Andy Rouse Foto buzz

Totally unprofessional response to what I consider to be a well worded and polite question from the OP. Andy Rouse obviously commands respect from some in his own circles but stands to alienate others with that attitude. I would hate to think I had just upset a whole forum of photographers which included thousands of his potential customers !! These people ALWAYS come unstuck with time. I would put your £75 towards a new lens or some kit you can use :)

Just as an additional comment and along the same lines...

When i started many years ago I entered some work in a competition which was judged by Joe Cornish. I was in the very early stages but he decided to basically criticize my work in a fairly nonconstructive and unprofessional way and tell me how he would have done it. I took that as my cue to go out and do my own thing and now have a profitable photography business of which landscapes is a part, pretty much all self taught with some help from forums. You just have to take these things and use them as inspiration not to become like those people !
 
I have only been in a month, Gramps, but so far we have already had a meet up with Andy at Slimbridge (for the grand sum of £15) where he was very helpful sharing his knowledge with us. The opportunity to have photos critiqued by Andy and Andrew, a very friendly chat room, some very good articles including precise locations (very useful), lots of good tips and info from the other members as well as the experts, plus discounts on new kit and workshops. It is very early days yet, but I am happy so far.

Thanks for the heads-up Sue :)
 
Having now met Andy a couple of times, had a long chat to him and joined Fotobuzz on the back of it, I have to revise my opinion above. He came across badly in the article, but I liked him a lot on meeting him - funny, chatty and very willing to share his vast knowledge.

That's good to hear Sue. This probably happens quite a lot. Some people are complete rubbish at communicating in writing and on the Internet, they come across in the wrong way. I hope Andy can work on that because his response to the OP was badly worded and sadly made him sound quite different to how he probably is in real life! And personalities aside, what matters is that any customer of Andy's gets value for money and good client service. It will be useful to see updates in this thread from members who have signed up to his community.

I do sympathise with him at times though - he did take a kicking when he switched brands, usually by people who had no understanding of why he switched (and switched back) and I would guess that would be enough to make him a bit defensive at times. I had a complete nightmare for several months when I switched from Canon to Olympus - I can assure you that Andy was not exaggerating about the threats, defamation, attacks and the other forms of abuse which can follow.
 
I don't get why people would attack people for switching brands it makes no sense ?? and as for death threats , in what world does a brand of camera have anything to do with death threats. Someone please tell me !

I know - it's senseless, but it's true. A few years back I reviewed an innovative Fuji camera. A few days later the review was picked up by a notoriously aggressive photography forum where there just happened to be an anti-Japan, anti-capitalist movement. It subsequently turned out that a large number of purchasers of this camera discovered that it had a sensor anomaly and at that time Fuji were refusing to acknowledge it. So anybody fairly prominent who would positively review the camera was attacked - literally and absolutely. It started with a hate campaign on the forum in question, of the worst kind - the idea was to destroy my reputation. Then started a series of denial of service attacks on my websites, which caused profound disruption to my business and a lot of stress. Then there were personal insults and threats. Then fast forward a couple of years to when I switch to micro four thirds - total abuse in some forums, the full frame fanatics insisting that no bone fide competent professional would use such cameras, that I was a fraud, that my entire persona and presence was make-believe and part of a marketing campaign funded by Olympus (you've got to laugh) and more and more personal abuse and vile insults by e-mail. I was told never to blog again about equipment if I valued my health and I did stop blogging for a few months while I hoped things died down - they didn't, not entirely, but these days I just try to ignore it.

The defensiveness about equipment is terrifying in some contingents of the amateur community.

Why do they do it? Because they can. Because there are unfortunately a lot of very sad inadequate people out there who don't have lives, and so they have to resort to taking cheap shots at anyone who they feel is getting too much attention or exposure. The Internet provides a perfect vehicle for that. Going back to the Fuji fiasco, I had a lot of people writing to me anonymously begging me to be careful never to return to that forum again, if I valued by health. I know it's hard to believe, but it really was that bad. I did have to take recourse to the law at one point. That's why I'm sympathetic towards Andy Rouse - hopefully he didn't go through anything as bad as that, but I bet he was given a hard time.
 
