Is the forum on a downturn

[alfbranch]

Originally Posted by jimmyosram

Thanks Alf. I've noticed that there seems to be a big lull in comments on posts in anything but the comp thread these days, so thank you for taking the time mate.

This is something I have noticed myself.

This place needs to start engaging the Gallery users in fact I woder if the gallery is the issue. How many threads or posts have there been recently about wheres the gallery gone or where are all my pictures from people with 2 posts.


So what do you think.

[Cathus]

I was thinking the same. The post from someone complaining that their photos had disappeared but hadn't been on the site for months made me wonder why people actually use the gallery.

I'd always thought that people used them so they could show off or discuss their work in the forums (I don't mean show off in the pejorative term), but if people aren't doing that perhaps they are just using it as a holding store or a place to link to on other websites that don't have a gallery?

I didn't use the gallery on the Photoradar site much as I thought it was not very user-friendly and prefer to host my pics on my own server which means I only have to post them once and can show them on a number of websites.
Whilst I have started to use the gallery here, I still find it clunky and the way it all works doesn't encourage me to want to use it much.

As to whether the forum is on a downturn, it's an age-old problem, there will always be a small group regular users, increasing that group is a problem.

[DigiDiva]

Think we are all getting used to the new set up

[markgozz]

Is the site perfect , NO

Is the gallery any easier to use , NO

Is the site quieter than the old one , may be

Is it down to us the members to make the best of what we have , most definitely Yes

But the powers that run the site most understand that they have their part to play in making things run smoothly and listening to members with years of experience in photography and running forum sites must be step one .

Mark

[Alan46]

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems people are afraid to get involved or talk. Me included.
Is it a shy thing, or afraid that they will be ridiculed for there photography attempts or thoughts?
I think the forum is good, and has a homely feel to it.
Yes the gallery does need some finetuning, but I think that it is 90% there.
Only my thoughts on the matter.
And one day I hope to come out my shell.

[karenoliver]

What are other photography forums like? I only use this one so have no idea if people's experiences here are replicated elsewhere.

Maybe everyone has the winter blues at the moment? I know I do. Even taking a photograph at the moment is one huge bind! Perhaps when the weather picks up and people can get out with their camera the posts will increase.

There are also people who post photographs but don't give feedback to anyone else. What do you do? Do you just stop giving the feedback or give them a nudge and ask them to contribute to the forum?

Karen

[alfbranch]

As for other forums I am a member HERE and its massive with lots of comments daily not on all threads but thats forums.

tHis forum is very slow by comparison and I did stop using it as the attitude of the management is lousy.

as a comparison my photos of the harbour sunset are are on page of the landscape section of TP where as on here they arent even at the bottom the page with half the threads showing. This forum is slow.

I Think it would really help if the magazine staff took part in some conversations and commented on photos.

[samcliffe]

Thanks for your comments everyone. It's interesting to read what your take on the gallery is. Alf, I agree that if magazine staff took more of an active role commenting on user's photos this would be a great thing to do. I am speaking to the team about it at the moment.

We're always looking for ways to improve the forum, gallery and website, so I often read your comments for input and ideas.

Cheers

Sam

[ARIANA1985]

Hi everyone i personaly visit site few times a week and just reding things, but sadly (for me ) i dont get involved like Alan said im a bit affraid i migh get laugh at for what ive said or posted (saying this i did create a post few months ago:-D ), im not saying this forum isnt welcoming , because it is , but i think i need to grow a pair :-D and start writing . So i think there might be many mebers who feel like me, maby if admins created a "introduce ourself" section it would be much easier for new members to get involved

[mondmagu]

From my point of view I am like Karen,I found it difficult to get motivated in the miserable weather.
I post photos now and again(here and two other sites) that I find interesting and am interested in others opinions.If no one replies I don't get hung up over it.
I do search the forums and read any fresh comments but only in the sections that interest me because I couldn't be bothered to trawl through all the sections.If I do have a comment to make then I will make it. I do this for all the sites I'm on.
I must admit that I have great admiration to the regular contributors in the forums such as Digidiva,Karen Oliver,Cathus,Jimmy Osram,Geoff Wessex,Oldboy but to name a few. I take my hat off to you all and hope that someday I will have the enthusiasm to follow in your footsteps.

Des