View Full Version : Ok what do you think?
Well come on guys, weve settled down a little now, the forums are about done, what do you think so far, what would you like to see or what would you like to see improved?
no-one want to add anything here???
Well ok, if you insist :)
I think the forums could do with trimming down a bit, there's just too many and some crossover, I like the atmosphere here but it's held back a bit maybe by everything being compartmentalised.
It's a photography forum, we don't need a seperate photography section so you could join the general and photography sections into one.
You could then almalgamate the welcome and shoot the breeze forums and possibly the photography chit chat forum as well into one single general forum which would be much busier and better as a result I think.
Keeping the equipment, gallery links and classified forums seperate.
/2p
:)
thanks Steep, when Steve returns from his smuggling mission we will discuss it in detail.
Thanks!
ooh aar oi'll ave one o'they casks o' brandy arr
ooh aar oi'll ave one o'they casks o' brandy arr
not sure how many casks of barandy he can get in his back passage.... [smilie=s:
Just got back today and all contraban was smuggled in without any hitches ;)
I will catch up with what has been going on in my absence but can see no reason why this suggestion is not implimented.
Swiftwind
13-11-2005, 12:44
I'd love to see a place where we can post links to our favourite photography sites. Sorry if there is already, I couldn't find it.
I'd love to see a place where we can post links to our favourite photography sites. Sorry if there is already, I couldn't find it.
what? this ISNT your favourite????:shock:
I'd love to see a place where we can post links to our favourite photography sites. Sorry if there is already, I couldn't find it.
We have just the place for you :)
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12
We do not allow direct linking to other competing sites though for obvious reasons however if someone asks for a specific help or a review etc on certain equipment that is not available here, then a link for that reason is usually acceptable.
not sure how many casks of barandy he can get in his back passage.... [smilie=s:
Do you realise how much Brandy stings?
Do you realise how much Brandy stings?
The casks can't be doing much good either!
Swiftwind
14-11-2005, 06:51
We have just the place for you :)
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12
We do not allow direct linking to other competing sites
Thanks for your help, although what I meant is links to other photographer's websites, displaying their collections of photography, not technical photography sites. Eg, I'd love to share with everyone the link to my sister's photography website but there's no where I can really do that (I think). And, if we come across lovely photos on a website, we could share the website with others.
I hope that makes sense.
That makes sense and it can either go in the section I offered a link to..would be nice if you gave a brief discription of what and why so that it may draw in some members who would normally just pass it by, or you can post a thread in the "Photography and General Chit chat" and we can all discuss it.
The links section is for anything useful or interesting, your sisters site would arguably fall under the interesting title. ;)
Swiftwind
14-11-2005, 07:03
Ok, thanks so much! :) I was under the impression that the Links thread was for technical sites only.
stepheno
14-11-2005, 07:59
Well....I'm happy as it is :thumb: After all there aren't that many forums. Any less and there would be no structure and any more it would start to detract from the reason the forum is here and just becomes a very generalised site.
regards
Well come on guys, weve settled down a little now, the forums are about done, what do you think so far, what would you like to see or what would you like to see improved?
Thinks i'll kick off me shoes and stay awhile,
saids it all really...
Thinks i'll kick off me shoes and stay awhile
I agree, this is fast becoming my favourite photog forum
thanks all! we, the original 4 who started it all off(Myself, Steve, Marcel and Digifailure), are very proud of how its all developing, and with the help of Ct and Matt on the team and all you lovely members im sure we will continue to develope and grow as we originally intended!
I looked at some of the early posts here out of curiosity :)
Nosey git that I am I thought it might yield a clue as to how you got started. I think I would need to read too much to work that one out but it seems to have something to do with cars?
For what it is worth.... I think this place has grown in the short time I have been around. There is a community feel to it and the advice is freely given and trustworthy.
There are those here that know a lot more than me but no one makes any patronising comments (to me or others) - just constructive or fun ones. I also like the way conflict or possible conflicts either don't happen or are diffused.
I find I am spending less and less time browsing other forums (where I don't post). Go TPF :)
Nice to hear you say that Robert, I think we have a great atmosphere here, and I hope we don't lose it as we grow.
