Was going to respond in the shout box but I feel we need a wee group feedback chat to see how we can turn the tide of quietness.
Reinardina and Mick have quite correctly spotted that the site has been quiet of late. I know I have been away from here a long time and have only just come back, so I apologise for that. Was down to other commitments.
I think we need a brain storm of ideas to try and get the site out of 2nd gear. Personally I don't think more members would be the fix. I think it's down to participation.
I run a page on Facebook (nothing to do with photography) which has only 75 members, but it's very quiet, sometimes comatose. When members do input to the page it's the same band of 5 or 6 dedicated folks. I am also a member of a Facebook photography group which has over 500 members, but again only about a dozen "regulars" contribute to the group with photos and tips.
We have, in my opinion, have the same thing here. Lots of members but only a "band of brothers (and sisters)" participating.
In closing, I don't think we should focus on getting new members, but try to see how we can get our existing ones to participate more and/or find out what makes them reluctant to share their photos or comment in the forums etc.
I welcome any additional thoughts on this as I feel this is something that needs addressed :)
Well done Matthew for instigating this.
I'll post some thoughts tomorrow, when I have a bit more time.
:tup:
I too have had other commitments lately, mostly workwise. I belong to a few photo forums, one is very very active in feedback and comments on photos but the comp fails to attract many entries. Here, when an image is posted in the gallery, theres not much interest sadly and that tends to set the precidence. I don't, for that reason. put many images in the gallery or comment on others, as its the way here. So I am as guilty as others.
Facebook, twitter and pinterest is the downfall of places like this. Because of my job, I have to limit activities in social networking sites. Just recently, a colleague has started to be hounded by clients and police are now involved. I feel safe and cushioned in here as its specific to people interested in photography. Would hate to see it fail.
I too have had a lot on my plate this last year, and still do, but I have been regularly adding photos, in the hope one might attract some attention.
If we want more photos and comments, we'll have to start contributing to the galleries.
If we want lively discussions, we should take the time to add meaningful comments.
The competition attracts some people and puts others off, so what to do about that?
Maybe the poll should not be on the front page, but somewhere 'hidden.' The participants will know where to find it anyway, and maybe the bottom half of the front page could be used for something special? Something eye catching?
Maybe a week of 'best landscapes,' followed by 'best portraits, best monochromes' etcetera.
Or another large image, like the image of the week?
Maybe something unusual? Something 'furthest away from chocolate box'? Abstracts only? 'Outside the box' only, 'No children or animals,' just plants - no flowers, inanimate objects, geometric shapes?
It would certainly create a new, fresh impression.
A forum somewhere, that has nothing to do with photography? An agony aunt type thing? Probably not too serious, something about hobbies? Crude funny rhymes? (I've got quite a few of those stowed away somewhere), short (say maximum 500 words) stories, based on or round a photograph? Around the IOTW?
I think I now need a drink!
Night night all, hope to see all of you tomorrow.
I guess it's that old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"....we have lots of "Horses", but not all of them want to drink. The key is finding out how to make them. When I first joined, there was regular input and comment on photos but it has dried up. We need to find out why. I think the best way to sort this is a section at a time, start with the core and work outwards. The core is the gallery, from which everything else feeds from.
I think what might be putting off some folks from uploading is the form filling. I think maybe a concise version would work better, for example just having a box for the photo title/description and tag words. If members want to know what camera/lens set up, settings you used for the shot, then they can ask for this in the comments area. I must admit I only upload a couple because I find the process of typing in my camera and lens a tad laborious.
Interesting to see "time" is mentioned. I think this is where social media sites thrive. As I mentioned in my post I am also part of a Photography group on Facebook, in literally seconds I can upload my photo with a title and/or description and it's up there. Sorry for kicking this off Mick, I appreciate you do a sterling job with this site, I am just trying to help this site survive.
Quote from: Matthew on October 18, 2014, 11:08:49 PM
I guess it's that old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"....
I thought it was, "You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead!" :2funny: :2funny:
Quote from: Oldboy on October 19, 2014, 12:40:39 AM
Quote from: Matthew on October 18, 2014, 11:08:49 PM
I guess it's that old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"....
