| Photography Forum: Philosophy Of Photography Forum: |
 |
Q. Thank you!
Asked by Ray Vann
(K=3093) on 4/23/2004
|
The other day I just got fed up with Photo.net and began looking for a new "home." Without doubt, Photo.net has a very nice site with many top rate photographers. However, I have had a few issues come up regarding their site and the general frame of mind is something like, "This is the way it is, it can't be changed, if it can it is too much work to change it, and besides, you're wrong anyway." Other than my issues with their site (the fact that it moves very slow at times, freezes up often and has no way of blocking out trash that I don't won't my daughters to see when they are looking over my shoulder to learn about photography), it also seems that many of the ratings are harsh without support. What I mean is you can get a 3 from someone who has never posted a picture and will never tell you why they think it is a bad picture. Then you get a 7 on a picture and never know what people like about the image. It just seems that the community at Usefilm is really into helping one another become better photographers. Sure, I don't get thousands of views at Usefilm, but who cares? An example is my image Giving Thanks. I posted that one on Photo.net 5 months ago and while I had over 5,000 views, I received only 2 comments. I posted it 2 days ago on Usefilm and have already received 4 comments with only 21 views. So I am here to say THANK YOU to everyone in the Usefilm community. This is a great group and it looks like I'm here to stay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger Williams
(K=86139) - Comment Date 4/23/2004
|
Welcome, Ray! Usefilm has its problems, but we've just gone through a tremendous upheaval with a complete site redesign and lots of new functions. Some of us are still in shock! One thing you CAN definitely say is that the webmaster listens to requests for new features and functions, and for improvements to existing ones. It may take time, and it may not please everyone (an impossible task anyway) but the attitude and the willingness to work really really hard at it are absolutely first class. You'll probably find that most of the comments you're ever going to get are in the first couple or three days, mind, so don't expect the comments to go clicking up at this rate indefinitely. {grin}
|
|
|
|
Jeff Fiore
(K=11277) - Comment Date 4/23/2004
|
I to am new to UseFilm.com. I still belong to Photo.net but I'm using it less and less. I only look at their forums right now - those are still pretty good.
What I didn't like about Photo.net was lack of comments also. The other thing that bothered me was amateur photographers who just learned the rule of thirds and think every photo has to follow that rule. I had posted one photo on Photo.net (it is also posted here - my "Reflections" image) and got hammered for the centered composition - did it ever occur to these amateurs that the centered composition was the purpose of the image? My brother (also a new UseFilm member) posted numerous lighthouse photos on photo.net that were centered and got trashed for the centered composition. As my brother said "I like my lighthouses centered" because he is trying to convey serenity and calm - the very feeling he gets when viewing a lighthouse.
When I say amateur in this reference, I mean that someone who is learning photography, learns the rules, thinks every photo ever tasken must follow that rule and is not creative enough to know when to break the rules. I always wondered how they would rate the Mona Lisa for it's centered composition.
What I find is serious amateurs, semi professionals and professionals always reach for a higher level of creativity, break the rules and create their own rules and I really find this alot on UseFilm.
An added bonus is that a lot of my favorite photographers on phot.net are here also.
|
|
|
|
Ray Vann
(K=3093) - Comment Date 4/23/2004
|
Jeff,
Maybe that should be the next Photo Project after Perspectives.....Centered!
Ray
|
|
|
|
Mark Beltran
(K=32612) - Comment Date 4/24/2004
|
Yeah, I get the same impression when I visit that site. Mind you there are some class individuals there also, but yes I know the ones you are speaking of.
|
|
|
|
Beverly Gustafson
(K=1572) - Comment Date 4/27/2004
|
Welcome to the UF family Ray! When I came here just under 3 yrs ago I had been shooting (with my first ever camera) for less than a year. What I have learned here has helped me progress both technically and artistically faster than I ever could have on my own. I have seen UF go through so many changes, most good, a few not so good, but always with the majority of the members in mind. As long as you are willing to learn, and contribute, you will benefit from your fellow members in so many ways. Again, welcome! ~ Beverly
|
|
|
|
|