I think I would need to read too much to work that one out but it seems to have something to do with cars?
Nope :)
Basically Steve, digitalfailure and I were moderators over at another photography forum, where we had spent quite alot of enjoyable time.
However, we didn't agree with some decisions, and felt we couldn't stay. This wasn't due to hositilities or anything like that, it was mainly due to the fact that although we did have the forum owners 'ear' so to speak, we weren't comfortable with the fact that final say on important issues was down to one person, and one person only.
We also had problems with reliability, and were frequently experiencing problems accessing the forums.
So we decided that we could no longer stay.
Very soon after that, the idea was pitched (can't remember by whom), of opening our own forums (think it was Steve), where no one man has final say, everything is done by a majority vote, no lone crusaders or ruling hands so to speak.
That, and all done on reliable hosts. I do remember choosing the name though (sorry, I'm proud of that one...I'm blowing that particular trumpet for myself :D)
Also, on the public front, it would be very member oriented. Basically a forum for the members, run by the members (to an extent), just 'overseen' by the admin.
Steve very kindly offered to finance it all out of his own pocket, naturally until such time it became a financial burden, after which we would look at other methods.
We did try and thrust used fivers in his hand but he refused.
Anyway, digitalfailure, who was known by a different moniker at the time, was friendly with another chap who went by the name of Bert. (Matty or EosD to his parents). He dragged him along, along with his growing knowledge of the front end stuff, and the incessant ability to not stop grinning on MSN.
And the four of us set about throwing ideas around for not just a forum, but a site for photographers. With hints, tips, tricks etc. An infoguide if you will.
And hence TPF was born. Matty and Steve have been the hardest workers out of it all, with me and digitalfailure pitching in with ideas and what not.
.
.
Up to today, we have the forum and site as you know it...
A further bit about me :
After a few months, my interest in photography started waning to a degree where I wasn't spending much time on the forums, or even out taking any photos. Nothing big, I had just lost the enthusiasm, and taking care of my two kids and being a house husband was taking up alot of my time, so I couldn't even force myself back into the fray so to speak.
Then as of June/July, a few months after, my dying spark of interest was given a dose of oxygen, with a bang so to speak, and hasn't died down since :D
I sat down and thought about whether I was either going to stick with this photography lark, or not bother, but if I was to stick to it, it is with a view to eventually making some money from it in the future (how far is yet to be decided).
I'm still learning more and more so, working my way through Photoshop videos, online training etc, hopefully getting better (probably not...lol).
And there you have it!
I'm waffling now. What started off as one sentence, turned into a lifestory of TPF...lol
If anyone else wants to add the bits I've missed out or got wrong then please feel free :)
Sorry I've missed the bits about Matty and CT joining the ranks etc :)
Sorry guys.
The other site from were we came was supposed to be open to suggestions and criticisms from within the ranks (ie mods and super mods) as long as it was behind closed doors and aimed at the benefit of the site. There was one ongoing issue that was plaguing the site and Marcel, myself and a few others (from memory) raised the subject. It was replied to by the site owner but the questions were not answered or addressed. I pushed further and was instantly sacked despite offering to let the subject drop if that was what the owner wanted. He closed the forums down, removed all my access, then reduced my ranking from Super Mod to minion ;) before dropping me an email to let me know of the situation with some half cocked excuse and twisted version of events. He then opened the forums again and posted on the open forums that due to differences between us that I could no longer be on the Team but was welcome as a “member”. This left me in a very awkward situation with very little options and frankly I felt **** on. It caused a great deal of confusion and falling out both on the forums and with the rest of the team there.
I quickly realised that all the work I had put in there as both a member (and staff, later) had not been for the members as I had believed but for the benefit of the site as a whole. I also realised that I had no control over anything that happened on the forum and all the work and advice I had put in and offered could be taken away from the public domain by the owner. It was this one realisation that spurred me to start a site personally rather than just move to a different forum where with time it could happen all over again.