I thought it was, "You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead!" :2funny: :2funny:
Pencils are graphite :) Yes, it has been quiet. I have not participated too often either for a few reasons. I will come back with a few ideas. I will be honest, I never use the actual galleries here, if I want comments on a photo, I post it right in the forums. I have not participated in the weekly competitions, but I always vote, for a long time.
I notice that posting is very much a time of day thing. It seems to happen early in the day and then be done. From my perspective, being 5 hours behind the UK, I never see much posted past 9 am my time.
We could do a few other things. We have a photo of the week, is it only chosen from the gallery or the forums as well? If it is not the forums as well, I think we should add them. We could also do a photo of the month but maybe have that one being a submission by the member. It has to have been taken and posted in the previous month.
Just a couple of comments.
CC is really what you want it to be and participation depends on what YOU want from it.
I always look at the galleries but only comment if there is something that really catches my eye and I feel warrants a comment, otherwise commenting on all and everything becomes meaningless. This has and always will be a bone of contention, especially amongst those that are setting out on their photographic journey.
Whilst I post images occasionally I must say the same criteria apply, if you've got something that you deem worthy of looking at put it up if not don't put it up for the sake of it.
Not too sure about the 'form filling' when posting an image, where does that occur? I've never done anything like that.
The competition, well my views are well known on that. Sometimes when you look at the home page the recent post column comprises 90% about competitions that are currently on the go. If you are not of the competition persuasion that's an immediate off putter.
It's all about photography and related topics and sometimes a bit of banter on the side, it seems to get visitors on a regular basis, if they feel they don't want to join in, well that's life.
Pleased to see a thread on this subject started by someone else rather than myself, I think I've mentioned it a few times in the past. :tup:
You probably gather from my lack of input lately that I have completely given up trying to get this place active (or should I say, more active). Although it seems forums are a dying breed, some just seem to get it right and are pretty active. So we need to ask what are we (Me) doing so wrong here at CC.
Coppermine: (The gallery software) Yes it looks outdated and doesn't have the bells and whistles that some of the social sites have, but I'm kind of stuck with it atm. You're probably aware that I'm on the team, in fact I'm an admin over at the place where Coppermine gallery is built, hence my reluctance to change to a different gallery system. That said, a new version is being worked on, and will be a lot different from what we have atm, if it ever makes the release stage.
SMF: (The forum software) Again, I'd like to stick with this, as I'm also on the support team for the portal addon which gives us all the various parts of the site outside the forums. A rewritten version of the forum script is also under way, this will also look and work differently too, and I'm testing this locally as it develops.
So for the software, it's a case of 1: waiting, and seeing if the new versions will all play nicely together. 2: If I can be arsed to even bother trying. Is it worth the effort.
ABERS hit the nail on the head though. "CC is really what you want it to be and participation depends on what YOU want from it"
This stage is yours so whatever do with it is down to you guys. ;)
Quote from: Matthew on October 18, 2014, 11:08:49 PM
I think what might be putting off some folks from uploading is the form filling. I think maybe a concise version would work better, for example just having a box for the photo title/description and tag words. If members want to know what camera/lens set up, settings you used for the shot, then they can ask for this in the comments area. I must admit I only upload a couple because I find the process of typing in my camera and lens a tad laborious.
Matthew, I'm wondering the same as ABERS, I'm not sure where the form filling problem occurs, you don't have to fill in anything really, most of the fields are optional. just the "title/description" would be fine for example.
Some good points here, but was hoping to see more.
For me, I'd like to see the forum easier to access. I tend to look at new comments in threads but rarely enter the forum to go any 'deeper.' My failing, but I wonder how many others do this??
Personally I like the comps but I can see what others say so maybe consideration should be given to leaving it as a thread. As already mentioned, people who participate know about it so could easily find it in a thread. Perhaps just a small reminder on the home page would work?.
I agree that it's difficult to encourage participation, I guess we need to become more active and see if that breeds more involvement.
Quote from: ABERS on October 19, 2014, 09:26:41 AM
CC is really what you want it to be and participation depends on what YOU want from it.
I always look at the galleries but only comment if there is something that really catches my eye and I feel warrants a comment, otherwise commenting on all and everything becomes meaningless. This has and always will be a bone of contention, especially amongst those that are setting out on their photographic journey.
Whilst I post images occasionally I must say the same criteria apply, if you've got something that you deem worthy of looking at put it up if not don't put it up for the sake of it.
