Another Forum Bites The Dust

[smoke665]

Photography forum - Photography-forum. org, is shutting down Sept 1st, after 15 years. They cited a big drop in sponsorships, paid memberships, postings and increasing high cost of hosting as the reason. They went to a Face Book page and suprisingly saw a dramatic upswing in the activity by members many who hadn't been on in years. Sign of the times?????

 

[webestang64]

If this place goes to FB, see ya.

 

[Space Face]

No loss to be honest. It was a very cliquey place I found. Stopped using it a long time ago.

 

[Jeff15]

I agree with Space Face.....

 

[cgw]

Suspect photo.net is circling the drain, too. Switching to a social media platform here is like turning a favorite neighborhood dive bar into a drive-thru liquor store.

 

[mjcmt]

BTW, what do you guys think of the forum PhotographyTalk? I tried to like it but its a bit quirky w/ small feedback. I just can't seem to be involved or accepted. Maybe it's just me.

 

[nokk]

BTW, what do you guys think of the forum PhotographyTalk? I tried to like it but its a bit quirky w/ small feedback. I just can't seem to be involved or accepted. Maybe it's just me.

i tried that one recently, it feels like the twilight zone of photography forums. my biggest issue there was all of the random followers i get with no interaction.

 

[smoke665]

No loss to be honest. It was a very cliquey place I found. Stopped using it a long time ago.

There were a couple that way but not all. Biggest problem i saw was the lack of posts.

As to social media vs forums, is there really any difference when the forum format turns into a "like" platform rather than a critical appraisal on photography.

 

[dolina]

Photography forum - Photography-forum. org, is shutting down Sept 1st, after 15 years. They cited a big drop in sponsorships, paid memberships, postings and increasing high cost of hosting as the reason. They went to a Face Book page and suprisingly saw a dramatic upswing in the activity by members many who hadn't been on in years. Sign of the times?????

Last month I started visiting online forums I registered with 15-20 years ago.

What I've observed is

- ~20% are offline with lapsed domain name registration
- ~20% are online but >90% are filled with spam bots
- ~50% are still active but a fraction of the users are posting

This may be caused by

- Facebook
- change of interest
- change of financial circumstances
- death

Yesterday I stopped posting on Birds of the World - Feathers and Photos - Australia's bird photography forum because the mods do not want to address user concerns. I would not be surprised if that forum will be devoid of living users before the Summer Games.

I am thankful that the owners of ThePhotoForum Film & Digital Photography Forum updated their forum software to year 2022 standards. A lot are still using software from ~20 years ago.

 

[dolina]

BTW, what do you guys think of the forum PhotographyTalk? I tried to like it but its a bit quirky w/ small feedback. I just can't seem to be involved or accepted. Maybe it's just me.

I wouldn't bother. I think they're interested in your credit card

 

[smoke665]

This may be caused by

- Facebook
- change of interest
- change of financial circumstances
- death

With all social media there's an ebb and flow, as circumstances and interests change. Added to your list, you need "a varied mix of image genre postings" to keep things interesting. We live in a "click and scroll" world where unless something piques our curiosity we quickly move on. Its sad, but a good spirited argument really draws out the comments.

Finally, I view forums as a "place of learning". Social media like FB is a place where people post to stoke thier ego. Likes, nice shot, and good job seem to be the majority of responses. IMO forums "should" be a place of learning where critical reviews provide another set of eyes to guide us. TPF was like that at one time, you didn't ask for critique unless you were thick skinned, but you learned in the process, over time it's become less so. Many of the knowledgeable photographers willing to help are gone, and a large section of the current members are either unwilling to spend thier time commenting, they're uncomfortable doing so, or don't feel qualified to do so. Photograpy-Forum fell somewhere in between, there was a lot of clique stoking egos, and the occasional valid critique.

 

[dolina]

With all social media there's an ebb and flow, as circumstances and interests change. Added to your list, you need "a varied mix of image postings" to keep things interesting. We live in a "click and scroll" world where unless something piques our curiosity we quickly move on. Its sad, but a good spirited argument really draws out the comments.