The whole event also had a bearing on two of the others that left and they along with EosD who was a keen contributor to the old site and couple of others that I also visited, began talking about the future. We then began work on this site as a group. Marcel came up with the name, I put my hand in my pocket, Eosd started work on the old front end and I can't remember what the other guy did? Probably nothing ;) It took us approximately a month from the big upset to seeing the first version of this site go live. Since then we have done several changes, several updates to both the forum software and also a complete redesign of the front end. Plus we opened and added the free member’s gallery and the monthly competition. Some of the ideas were ours (as a group) and some have kindly been submitted by the members with full credit.
The site was very quiet at the beginning as expected and everyone put in a great deal of work to promote it, some of the members here joined through interest from the big upset, some through links that EosD slipped in all over the place and some through the constant work I did daily with search engines and directory links. I was also very pleased and grateful to one or two of the other Moderators from the other site that took the time to register here and give their support with knowledgeable replies and just popping by to post trying to make the place look busy at the start. They risked a great deal then and will always have my thanks. They know who they are.
As we grew and during Marcel’s absence we picked up Matt and CT as moderators. Matt, I knew personally. His knowledge was also unquestionable and was the guy who got me back into digital photography. He was an obvious choice for a staff position as one became available and CT had made himself stand out with his thoughtful, knowledgeable and diplomatic answers through the site. They were both invited onto the staff at the same time. This decision like all others was taken on a majorty by the original four, all decisions are now done by the six of us.
That pretty much brings us up to date. The other site is still running and has a massive community now by all accounts. Its been a while since I took a look there for one reason or another but the owner and I did clear the air eventually. Obviously there was no going back by that time though and it is better to let sleeping dogs lie so to speak. I wish him well but I am happier here than I was there, especially towards the end.
Incidentally, it will be our first official birthday in February, the first of many :)
and the car connection i hear you ask? Well i used to moderate on an enthusiasts site(fordmondeo.org), so when we opened this site we needed members, so it seemed only natural to drag some over from there, so Liberalis, Arkady, Scoff, Chris and a few others came over from there, which helped to get us going!
i should also point out that i had wanted to set up my own forums, but talking with DF led to me learning Steve had a very similar vision, but with far more detail! the rest is well doumented!
i should also point out that i had wanted to set up my own forums, but talking with DF led to me learning Steve had a very similar vision, but with far more detail! the rest is well doumented!
You learn something new everyday!!!!
busterboy
20-11-2005, 11:51
Well out of all my posts on this forum I have read this thread for the first time and found it very interesting.. :thumb:
As for changes I like the layout as it stands now and always say "If it ain't broke don't fix it". I fully believe this site is working very well judging by the steep incline of new members. :icon_cool
I wont beat about the bush with my statements here, I am a member of other forums as some of you know but find this the most friendly by far.. ;) [/bullshit mode now off].. :lol:
One of the other sites I visit find it very "Clicky" for the want of a word and IMO getting very boring.!!! :yawn: Enough said about that now.. ;)
I think the Photography and General Chit Chat section really opens the space up for some (light hearted banter) other than photography which makes sense then members don't get stale talking about the same old stuff every day.
I wish you all well and the best of luck behind the scenes and hope to stay here for a long time sharing our hobby/profession.
Good luck to all..:)
PS: I want to be an Old Timer like dod...DO IT NOW.. :nunu:
You learn something new everyday!!!!
its all DF's fault :p , i was going through it with him on msn, he said 'talk to Steve', then 'really you should talk to Steve' 'definately talk to Steve'
If i hadnt of thought your idea was better than mine though, i would have done my own, but it really wouldnt of worked out anywhere near as good as this has with us all here!:thumb:
digitalfailure
20-11-2005, 14:30
I knew i'd get the blame somewhere along the line :coat:
:lol:
I think it's worked out well though :beer:
stepheno
20-11-2005, 16:01
Steve - having been around at that time I think there was a lot of wondering. I appreciate and respect your candour in providing some explanation (which you are not obliged to) and that only increases my wish to "stick around". Thanks.
regards
Steve - having been around at that time I think there was a lot of wondering. I appreciate and respect your candour in providing some explanation (which you are not obliged to) and that only increases my wish to "stick around". Thanks.