Not too sure about the 'form filling' when posting an image, where does that occur? I've never done anything like that.
The competition, well my views are well known on that. Sometimes when you look at the home page the recent post column comprises 90% about competitions that are currently on the go. If you are not of the competition persuasion that's an immediate off putter.
It's all about photography and related topics and sometimes a bit of banter on the side, it seems to get visitors on a regular basis, if they feel they don't want to join in, well that's life.
I was referring loosely to the process of uploading your image. Once you click "upload" you are then taken to a page where you enter the title/description, tags, camera, lens and location. My point was if you have a few photographs you'd like to upload, you may be put off by the "formy" nature of the process. I know you can copy and paste text for repetitive inserts and not all the fields are mandatory. I was suggesting a concise version where you just need to add a title/description and tags to make it a little less laborious.
But as you say, CC is what you make it. I just feel it is lacking that buzz it used to have and we need to come up with some fresh ideas to stop it going stale.
Just my humble opinion :)
Quote from: Jediboy on October 19, 2014, 11:23:06 AM
For me, I'd like to see the forum easier to access. I tend to look at new comments in threads but rarely enter the forum to go any 'deeper.' My failing, but I wonder how many others do this??
Thanks Jediboy, but I'm not sure what you mean by "I'd like to see the forum easier to access" Is it a lack of navigation? or something else, such as too many boards etc.
This topic pops up regularly. People react, and for a time there is a bit of a buzz, which soon dies out, as people seem to lose interest, and the site becomes dormant again.
The front page often shows the same photographs, and not only competition entries.
At the bottom, the competition poll prevents anything new or exciting happening there for a whole week. So, as I said in my previous post, it may be best, to remove the poll from its prominent place, and reserve this space for something a bit special. Eye catching.
Maybe there should be stricter guidelines for posting images. Restrict them to two or three at any one time, till, at least three or four from other members have been uploaded. This prevents a front page filled with almost identical images, as has happened in the past.
In 'dead' times, this may prevent any new images appearing at all, so you should be able to add some more if, for instance, nothing has happened for 24 hours.
But, to be brutally honest, I think CC, like so many other sites, is not viable anymore, so closing it down, is the only 'solution.'
Please prove me wrong.
A bit harsh Re - it's a small and friendly place, rather unlike the impersonal antisocial networking sites like Facebook - where I almost never post anything out of choice.
As for the process of uploading to the gallery, I have to say that I agree it could be better presented. How about a direct 'upload photos' button prominent on the front page, and a redesign of the upload page to make it clear that all of the fields are optional except the file name and album boxes, and make the album box default to a 'public' album by default. Then uploading should be a breeze.
Something like this perhaps:
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Upload_page_suggestion.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=16775&fullsize=1)
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 19, 2014, 12:56:10 PM
A bit harsh Re - it's a small and friendly place, rather unlike the impersonal antisocial networking sites like Facebook - where I almost never post anything out of choice.
As for the process of uploading to the gallery, I have to say that I agree it could be better presented. How about a direct 'upload photos' button prominent on the front page, and a redesign of the upload page to make it clear that all of the fields are optional except the file name and album boxes, and make the album box default to a 'public' album by default. Then uploading should be a breeze.
Something like this perhaps:
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Upload_page_suggestion.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=16775&fullsize=1)
Nice idea Howard, trouble is there's more than one upload sys in the gallery, so I'd have to modify each of them, and do this every time the gallery is upgraded, for whatever reason, security updates etc..
To be honest, it is really easy to upload a image to any given album of choice. Just go to that album in the gallery first and click the "upload file" button, then the album is already selected for you in the dropdown. (or at least it should be).
Quote from: Mick on October 19, 2014, 11:29:28 AM
Quote from: Jediboy on October 19, 2014, 11:23:06 AM
For me, I'd like to see the forum easier to access. I tend to look at new comments in threads but rarely enter the forum to go any 'deeper.' My failing, but I wonder how many others do this??
Thanks Jediboy, but I'm not sure what you mean by "I'd like to see the forum easier to access" Is it a lack of navigation? or something else, such as too many boards etc.
I do exactly the same as Jediboy and just read the new posts from the link at the side. I dont think I have entered the main forum at all this year
I just think there is too much on the front page and it would be easier if when you logged in you were taken to the main forum page and from there you could access the gallery and new posts etc.
