events, the vendor interaction etc that your developing from the above.

As with anything, it takes time, money, and most cases both to grow something in to something more.

Perhaps having some key forum members be a help through the process. Use something like google hangouts with web cams would help you have everyone on the same page.

Hope my two cents help. Random thoughts.
 

Robert Watcher

Well-known member
the idea of a Google Hangout may be interesting for OPF members to watch and possibly attract others outside OPF if the hangouts become popular. Interesting suggestion.

For any not familiar with how Google Hangouts have been used for promotion by photographers, here is a link to one I used to watch from time to time, that was hosted by Trey Ratcliff:

http://youtu.be/bSxdyCXoMQQ[\url]
 

fahim mohammed

Well-known member
The member list, as before this post, mentions a total membership of 10,750 members.

That's a lot of members folks. Imaginary or otherwise.
International forum? This is predominantly a North American and Western Europe biased forum.

Cleanup the moderators indicated for various sections...some seem to have been long dead.
Bring contributing member's images to be displayed on the front page..not of posters I have rarely, if ever, seen contribute.

Do we want to limit the making of images and discussions of art to the experienced, while neglecting those that have newly embarked on a journey into photography? Have our experienced photographers and those knowledgeable about the art and design in Photography, start a periodic column on the various aspects of photography. I, for example, am interested in time lapse, slow motion, astro photography. Why can't I learn it here? From the basics and progressing.

Why not a section devoted to the places and issues faced/ or otherwise when traveling to different parts
Of the globe. Traveling with family, photography as the sole purpose...interesting towns and villages in a particular locale...things to do/avoid. Not a travel forum, but real experience to be shared by those that have gone before. Is a destination photo friendly, geared for physically impaired etc. This folks is important information. To make an image, one has to be able ( and willing ) and be prepared for some tough travel, hardships and governmental bureaucracy. One could search here by country to find such topics discussed.

The basics...they are lacking. How does one go about printing an image? Framing, paper, calculating dimensions, mounting issues and so forth? They are not to be found as a simple search on OPF. Not because of lack of knowledge, but a lack of the experienced to put it in writing and posting on OPF.

Want the greatest number of photographers to join and post? Entice the smartphone crowd to join us. Unless we consider ourselves to be not suitable for the plebes.

Asher's forum, is by and large, a one man show. The contributing members can be counted on the fingers of my two hands. It needs a dedicated community, time and effort by all of us if we need OPF to
grow.

A new member joins, give his/her's work the pride of place. The same with regular members' works.
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Thanks Fahim .......... & everyone else!

Really great guidance!

I will try to organize based on this input.

Need key articles that link to related threads.

Asher

BYW, the over 10,000 members number includes 5,000 banned for being spammers, BOTS or offering drugs/insurance/wonder creams/porn etc. We've cut the deluge by a number of rather smart filters, but still have 5-10 BOTS to delete each day. For the last 7 years, these filtered exclusions can't get to be counted anymore.
 

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
Hi, Asher,

I only hope that the "new" taxonomy covers all the likely kinds of cameras and all the likely genres (whether by subject, technique, circumstance, or otherwise).

Perhaps with the current emphasis on the "semi-online gallery", none of those are of any importance. They certainly aren't to me anymore.

Or perhaps they all need to be consigned to some top-level category, like "Other" or "Who Cares".

Best regards,

Doug
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Hi, Asher,

I only hope that the "new" taxonomy covers all the likely kinds of cameras and all the likely genres (whether by subject, technique, circumstance, or otherwise).

Perhaps with the current emphasis on the "semi-online gallery", none of those are of any importance. They certainly aren't to me anymore.

Or perhaps they all need to be consigned to some top-level category, like "Other" or "Who Cares".

Best regards,

Doug

For sure, today, a cell phone and most digicams are capable for everything from portraits to billboards. It's the specific vertical markets and artistic nuances that require other tools. So, perhaps these needs are best addressed in dealing with the end use and covering the choices, rather than being camera-centric in organization.

Still, we could have a check list in the post dialog box that would then allow one to search for, for example, MF or Leica monochrom.

Asher
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Personally I think the layout is fine. In fact some of the subjects are what made me create a account and check it out.

Contests are great, but you need people to manage them and sponsors to donate money or prizes. I think prizes would be the way to go.
Perhaps doing what others have done and offer a service layer aka, hosted images, or buy / sell , that has a cost. I think that the art showing should have a cost.

Perhaps what is needed is local group integration. AKA, start some local groups in person and have them use the forum to show results , host conversations. Same could be said for the competitions, or art showing. I think that allowing twitter , google plus, etc as a valid login method would be nice. as well as allowing your new forum posts to post to twitter, facebook etc.

Perhaps allowing hosted images and contest winners a public purchase option, for others to buy the print. This would be nice. Maybe the forum and the owner of the picture could split the profits.
Work with gear vendors to have members to gear reviews. Write articles. Tie these to a Face book and google plus account for publicity. Work with the same gear vendors to spread the forums name through advertising campaigns, etc.
Reach out to Local camera shops and offer to host a sub forum for them. Invite them to participate in the contents, the art events, the vendor interaction etc that your developing from the above.

As with anything, it takes time, money, and most cases both to grow something in to something more.

Perhaps having some key forum members be a help through the process. Use something like google hangouts with web cams would help you have everyone on the same page.

Hope my two cents help. Random thoughts.

Roger,

These are great ideas and extend our options.

Thanks for investing the time and effort to provide these interesting new options.

Asher
 

Lee Tracy

New member
As you said yourself, you looked at the home page when you signed up. That is why it is relevant: prospective new members get to see the home page before they see that the forum is active. I think that some see that everything is dated, consider that the web site is abandoned and go. I know I almost did that myself.