regards
I was stuck at that point because if anyone says anything about staff or especially the owner of a site, be that the truth or not then the rest of the followers (staff and members) are going to close ranks. I understand that and totally agree, after all it is his place and everyone else is just a guest there. I felt I was correct and had been singled out (so did some of the other staff there too) but bickering in public was not the way forward or to the benefit of the other members, why should the community at general suffer all that upset, especially over something behind the scenes that they were unaware of? He had already temporarily shut the forums and said he was considering their future, if pushed he might not have opened them up again at all. I could not be held responsible for that, to take that blame, justified or not and chose at that point to walk away with a big lesson learned.
I did feel the need to defend myself very strongly in one post in the private section via another kind moderator who posted my words on my behalf, and once on the open forums albeit much more politely. My name and reputation was until then taking a battering. I then received a public apology and things settled down, since we have both kept our distance and things have been cool.
TBH it is all water under the bridge now and as I said sleeping dogs are best left, we are happy and I presume they are happy so all is well. I doubt that we would ever share links though ;)
Steve very kindly offered to finance it all out of his own pocket, naturally until such time it became a financial burden, after which we would look at other methods.
Very kind of Steve I must say I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd crack open his wallet to keep this place up and running so if contributions are wanted or required just shout
Mike Aiken
21-11-2005, 19:45
Hi Guys,
For me a great help would be if people would be as kind as to add what type of lens they use, aperture setting and speed, when they post their photos, being a beginner it would give me and hopefully others a starting point to work from when doing different styles of shots.
Mike
busterboy
21-11-2005, 19:52
Hi Guys,
For me a great help would be if people would be as kind as to add what type of lens they use, aperture setting and speed, when they post their photos, being a beginner it would give me and hopefully others a starting point to work from when doing different styles of shots.
Mike
I agree with your comments Mike but if you download this program (http://ak.no-ip.com/EXIF/index_en.htm) it tells you all the details you need unless the Exif details have been removed from the picture.
I use it and like the program.. :)
Hi Guys,
For me a great help would be if people would be as kind as to add what type of lens they use, aperture setting and speed, when they post their photos, being a beginner it would give me and hopefully others a starting point to work from when doing different styles of shots.
Mike
I can see why some would think that would be an advantage but unfortunately too many people look at a picture taken by someone else, and then see that it was taken with X camera and X lens then think that they could instantly produce similar quality work with the same equipment.
A more basic guide would be helpful though, basic EXIF info and minor details along the lines of “shot at 18mm, F11, 1/30sec, ISO 100 full frame noise reduced using Noiseware Professional. If you then needed any more details it could be asked for.
That’s just my opinion though; BTW some of the members already provide this info with their post or in the frames on their pictures
I agree with your comments Mike but if you download this program (http://ak.no-ip.com/EXIF/index_en.htm) it tells you all the details you need unless the Exif details have been removed from the picture.
I use it and like the program.. :)
I use something similar - but the web site is a bit more readable :lol:
Opanda exif (http://www.opanda.com/index.html#en_US)
Just right click the picture on a web page and select 'view exif' once you have installed this.
for the firefox users out there I use fxif (http://ted.mielczarek.org/code/mozilla/fxif/) the exif data is under properties when you right click a jpg
Very inspiring to hear the background of this site & the honesty & openess of the people involved creates a lot of respect.
I cannot stress enough how right you are re the members making the fourm. In the corporate world I work in, I moved into Management with the firm belief that the normal Mgmt tree has to be turned upside down, with the Managers actually working for the guys at the coal face. In my experience although Senior Mgmt may have disagreed with that view, I always had constant feedback from the team I managed that they respected this philosophy. Have you ever heard the joke about the baboons in a tree with the seniors higher in the tree looking down seeing smiling faces, only for those below to be laughing as all they can see are asses above ;)
In summary guys, you have the right attitude which will only lead to success !
Mike Aiken
22-11-2005, 19:40
Many thanks for the responses guys.
Will try downloading the programme, i notice some people are putting the basic information down from their shots, many thanks for that.
Having some information to start with is a grat guide.
Thanks again Mike
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