Quote from: Mick on October 19, 2014, 04:01:48 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 19, 2014, 12:56:10 PM
A bit harsh Re - it's a small and friendly place, rather unlike the impersonal antisocial networking sites like Facebook - where I almost never post anything out of choice.
As for the process of uploading to the gallery, I have to say that I agree it could be better presented. How about a direct 'upload photos' button prominent on the front page, and a redesign of the upload page to make it clear that all of the fields are optional except the file name and album boxes, and make the album box default to a 'public' album by default. Then uploading should be a breeze.
Something like this perhaps:
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Upload_page_suggestion.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=16775&fullsize=1)
Nice idea Howard, trouble is there's more than one upload sys in the gallery, so I'd have to modify each of them, and do this every time the gallery is upgraded, for whatever reason, security updates etc..
To be honest, it is really easy to upload a image to any given album of choice. Just go to that album in the gallery first and click the "upload file" button, then the album is already selected for you in the dropdown. (or at least it should be).
Thanks for looking at the idea Mick.
Given that it is a time consuming b*gger to change the forms, is there any way a direct 'upload' button could be added to the front page? I think that alone would make it much easier to add pictures: at the moment you have to go through a couple of steps to get to the upload page.
There is a direct upload link on the front page. ( in fact on all pages)
Just hover over the gallery heading and a drop down menu appears offering just that.
At least it does on my theme settings
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 19, 2014, 12:56:10 PM
A bit harsh Re - it's a small and friendly place, rather unlike the impersonal antisocial networking sites like Facebook - where I almost never post anything out of choice.
I agree, it is a small and friendly place, and I really feel I 'know' most of you. That's why I desperately hope, to be proved wrong.
But if this small and friendly group, does not take the time to be actively engaged, the site dies. Whether or not I dare put this in writing, will not make a difference. It may wake people up though.
Over the last few weeks, I have regularly looked in, and found no (or hardly any) new pictures, or topics,and no one 'on board,' apart from You H. You seemed to be the only one around most of the time. And much as I like you, we need more people taking part.
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 19, 2014, 04:29:06 PM
There is a direct upload link on the front page. ( in fact on all pages)
Just hover over the gallery heading and a drop down menu appears offering just that.
At least it does on my theme settings
Alf, that's exactly what I mean - you have to go to 'gallery' and then click another choice - it's not quick or obvious from the home page.
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 19, 2014, 04:54:29 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 19, 2014, 04:29:06 PM
There is a direct upload link on the front page. ( in fact on all pages)
Just hover over the gallery heading and a drop down menu appears offering just that.
At least it does on my theme settings
Alf, that's exactly what I mean - you have to go to 'gallery' and then click another choice - it's not quick or obvious from the home page.
There's also a "Upload Image" button if you hover you mouse over the Gallery link on the front page navigation. ;) Although this does mean you have to select the album where you want to upload.
I am also guilty of neglecting this forum. :-[ I have been in the process of moving from Manchester to Llandudno in North Wales, and for a time had no internet access. However I am back on line and once I get settled I hope to contribute more to this very friendly group.
Quote from: Cabbyjohn on October 19, 2014, 05:35:16 PM
I am also guilty of neglecting this forum. :-[ I have been in the process of moving from Manchester to Llandudno in North Wales, and for a time had no internet access. However I am back on line and once I get settled I hope to contribute more to this very friendly group.
Hope you'll settle in soon!
I am not a fan of the gallery format here so I do not upload a lot of images at all. I'm guilty of also not commenting on many images, again due to the gallery format. That is also why I do not take part in the comps.
As Mick as explained a few times, there is little that can be done to improve this for now so my input will not increase at all.
I do enjoy the forum at times especially when there are some good discussions going on.
At Micks request Ive racked my brains this past 2 yr thinking of ways to increase traffic etc but as yet have not been able to find a long lasting solution.
I suggested post for feedback threads and they lasted not very long at all.
Perhaps we need more confrontation and honest critiques etc, but I am sure a few here would take it the wrong way and bugger off all together.
:legit: :legit:
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 19, 2014, 06:53:50 PM
I suggested post for feedback threads and they lasted not very long at all.
Perhaps we need more confrontation and honest critiques etc, but I am sure a few here would take it the wrong way and bugger off all together.