Last edited:
It happened to me - I think I was 59.
I don't get why people would attack people for switching brands it makes no sense ?? and as for death threats , in what world does a brand of camera have anything to do with death threats. Someone please tell me !


You've only got his word that it actually happened.

I suppose the switching brands business is because one moment he's selling the praises of one brand and then five minutes later another. You've got to wonder about anyone's credibility in that situation.

Lindsay, your story is astonishing!
 
You've only got his word that it actually happened.

I suppose the switching brands business is because one moment he's selling the praises of one brand and then five minutes later another. You've got to wonder about anyone's credibility in that situation.

Lindsay, your story is astonishing!

Jeremy, I am quite certain that Andy will have come under fire for switching brands (and likely for the reason you mention - but given the work he has to do it goes without saying that his equipment will need to be excellent by default, so I can forgive him for saying good things about both brands - I suspect his switching of allegiance came down to some company politics and his own personal preferences driving him back to Canon), as well as for far less crimes as well. The fact is that if you get around you're going to face abuse - it's how the world is now. Even the silliest things can result in a backlash. On the surface it just looks like spirited debate but all too often it can turn into something worse. But it is extremely common. My view is that if something isn't relevant, or if it doesn't affect the reader, then we have the choice to simply ignore it and move on - but there are people out there who can't do that. Barely a week goes by when I don't receive personal insults for being an (independent) ambassador for Olympus - some of the things which have been said about me on the Internet are quite extraordinary and the result of some very creative minds. It can make you paranoid at times and I sometimes switch my computer on with a degree of trepidation, particularly if one of my reviews has been picked up on certain forums. To add a bit of balance, I will also say that the Internet has enabled me to meet some of the nicest people I could hope to know, and that does a great deal to make up for some of the horrible numpties out there.
 
Extreme Keyboard Warriors !

I use and buy the kit i like for the results i want , hence an eclectic mix of L and non L lenses , Yongnuo Flashguns different branded batteries etc all of it tried and tested to suit my needs. I started off on Pentax and it was only the lack of glass that made me switch and the move to Canon was purely down to the 5D2 and its video which was groundbreaking at the time otherwise i would have gone for the Nikon D700 and ended up in a different place. Like most i now have too much time and money invested to swap brands and to be honest they are all so similar don't see any need too. I have seen some light hearted debate go on with the Canon Nikon crowd but never anything more.

If i was brand new into photography new I would have a field day with the choice , so much too choose from so many manufacturers all producing the goods - without that diversity and competition we would not have the advancements we have.
 
Jeremy, I am quite certain that Andy will have come under fire for switching brands (and likely for the reason you mention - but given the work he has to do it goes without saying that his equipment will need to be excellent by default, so I can forgive him for saying good things about both brands - I suspect his switching of allegiance came down to some company politics and his own personal preferences driving him back to Canon), as well as for far less crimes as well. The fact is that if you get around you're going to face abuse - it's how the world is now. Even the silliest things can result in a backlash. On the surface it just looks like spirited debate but all too often it can turn into something worse. But it is extremely common. My view is that if something isn't relevant, or if it doesn't affect the reader, then we have the choice to simply ignore it and move on - but there are people out there who can't do that. Barely a week goes by when I don't receive personal insults for being an (independent) ambassador for Olympus - some of the things which have been said about me on the Internet are quite extraordinary and the result of some very creative minds. It can make you paranoid at times and I sometimes switch my computer on with a degree of trepidation, particularly if one of my reviews has been picked up on certain forums. To add a bit of balance, I will also say that the Internet has enabled me to meet some of the nicest people I could hope to know, and that does a great deal to make up for some of the horrible numpties out there.

Sad, sad people. You're living proof that what AR claims to suffer from actually happens!

I hate to think how much Joe Cornish will suffer now he signed up with Sony...........

Some of the debate on here goes into dodgy territory sometimes but it must be much worse elsewhere on t'internet.
 
I had a lot of people writing to me anonymously begging me to be careful never to return to that forum again, if I valued by health..