Finally, I view forums as a "place of learning". Social media like FB is a place where people post to stoke thier ego. Likes, nice shot, and good job seem to be the majority of responses. IMO forums "should" be a place of learning where critical reviews provide another set of eyes to guide us. TPF was like that at one time, you didn't ask for critique unless you were thick skinned, but you learned in the process, over time it's become less so. Many of the knowledgeable photographers willing to help are gone, and a large section of the current members are either unwilling to spend thier time commenting, they're uncomfortable doing so, or don't feel qualified to do so. Photograpy-Forum fell somewhere in between, there was a lot of clique stoking egos, and the occasional valid critique.

There's less barriers to entry, less friction & a flattened learning curve to use Facebook vs photo forums like thephotoforum.

Like, with Facebook my password credentials from my personal account carries over to Facebook groups.

No need to register, again.

Another would be the friction of sharing photos. On Facebook it's just a simple upload and the photos are displayed instantly.

For photo forums... you have to upload to the forum's server if they allow it or hotlink it from sites like flickr. To share you need to understand BbCode or at least know how to copy & paste it to here.

1-click solution vs ~1 dozen-click solution

If you've been using online forums prior to Facebook or even during the rise of Facebook then this skill was a necessity but with almost everyone on FB then it becomes optional.

Another allure of Facebook is that your contacts in real life that you see daily, weekly, monthly or annually will see your work. Not putting down photo forums but everyone here's largely a real life stranger that odds are we'll never meet in person in a casual manner.

This may be on a case to case basis but some photo forums think they can be as strict & stringent as they want like it was a decade ago and provide a "take it or leave it" approach to their members.

You need to follow rules A, B, C or D or we'd ban you account! Or worse delete your post that you took time to share for the most esoteric reason that only 1 person had an issue with while the rest find it too mundane to whine about.

They do no consider the decline of active membership that whatever users that remain are doing them a solid by sticking around & sharing their images.

Unlike a decade ago where in there are more new members signing up than users ceasing activity this is not the case today.

Now, there are far fewer new sign ups & more users not posting anymore.

As a user you have zero say on how the admin/mod decides on their forum. The best you can do it take your clicks away from them.

That's how forums die.

 

[smoke665]

Another would be the friction of sharing photos. On Facebook it's just a simple upload and the photos are displayed instantly.

That simplisty comes with a price. When you upload to FB they crush your image, so much so that if I want an image to display correctly I still use a link.

Not putting down photo forums but everyone here's largely a real life stranger that odds are we'll never meet in person in a casual manner.

Networking is what you make of it. I have several friendships that originated on TPF that I communicate with offline via phone, email, and FB.

some photo forums think they can be as strict & stringent as they want like it was a decade ago and provide a "take it or leave it" approach to their members.

Apparently you've never been censored or spent time in FB jail. I got hammered once because I said I'd love to spend some time in studio "shooting" a friends daughter. Apparently "shooting" is a terrorist word that goes against community standards.Theres also censorship 8f your image goes against one of their vague commun8ty standards. My experience with FB has always been a "take it or leave it" attitude.

Now, there are far fewer new sign ups & more users not posting anymore.

I agree with you here. IMO the cell phone is the culprit. We live in an instant gratification society. You can snap a shot with a cell phone, add filter effects and upload to FB in the blink of an eye. I don't believe there are as many hobbyists as there once were. You cant drop $$$$ on a cell phone then drop another $$$$ on a camera.

 

[dolina]

That simplisty comes with a price. When you upload to FB they crush your image, so much so that if I want an image to display correctly I still use a link.



Networking is what you make of it. I have several friendships that originated on TPF that I communicate with offline via phone, email, and FB.



Apparently you've never been censored or spent time in FB jail. I got hammered once because I said I'd love to spend some time in studio "shooting" a friends daughter. Apparently "shooting" is a terrorist word that goes against community standards.Theres also censorship 8f your image goes against one of their vague commun8ty standards. My experience with FB has always been a "take it or leave it" attitude.



