Is there anything else I can do in this forum section to get more engagement? Over the years we tried the following:

• Monthly Photo Contest (actually even split for a period of time for more advanced vs. beginner photogs)
• Monthly Critique threads
• Photo Tips
• Gear Review
• General Q&A

Above are just ideas that I had implemented over the years and does not include the general post by members etc... The only real topic that gains some traction is the monthly photo contest.

When this forum section was created I was really thinking that the Tips and Critique threads would be the most active as I know when I was starting out I would search out knowledge like crazy but never took hold in this section. (Note: I still after all of these years still seek info on how to get better) I honestly not sure why people are not asking for help/suggestions, if anyone can give some insight (either publicly or in a PM if you want) it would be much appreciated. I have purposely not posted much as I wanted to be clear this is YOUR section not mine. I know there are some really experienced and talented Photogs in this section but I don't think they are sharing as much if they feel others are not wanting the info.

Please drop some suggestions/feedback/tips etc... on some ideas to get abit more engagement in this section. Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks, Rick

 

Rick:
You have done a great job with the Photo section. It is unusual that a forum will get a true professional to devote his time to helping.
I am not a hard core photo enthusiast, but I do check the Photo section each day for the tips and tricks, and the great photos.
I cannot offer any suggestions to increase participation, but I really appreciate your efforts.

 

Although I was definitely not fishing for it, thank you Jerry for the nice compliment

I have been teaching photography for over a decade now and love sharing knowledge so if you want some feedback/critique/advice etc.. please just put up a post and I will respond.

I used to post up tips and suggestions a lot a while back but never really got much engagement so I have pulled back on showing my work and/or giving advice as it seems like most are not really interested. I even had suggestions to split the forum into two parts...one for "Snap Shooters" that like to post random images and another for those really interested in learning what is real Photography. Don't get me wrong I take "snap shots" every once in awhile but I also know that is not real photography so I am really unsure of what some people want in this section.

 

I know this has been discussed, and voted on, but I think the monthly photo contests should be split up between professional and amateur photographers. My pictures don't stand a chance against the pros. Although, I'm sot sure how you go about doing that to be honest. :-)

 

Thank you for the suggestion and I do remember starting that poll last year. I like it...but...it involves several complexities. For example being a Professional does not mean someone is really that good. I know many people who make money in photographer (by definition a professional) but their work is in some cases just so so...and on the other hand I know some Amateur's with little experience who are absolute Rockstar's! The you have the reverse where someone just became a professional recently vs. someone who has been shooting for (non paid) for decades now who has substantially more skill and experience.

Lets take always titles and then just say "Rank Yourself" on a scale from 1-10 and maybe we put ranking of 1-5 in one category and then 6-10 in a different contest. OK, then you run into the issue of a very subjective Art Form... we could someone who considers themselves a 5 could be substantially better than someone who considers themselves a 9 for example. Then I thought about doing it based on years of shooting. For example I have been shooting for about 30 years now and I am technically a professional BUT I only shoot once per week as Photography is purposely not a full time gig...so you could have someone who is retired and shoots multiple times per week that has been shooting for 20 years less than I have but they may have many more shoots/experience under their belt etc...

Again, I actually really like the idea (truthfully any idea that helps engagement) but I could see separating the categories as possibly causing more issues. All of that said, if anyone has an idea on how to make that work that would be fair I am all ears too!

 

I agree with everything you said. For example, I used to have a boatload of expensive 35mm equipment and lenses but I never considered myself more than a level 5-6 on a scale of 1-10. I just enjoyed photography. All that equipment is gone now, and even though I still have a Nikon digital SLR, I never use it. All my pictures are taken with an I-Phone now. I guess that was the impetus for my feedback to this thread. I-Phone photos are good but they can't compete with the professional or semi professional photos some members post. Not sure there's any one answer to this conundrum. :-)

 

There's a YT channel I frequent called "Behind the Shot." The host will select one particular photo and interview the photographer.

• What were you going for here?
• What were you trying to convey?
• What were your settings and why?
• What editing did you do, and why?
• Did you achieve your goal? Why? Why Not?
• What would you do differently?

Perhaps we could do something like this only in written form? Rick could select a photo and the photographer could explain 'Behind the Shot.' Questions could be asked, ideas shared, and CC offered.