Morons - I strongly suspect that if they had to say it your face it would swiftly become apparent that there'd been a cock up in the bravado dept and they may have come across as a lot harder than they actually are.

On andy and switching , IIRC he got a kicking twice - once when he switched to Nikon to use the D3 instead of the 1DSmk3 , and again when he moved back to Canon to use the 1DX instead of the D4. I'm not sure it was as pronounced as what you went threougfh though, as if it had been i could well imagine andy offering to meet them to sort it out mano et mano :bat:
 
There are some real sad people out there that really need to look at themselves in the mirror, because I'm sure if they were honest, they wouldn't like what they would see. Does it matter about the brand of camera, no, what matters is what that person can produce with it, it's all about the photography, what the person can create, capture, not whether its a Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Fuji, it's all about the image and how was it captured.
 
If they'd said it to my face they'd have got a knuckle sandwich :mad:

... you're right though, there are an awful lot of lame bullies out there.

but of course they are only brave behind the anominity of their keyboards ...
 
There are some real sad people out there that really need to look at themselves in the mirror, because I'm sure if they were honest, they wouldn't like what they would see. Does it matter about the brand of camera, no, what matters is what that person can produce with it, it's all about the photography, what the person can create, capture, not whether its a Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Fuji, it's all about the image and how was it captured.

That - I used to be pretty scathing about the value of CSC (basically because i Had a Gf1 and it was no where near as good as my DSLR) , however seeing the quality of Lindsays work has changed my POV on that ..

Anyone who's so entrenched in their system fanboism that they make death threats over it though has bigger problems in their life than what sort of camera they use
 
I know - it's senseless, but it's true. A few years back I reviewed an innovative Fuji camera. A few days later the review was picked up by a notoriously aggressive photography forum where there just happened to be an anti-Japan, anti-capitalist movement. It subsequently turned out that a large number of purchasers of this camera discovered that it had a sensor anomaly and at that time Fuji were refusing to acknowledge it. So anybody fairly prominent who would positively review the camera was attacked - literally and absolutely. It started with a hate campaign on the forum in question, of the worst kind - the idea was to destroy my reputation. Then started a series of denial of service attacks on my websites, which caused profound disruption to my business and a lot of stress. Then there were personal insults and threats. Then fast forward a couple of years to when I switch to micro four thirds - total abuse in some forums, the full frame fanatics insisting that no bone fide competent professional would use such cameras, that I was a fraud, that my entire persona and presence was make-believe and part of a marketing campaign funded by Olympus (you've got to laugh) and more and more personal abuse and vile insults by e-mail. I was told never to blog again about equipment if I valued my health and I did stop blogging for a few months while I hoped things died down - they didn't, not entirely, but these days I just try to ignore it.

The defensiveness about equipment is terrifying in some contingents of the amateur community.

Why do they do it? Because they can. Because there are unfortunately a lot of very sad inadequate people out there who don't have lives, and so they have to resort to taking cheap shots at anyone who they feel is getting too much attention or exposure. The Internet provides a perfect vehicle for that. Going back to the Fuji fiasco, I had a lot of people writing to me anonymously begging me to be careful never to return to that forum again, if I valued by health. I know it's hard to believe, but it really was that bad. I did have to take recourse to the law at one point. That's why I'm sympathetic towards Andy Rouse - hopefully he didn't go through anything as bad as that, but I bet he was given a hard time.

Lindsay that is just awful - I wish these people got exposed to their families and in their places of work so that they lost their jobs and suffered some humiliation for their inexcusable actions. I wish you all the best and hope it is not stressing you out too much.
 
. Barely a week goes by when I don't receive personal insults for being an (independent) ambassador for Olympus - .

someone less dignified could have a great time signing thier emails up to services offering viagra, fitted kitchens, and porn :naughty: ... of course we realise you'd never sink that low, but if you'd like to pass the addresses on to me ;)...
 
