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Invigorate the Photography Forum?


@Clare - re: 3 different ideas.

Actually, my real idea is to use many more than three possibilities for the proposed "Weekly Photo Thread" as a way to ensure variety and encourage new participants, as well as a flexible platform to test which of the many possible approaches mentioned PSG participants actually prefer, and to get an idea of the level of participation we might expect. I am worried that if we initially select a small number of approaches based on our own preferences with no external input / validation, only the usual gang of PSG regulars will join in and we won't attract new blood. My idea is to rotate through the various general areas over the weeks, and, after a year or so, see which are the most popular.

Some possibilities for topmost categories include:


  • "No Words" weeks - ...as discussed earler. There are an almost unlimited number of starting points for threads of this general type, e.g., "No Words: Seals", "No Words: Kids", etc.. This category includes some "Photo Tennis" in that one can respond visually to the cues put forth by others, but would not be the place for using the previous submissions as stock material for compositing.
  • -
  • "Topics in Photography" weeks - more like a conventional photo class - standard topics like Clare listed, e.g., "Topics in Photography: Posing", "Topics in Photography: landscapes", lighting, etc. etc.
  • -
  • "Free-for-all" weeks - for those who hate structure, these would be weeks during which folks can post whatever they want, as long as they stay within the limit of only one image per person per week, and one response per person per image per week.
  • -
  • "Post Processing" weeks - show b4 and after versions, as suggested by Clare, Smoke and several others (as I recall).
  • -
  • "Photo Tennis / MegaChop" weeks - I like it.
  • -
  • "Critique" weeks - people post an image specifically to be critiqued ... everything from basic composition and technique to aesthetics, overall artistic goals, etc.
  • -
  • "Minimal Processing" weeks - For photographic traditionalists. We could start with a very broad call, and then if that proved popular, have other weeks in this category for specific topics, e.g., "Minimal Processing: Street", "Minimal Processing: Landscapes", etc.
  • -
  • "Equipment" weeks - For the gearheads that just can't get enough on DP review and similar sites. In this category, there could be weeks for specific brands, for specific types of equipment (eg, "Equipment: Lenses", "Equipment: Camera phones", "Equipment: Tripods"). These would likely be more discussion oriented, with fewer pix). This would be the only category in which there might be equipment restrictions. For example, the camera used would be irrelevant in any of the previous areas.
  • -
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@Clare: Gallery, awards and such.

To be honest, at best, I'm only luke-warm about a gallery. I already mentioned my concerns about having a Gallery (ie, what might ours offer that isn't already done 100x over elsewhere on the web). For example there are already huge sources of high resolution images available: just use Google Images and set the size parameter.

OTOH, a separate PS tutorial section with its own gallery of examples would be, IMHO, an excellent addition.

When it comes to awards, I think this turns off many more newbies than it could possibly attract. I'm not very enthusiastic about this.

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More later.

Gotta run,

T
 
Steve: "...What kind of rules did you have in mind...."

Man, you ask the easy questions, don't you.:cry:

I've been thinking about this, and I'm torn between simplicity (so everyone can remember them, they don't change from week to week, etc.) and flexibility (ie, the rules for a MegaChop week really should be different from the rules for a "No Words" week).

Any suggestions?

Tom
 
Our challenges are different each time and we have them about every two weeks. They have different subject matter, different "rules," tutorials to guide people, etc. I don't think varying the photo entry rules would be too much, even for us simpletons! :mrgreen: As long as they are clearly stated, it works for me.
 
How about a photo taken by a member then 'altered' in any way using any tools as a monthly challenge - but in the photography room?
 
Tom i have left a note in the staff room about how to go forward with this, time zones and all that you understand.
 
Ahh, thanks, Paul.

BTW, just a general comment about rules. To help encourage folks to participate in these various topics, I would initially relax the rules.

For example, if we anticipate the long-term rule for a "No Words" thread to be no more than one image per participant per thread (ie, per week), initially, I would dial this way back to something like "no more than one image per participant per DAY". We could then see if people were simply using (abusing) the thread to grandstand endless strings of their own images, or keeping with the Photo Tennis spirit of the thread.

T
 
Tom Mann said:
Ahh, thanks, Paul.

BTW, just a general comment about rules. To help encourage folks to participate in these various topics, I would initially relax the rules.

For example, if we anticipate the long-term rule for a "No Words" thread to be no more than one image per participant per thread (ie, per week), initially, I would dial this way back to something like "no more than one image per participant per DAY". We could then see if people were simply using (abusing) the thread to grandstand endless strings of their own images, or keeping with the Photo Tennis spirit of the thread.

T
Click to expand...

I would rethink that "one image per participant per day" thing and go back to one a week, or maybe two. Just my take on it.
 
Yes, I think that is the best answer of a couple that I can think of, the only really important one. If someone can only post a limited number, that someone will pay a lot closer attention to what photo they pick, how good it is to begin with, and how much attention is given the post-processing if any. So yeah, quality.
 
just bumping it again when will this actually become a photography thread that tom is asking for?
 
A new, regular "No Words" thread has just been rolled out in the photography forum!

Check it out! Add your images.

Tom
 
Thank you, Mike. Thank you, Clare.

Let's see if we can get lots of participation. Tell all your friends to stop by and drop off a photo or two.

T
 
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