 

Rick, I don't have any suggestions regarding improving engagement on the forum, but a couple of notes about the monthly photo contest.

Some of us have older equipment, in my case a 15 year old Nikon D80 with stock lenses. We see photos posted by 4 or 5 regulars who take stunning photographs and we can't compete. we're limited by our equipment and by our lack of experience and expertise.
Each and every one of us have a different way of looking at something and taking a photo of that something. We each have a different "eye" of what looks good to us. What I may like is deemed unimpressive by many others.

As far as instruction on the forum, I'm all for it and know I need help to be a better photographer. But I have no idea how to accomplish that.

I think you're doing a great job administrating this forum. Good luck getting more people involved.

 

Thomas I love this idea. So for example something like I start a thread that says for example: Interview with Forum Photographer @Thomas then in that post we kind of go back in forth with a few Q&A initially then we can let you display a shot and open it up to others to chime in and ask questions? Something like that?

 

Exactly. I've got several photos here. You could grab whatever one you want and use it.

 

Excellent, if you are game (just lmk if you would like to go first) and I will start a new thread and lets see how it goes. Instead of me picking the actual photo though I want to kind of conduct it like an interview and ask you to post things like "Thomas could you post in your opinion your most complex shot and/or hardest shot to capture and give use some details etc.. "

To that point, so I am not calling on people that do not want to participate could anyone interested please just lmk.

 

I like it but I think it's human nature to select the best shot, or perhaps the easiest shot you got. If someone else were to choose, that removes that piece from the equation. It makes it a bit more random so to speak.

 

I was thinking on that, but the only issue is I would have to get access to several photos from each photographer and some post very little so it would take some research and I am not sure if I would have to time to effectively pull that off. I have an idea, I am going to do it as "Photographer Spotlight" post and then lets see how it goes. I will ask some questions and engage in tips and ideas and see how it morphs... I am going to start a new thread now just to gauge interest.

 

How about a "Story Behind the Photo" thread.....not competition and not just the technical settings of the shot but folks submit a favorite photo and talk about the circumstances of how it became. Describe the location, how you got there, what led your eye to taking the shot, why you like it, and any other background info that might be interesting. Limit it to one picture per post and folks could even talk about their photo background and subject interests.

 

I have to laugh after years of ignoring this forum, and darlinks, I am a very serious photographer, I can't stand clowns that have to alter a pic after the fact. I popped in to see what this was about. My feedback get rid of the altered photoshopped pictures and let true photographic talent shine through. Any A-hole can photoshop a pic to make it look good, let the real photographers that have an eye for an incredible pic and understands their camera and what it will produce, first time and doesn't need to alter it after they were taken shine through. But then based on my history that is not what this forum is all about.

 

Correction, you didn't "ignore" this forum you were banned from this forum section for a period of time due to your anger issues and general lack of respect for others. Regarding "Clowns" who alter pictures after the fact I suppose to you one of the most famous and accomplished photographers of all time Ansel Adams is a "Clown" then as it is widely known that Ansel did extensive work in post production. Perhaps the real "Clowns" are those that post in forum sections when they clearly do not know what they are talking about? Just a thought.

That said I will give you an opportunity to redeem yourself and showcase to all of us lesser "A-holes" what a "Real" Master Photographer can produce. I gave you this opportunity last time, but you never took me up on it so here is your final opportunity. Show us all the works of a true Artist so the rest of us amateurs' can learn how it is done....and don't show us the simple stuff that us lower level photographers could produce give us your best award winning and published photos. I am very excited to learn from someone of your skill level and accomplishments.

 

Since there are a lot of excellent well equipped photographers that frequent this forum I think a thread to buy/sell or trade used equipment would be cool. Forum brothers and sisters who need good gear can hook up with to those here who want to unload surplus gear. So a buy sell or trade thread would help out a lot of people and drive traffic to the photo section IMHO.

 

@3D-Aircrew thank you for the suggestion. I will allow Buy/Sell threads so if any of you have gear you want to post, please do so. Just understand that we cannot really moderate things like payment/fraud etc... That said, yes please post up what ya got and lets see who is interested.

 

Thanks for being so active in the forum. I don't currently have anything for sale. I just thought it would be good to get your permission for someone who does have gear they would like to go to a good home.

Be well,
Bobby

 

You got it...