Thanks Al, it was a while ago - hopefully it won't happen again. One of the side-effects is that it makes me slightly paranoid at times and I start thinking that all of the insults or threats have intent, when in fact most of them don't. I suppose where the Internet is concerned you can't know for sure if someone means what they say unless they do something - but I'm pleased to report that most of them have just been saddos venting their bitterness. I daresay Andy Rouse has an advantage in being male - I suspect that some of my attackers saw me as a soft target (some of the insults can be unbelievably sexist). Hopefully Andy is no longer feeling the fallout from his brand choices. I wonder if some of the flak he has taken might be the reason why he sounds defensive at times.
 
. I daresay Andy Rouse has an advantage in being male -.

There is that, though on the flip side authorities are less likely to take a bloke seriously if he raises the 'threats' with them , he is more likely to be expected to "man up". (at least thats my - non photo related - experience ). That said i'm not aware of anyone going as far as death threats with him ( I kind of suspect he'd be happy to give anyone who did a good kicking either metaphoric or literal) it was just the usual small minded fanboi posts you get if anyone dares to suggest that their camera system of choice isnt the best in the world.

On an american forum I once suggested that the 1Ds series wasnt for me citing that it was too big and heavy for my taste ... that sparked a furore of posts about how I was clearly a nerdy wimp and not man enough for real cameras...when i retaliated suggesting that anyone who felt so strongly about camera systems might be 'over compensating' one charming poster told me " I've got a .338 in my truck and i'm not afraid to use it" .... now i know that the .338 is a long range weapon but i think Tennessee to Devon could be pushing it :LOL:
 
I realise I am picking up on a very old thread here but if some of those who have commented on Foto-Buzz specifically is still an active TP member I'd love to have the opportunity to discuss some of the things that have been put in this thread. Foto-Buzz is still going but has undergone a lot of changes and development in the past few years. Happy to update for those interested...
 
I realise I am picking up on a very old thread here but if some of those who have commented on Foto-Buzz specifically is still an active TP member I'd love to have the opportunity to discuss some of the things that have been put in this thread. Foto-Buzz is still going but has undergone a lot of changes and development in the past few years. Happy to update for those interested...

Some are still here but at least one has sadly died.
Would you like to discuss your response as outlined in Post #7?
Was it a bad day, a misunderstanding or just a normal response?
The main question seemed to be 'what do you get for your £75?' ... you could discuss that. :)
 
Last edited:
OK, well for starters I am not Andy Rouse, I am Andrew James, the other member of the original partnership that started the website. I don't feel that I can answer for comments not made by me in 2014 but I can understand the resulting discussions. Andy is no longer involved with Foto-Buzz. I run it with Jon Adams, former editor of Digital Photo. I won't bore you with our backgrounds but you can read more about us in the 'Our Experts' section of Foto-Buzz here.

We run Foto-Buzz as an online magazine/camera club - with lots of articles, videos, podcasts, competitions and so on, with new content updated on a weekly basis. The subscription pays for the time it takes to create all these things, maintain the website, develop the site itself, monitor the site, give advice directly via our chat forum and so on. Our aim is to help improve members' photography through the articles and interaction between members, as well as to provide interesting and entertaining content too, such as the videos and Podcast we do.

Jon and I are very down-to-earth and friendly. Foto-Buzz really is a genuinely active community of photographers of different standards from all walks of life and while of course it's not for everyone (what is?), we have members who have been with us for the last five years as well as others who have only joined recently. I really wanted to get the point across that I felt there was some misunderstanding about Foto-Buzz, what it is, offers and who runs it. Hope that's okay...
 
I understand you needed to undertake a damage limitation exercise Andrew considering the point made by Mr. Rouse 5 years ago.

I trust he's not in marketing anymore? :)
 
OK, well for starters I am not Andy Rouse, I am Andrew James, the other member of the original partnership that started the website. I don't feel that I can answer for comments not made by me in 2014 but I can understand the resulting discussions. Andy is no longer involved with Foto-Buzz. I run it with Jon Adams, former editor of Digital Photo. I won't bore you with our backgrounds but you can read more about us in the 'Our Experts' section of Foto-Buzz here.