There are plenty of abandoned forums on the Internet (and blogs as well).

There is a home page? I came directly to the forum from an internet search for 'photography forum' :)

Social media can definitely help advertise / promote a forum although the points that have been made about them being the enemy of forums are also valid.

Although I am a brand new member I have to say that I have been looking for a site like this where you discuss the art and process and philosophy of photography for months. These are not discussions that happen on other forums. Either there is no interest or it creates animosity when people feel threatened by processes different from their own and the discussion devolves into people defending their position instead of exploring and discussing new ideas.

The fact that you are a forum where the art / theory / practice of photography is discussed is definitely a selling point, although probably also a limiting point.
 

fahim mohammed

Well-known member
Hello Lee.

Welcome to OPF.
Right of the bat, let me challenge your statement ...feel threatened, and later...defending their position.

Feeling threatened by something new/different is an instinctive reaction. Change, in individuals or organizations can and often does result in resentment and is usually opposed by the old guard. Managing such change often requires a passage of time..during which the merits of the change are gradually elaborated on. This requires leadership and management skills from the proponents of change.
Success is never a given. Of course one could shove change down a person's or organization's throat.
This has its own perils and the forum is not the appropriate place on propounding theories/practices of
how change can be made acceptable...or at least palatable.

Defending their position....what's wrong with that. Maybe you would prefer the other side to just cave in to your wishes/way of thinking.
Usually, there is common ground..except with assholes like me, where the consensus is that I always defend the indefensible. But therein is the challenge..eh!

Welcome to OPF.
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
There is a home page? I came directly to the forum from an internet search for 'photography forum' :)

Social media can definitely help advertise / promote a forum although the points that have been made about them being the enemy of forums are also valid.
.

I think we can use social media to our advantage. Our Facebook post are attracting followers.

Although I am a brand new member I have to say that I have been looking for a site like this where you discuss the art and process and philosophy of photography for months. These are not discussions that happen on other forums.

The fact that you are a forum where the art / theory / practice of photography is discussed is definitely a selling point, although probably also a limiting point.

Mostly, details of camera and lens are not important to appreciating the photograph. The hard thing is to make impactful pictures that won't be ignored in a short while and forgotten.

Whether for a wedding, marketing a necklace or getting a date/match online, each picture has to engage and then do it's Taylor made job! In each case, a great composition, the right angle, the appropriate light and colors all contribute to the pictures success and each is an attribute of the Art of Photography and "Photography as Art"!

So for OPF concentrating on "Art" is essential for being able to constantly improve our expression of our ideas in pictures that engage, excite, draw in and get air in thei nostrils to have lives undependant of us!

Asher
 

Lee Tracy

New member
Hello Lee.

Welcome to OPF.
Right of the bat, let me challenge your statement ...feel threatened, and later...defending their position.

Feeling threatened by something new/different is an instinctive reaction. Change, in individuals or organizations can and often does result in resentment and is usually opposed by the old guard. Managing such change often requires a passage of time..during which the merits of the change are gradually elaborated on. This requires leadership and management skills from the proponents of change.
Success is never a given. Of course one could shove change down a person's or organization's throat.
This has its own perils and the forum is not the appropriate place on propounding theories/practices of
how change can be made acceptable...or at least palatable.

Defending their position....what's wrong with that. Maybe you would prefer the other side to just cave in to your wishes/way of thinking.
Usually, there is common ground..except with assholes like me, where the consensus is that I always defend the indefensible. But therein is the challenge..eh!

Welcome to OPF.

I think perhaps I didn't explain myself well ... a discussion is about sharing ideas and listening to what others have to contribute on a subject. Not about who is right and who is wrong... at least that isn't how I see it. While there may be strong opinions expressed at times it still doesn't have to devolve into people being on opposite sides of a line throwing mud at each other. At that point there is no more discussion.

To my mind there is nothing threatening about ideas being shared. Every one has their own thoughts and opinions on basically everything. And if people don't agree well no-one says they have to. There isn't some internet controller who will reach out and bonk people on the head if they don't agree ... so they need to chill and enjoy other opinions other than their own ... who knows there may even be something useful / interesting / stimulating in something someone else says that they didn't think of before :)

Well that's my opinion anyway :D :D
 

Lee Tracy

New member
.

Mostly, details of camera and lens are not important to appreciating the photograph. The hard thing is to make impactful pictures that won't be ignored in a short while and forgotten.

I think you can expand that and say that outside of a small select group most viewers do not care in the slightest how the photo was made or what equipment was used. They just look at the photo and go 'ooh' or not.

We want 'ooh' - however creating 'ooh' is always the challenge.


.
Whether for a wedding, marketing a necklace or getting a date/match online, each picture has to engage and then do it's Taylor made job! In each case, a great composition, the right angle, the appropriate light and colors all contribute to the pictures success and each is an attribute of the Art of Photography and "Photography as Art"!

So for OPF concentrating on "Art" is essential for being able to constantly improve our expression of our ideas in pictures that engage, excite, draw in and get air in their nostrils to have lives undependant of us!
Asher

Oh I agree and that is your "selling point" - but I have been on several other forums as well as having extensively searched for a forum looking for discussions around these topics and these discussions are far and few.
 

Jerome Marot

Well-known member
There is a place for everything. We need a place for discussing technique, because photography is also of technical nature and we need to discuss images and why they have a certain effect... or not. Indeed in most Internet forums, only the first part is discussed and our strength is that we are also interested in the second part.
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
I think, then, that we need to develop a "what is" and "how to" wiki. I will sketch out some ideas for your consideration. The dictionary might then hyperlink to any terms that have been adequately covered.

Thanks again, Jerome!

Asher
 
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