Is the forum on a downturn

[DigiDiva]

Originally Posted by 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

I called a letterbox crop an envelope crop for ages, till someone kindly and in a friendly way, put me right. I wasn't laughed at or ridiculed at all. Another time I was referring to a letterbox crop as a panoramic. I think people understand as we were all beginners once and like to help.

I would be interested to know if anyone has be laughed at or ridiculed, as I have never seen it. Please don't be shy or worried.

We also have to remember that the written word is often hard to read and decipher properly. I or one, often have something I have said, misunderstood.

[DigiDiva]

Originally Posted by 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

Aw thanks *blushes*

[StephenBatey]

I've just found this thread (I don't look in here very often, I'm afraid) and a lot of the comments resonated.

I'm a moderator on another forum (run by another magazine stable) and a lot of the comments here could have been lifted from that site: poor gallery, problems finding photos, lack of "management involvement", lack of interest in the forum shown by the magazine more or less ignoring it. I found that interesting.

I've visited a few forums, and they do differ a great deal. There's one where a new post is almost a red lettrer day; if moderators exist they are invisible; and the home page shows spam entries as a "hot topic". This forum certainly isn't like that.

Some forums are, I think, more welcoming than others. I have found that on one forum, you have to say the correct shibboleth to be accepted. (In case the word doesn't convey anything, it's in the Old Testament; knowing whether the word was shibboleth or sibboleth marked you out as friend or foe.)

It's quite true that we all have to start somewhere, and no-one knows everything when they first come to photography (nor will they know everything when they finally lay down their camera). What makes the difference is how the questions are treated, and how understanding people are.

I must pop over and introduce myself now...

[donoreo]

Maybe not? There have been new people entering the weekend competition. There is also this:

"Most users ever online was 563, Today at 05:32 AM." That is EST, so 10:32 GMT.

Seems like there are lots of people coming to look.

[Lurkalot]

Originally Posted by donoreo

Seems like there are lots of people coming to look.

Looking at the IP's I'm guessing a lot of spiders and bots in that lot.

[highlandscenics]

Folks shouldn't be shy to contribute to the forums and on a site like this, an "ice breaker" shouldn't be an issue, as we are all here for the same reason and share a common interest....PHOTOGRAPHY......

Don't worry about posting a reply to a forum, even if you feel you're not as experienced as the others. We are all here to advise and help each other out. No one mocks or pokes fun at mistakes or "experience". For, we are all here to learn. That's the best thing about photography, it's an art that is never truely mastered. There are always new genres, new techniques and new ideas to learn and to perfect.

Sometimes, even the most basic question brings us more experienced photographers back into the forgotten roots of photography.

So ask away....give advice.....give critique....it's all good and keeps the spirit of true photography alive!

[alfbranch]

Originally Posted by highlandscenics

Folks shouldn't be shy to contribute to the forums and on a site like this, an "ice breaker" shouldn't be an issue, as we are all here for the same reason and share a common interest....PHOTOGRAPHY......

Don't worry about posting a reply to a forum, even if you feel you're not as experienced as the others. We are all here to advise and help each other out. No one mocks or pokes fun at mistakes or "experience". For, we are all here to learn. That's the best thing about photography, it's an art that is never truely mastered. There are always new genres, new techniques and new ideas to learn and to perfect.

Sometimes, even the most basic question brings us more experienced photographers back into the forgotten roots of photography.

So ask away....give advice.....give critique....it's all good and keeps the spirit of true photography alive!

Couldnt agree more

[donoreo]

As far as ice breakers, we could all go around and post "Hi,come here often?"

[Reinardina]

Originally Posted by donoreo

As far as ice breakers, we could all go around and post "Hi,come here often?"

Haven't we met before?

[gowebgo]

I would like to see areas of the forum that are camera specific, especially for newer models i.e: D800, NEX7, etc...