We run Foto-Buzz as an online magazine/camera club - with lots of articles, videos, podcasts, competitions and so on, with new content updated on a weekly basis. The subscription pays for the time it takes to create all these things, maintain the website, develop the site itself, monitor the site, give advice directly via our chat forum and so on. Our aim is to help improve members' photography through the articles and interaction between members, as well as to provide interesting and entertaining content too, such as the videos and Podcast we do.

Jon and I are very down-to-earth and friendly. Foto-Buzz really is a genuinely active community of photographers of different standards from all walks of life and while of course it's not for everyone (what is?), we have members who have been with us for the last five years as well as others who have only joined recently. I really wanted to get the point across that I felt there was some misunderstanding about Foto-Buzz, what it is, offers and who runs it. Hope that's okay...

Thanks for responding :)
 
I understand you needed to undertake a damage limitation exercise Andrew considering the point made by Mr. Rouse 5 years ago.

I trust he's not in marketing anymore? :)

I think as that part of the discussion is five years old I'm not trying to undertake a damage limitation exercise here. I came across this old thread and felt that it should be updated to reflect where Foto-Buzz is now. I wish I'd seen it five years ago as I would happily have chatted about it then and given you all the information. If you want to know more about Foto-Buzz I am happy to oblige. You can always contact me directly via our Contact Us page here. Thanks guys.
 
Last edited:
Some are still here but at least one has sadly died.
Would you like to discuss your response as outlined in Post #7?
Was it a bad day, a misunderstanding or just a normal response?
The main question seemed to be 'what do you get for your £75?' ... you could discuss that. :)
I notice it is now £80, just had a look at the site. I'm keen to learn but for £80 I would like to see what I'm getting, maybe a weeks trial of the membership would entice new members.
On the other hand this place is free and you can get a lot of info and help from fellow members as I'm finding out.
 
I notice it is now £80, just had a look at the site. I'm keen to learn but for £80 I would like to see what I'm getting, maybe a weeks trial of the membership would entice new members.
On the other hand this place is free and you can get a lot of info and help from fellow members as I'm finding out.

I tell you what Paul, why don't you contact me direct on andrew@foto-buzz.com and we can sort something out.
 
@FotoBuzzing

Hi Andrew

Fiwiw
An online club that offers what yours seems to, can have some appeal. Though as noted web fora covering a wide photography spectrum exist.

So, as @Nikon f1.8 says, a free trial (like we can get with many software programes) "try before you buy" seems like a sensible business model. But what is your USP???

Having said that, you are running a business not a club......so in one regard I find your "online message" confusing on your Andrew James Media site copyright stamped @ 2019 you still mention Andy Rouse and the £75 but the hyperlink to Foto Buzz goes to the current site owned(?) by you and Jon Adams(did I recall that right?) with the £80 mentioned. Such confusion by a business does not inspire confidence!

Please do not take my appraisal of what I have seen so far as negative but when I buy something I like know I have made an informed choice and frankly without a try before you buy that "informed choice" is very limited.

PS were you to offer a TBYB that IMO needs to be a full access one (unless it is obvious as to what the full access parts offer) in some form. Plus again IMO this should in public on your website and not done privately and hoc.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for tip off. To be honest, I have been so busy with Foto-Buzz that my personal site has become rather neglected. I'll update it when I can. In the meantime my offer of direct contact applies to you too.
 
Thanks for tip off. To be honest, I have been so busy with Foto-Buzz that my personal site has become rather neglected. I'll update it when I can. In the meantime my offer of direct contact applies to you too.

Ooops! It was taking me so long to post my PS I missed this post......I e. It was not in answer to this post :)
 
Re-reading my own post ....I also forgot to ask?

Re: Blue Ice Media? I see apart from your website there was a limited company, since dissolved???
 
I recently spent the whole day out shooting short eared owls with Andy rouse , he was initially with a group of friends of mine that meet up regularly for the winter owls , and we hit it off like a house on fire due to both coming from the same part of London . he is just a normal photographer that has obviously seen a niche in the market and taken it , personally I liked him he is straight forward and genuine and extremely helpful to others . Good luck to him for making some money out of this expensive hobby . He has No airs and graces just a genuine knowledge and dedication to get the image right .
 
Back
Top