I agree with you here. IMO the cell phone is the culprit. We live in an instant gratification society. You can snap a shot with a cell phone, add filter effects and upload to FB in the blink of an eye. I don't believe there are as many hobbyists as there once were. You cant drop $$$$ on a cell phone then drop another $$$$ on a camera.

Preamble my reply isn't an endorsement of Facebook. It is an explanation why many photogs prefer to use it over any photo forum.

I happen to like photo forums but I am not blind to see why Facebook has a gravitational pull on anyone and everyone.

It is the preferred town square and photo forums are today's online equivalent of art houses.

> That simplisty comes with a price. When you upload to FB they crush your image, so much so that if I want an image to display correctly I still use a link.

It is like a film maker like Christopher Nola insisting that their masterpiece be released 1st in the cinema vs being put onto HBO Max. During pandemic no one went to the cinema but everyone signed up for HBO Max.

Or Tailor Swift not wanting to work with Spotify and prefer to do CD or vinyl.

In both instances you're limiting your audience and views.

I agree with you but what's the trade off?

Facebook vs any photo forum

- 1 click vs ~1 dozen click to share a photo?

- Facebook friends' views vs Dozens of unique views from "strangers" or experts?

It is very difficult to get in real life friends to visit my Flickr account. No problem with my Facebook account as my Facebook wall's feed is auto added to their Facebook newsfeed.

It is a "push" vs "pull" dilemma

Postpaid smartphone subscribers gets "pushed" a new iPhone every 24-36 months and be paid on a amortised manner.

Digital still cameras need to be "pulled" and BH Photo gives you up to 12 months 0% interest equal installment.

A photo that is not seen is not a really useful photo.

> Networking is what you make of it. I have several friendships that originated on TPF that I communicate with offline via phone, email, and FB.

That is true. I have made friends largely because of the internet that I would never have access to in real life. Again it is inertia. If the audience is in Facebook then you need to adjust and go to Facebook.

This is why photo forums die.

> Apparently you've never been censored or spent time in FB jail. I got hammered once because I said I'd love to spend some time in studio "shooting" a friends daughter. Apparently "shooting" is a terrorist word that goes against community standards.

Someone must not like you enough to report you.

I've used the word "shoot" sparingly on Facebook and have yet to encounter any problems with it.

> Theres also censorship 8f your image goes against one of their vague commun8ty standards. My experience with FB has always been a "take it or leave it" attitude.

If it is nudity or gore of any sort then I agree with Facebook deleting it. They do not want the bad press that will impact shareholder's value.

If I had kids I would not want them looking at nudies on their Facebook account.

Last thing I want people to see is me scrolling on Facebook for unintentional porn.

That's why their are other venues for this subject matter.

> I agree with you here. IMO the cell phone is the culprit. We live in an instant gratification society. You can snap a shot with a cell phone, add filter effects and upload to FB in the blink of an eye. I don't believe there are as many hobbyists as there once were. You cant drop $$$$ on a cell phone then drop another $$$$ on a camera.

I think smartphone helped popularized photography and lowered the barrier to entry to even persons making $0.50/hour.

Even I have to admit the utility & portability of a dedicated still camera cannot beat a smartphone.

If I want to buy a $1099 smartphone I can pay for it $45.79/month on a 24 month contract or even less on a longer contract.

I want a $5999 FujiFILM GFX 100S body but I'd have to have a SSN to avail of the 12 month 0% interest BH Photo installment plan. That's $499.92/month for a max of 12 months?

 

[pendennis]

Suspect photo.net is circling the drain, too. Switching to a social media platform here is like turning a favorite neighborhood dive bar into a drive-thru liquor store.

They're difficult to contact for problem solving. I registered, but forgot to add a screen name. Once the ID was set, I couldn't go back and add one. I contacted them via the required folks, but never got a response. The site content was interesting enough to re-register, so I did. However, it looks as though the site could use a major refresh, more to do with site content, etc.