:legit: :legit:
Honest critiques are okay as long as people ask for critique; if it's given 'out of the blue,' people will run. Especially if the wording isn't 'velvet gloved.'
The critique thread is not used though, so people obviously are not interested.
Confrontation is fine, as long as it does not 'spill over,' and affects other threads, or people not involved in the confrontation. And it requires constant monitoring by an administrator, or we'll get a repeat of the unsavoury show, we had on PhotoRadar some years back.
Calendars of nude people constantly get write ups in the newspapers; maybe we should initiate a series of tasteful nude images, and make them into a calendar for 2016. If we use the bottom half of the front page for these images (one or two at the most, so a good size image), we're bound to attract attention.
They don't necessarily have to be selfies.
I'm out of the running here, as I do no studio work, but there are plenty of photographers here who do.
Or maybe we could put an 'arty' calendar together? Something really special, with high quality photography? (And still use the front page for the initial display of possible contenders.)
Or a calendar (sorry, I get carried away here) where the subject of the photo, has to start with the letter of the month? The more unusual, the better?
Well a lot has been said over the last 2 pages on the topic. YES, i am one of those that use the forum for what i personally get out of it, right or wrong i hate critique and therefore hate giving it as well, competitions i like as it gets me out and about and the brain working as i am not a professional photographer as some are on here.
I know what i like and don't like but feel if i say that i do not like something and say so (being as kind as poss:) the other party may take offense, hence i do not bother.
I think that forums are dead or at least on the decline, sorry, (i am just closing a Volkswagen forum and web site that i have had running for about 8 years), why, because Facebook has taken over. Not sure that you can run a competition on Facebook but you can do everything else.
Perhaps a slimmed down version of the forum may work and remove some of the dead threads or archive them may help as there are quite a few just a few below and there are more
Serif Software Competitions - last post - August 11, 2012
Weekend Competition - last post - February 05, 2009,
User Reviews - last post - July 18, 2011
Links to Camera and Lens Reviews - last post - October 02, 2009
Do we need a chat thread for the weekly competition? all we do, majority of the time is post something on the lines of took this today and it could be my entry, then post it in entries.
We could link the forum to the Facebook chat page and try to promote the forum and competition etc from there however the last post on that was March 18th.
Ok, not sure what people will think of my comments but that's where i am and will try and think of some poss: way in which to move forward. :legit: :legit: :legit:
Quote from: Matthew on October 18, 2014, 11:08:49 PM
The core is the gallery, from which everything else feeds from.
Perhaps it is; I've never really looked at it. I find such a large number of forum sections that my way of accessing the site is via the "new posts since last visit" and anything that isn't there is off my radar. I certainly wouldn't dream of offering any comments in the gallery - I've been burned too many times on other forums for being blunt and opinionated. I do offer comment in the one place where it's actually asked for - the critique section. But no one's wanted any since last year.
Competitions I don't like. Vehemently. So I'll ignore any competitions. And voting on photos is similarly anathema to me. So that lets out a lot of the regular posts.
I know that film photography is a minority interest (minority of one here I suspect) but in the whole photography equipment area there's nowhere for me to discuss or comment on the cameras I use (mainly large format with some roll film). Although to be honest, I wouldn't expect anyone else here to be interested, or able to help if I had a problem.
There are five forums I look at every day:
Amateur Photographer - only for the news. And following the revamp of the site which makes it harder, I may drop it.
Pixalo - for the news items and the jokes thread. There's nothing else there for me. I did try with the photo commenting and gave it up as if comments weren't on how to fix it in Photoshop they weren't wanted.
This one - no more to add!
PhotoAnswers - as a former mod I still look in to see if anyone's around.
TalkPhotography - the one I mainly use. It's lively, and more important to me, has a large number of active film photographers. We had a forum meet yesterday, and I was able to examine a Sinar 10x8 camera and some lenses. That isn't going to happen with most forums.
Much less frequently I look at PhotoCamel - nothing much of interest - and Dyxxum - if I want some info.
One of my all time favourite forums died some years ago when the owner ceased trading. It was small - smaller probably than this one - but active, and certainly friendly. What kept it going as much as anything was a willingness to discuss photography and images - not photographic equipment except as a means to an end. And images as images - not to compare against others, or score them.
My concrete suggestions would be to
Simplify the top end menu; if possible combine some areas and perhaps (software permitting) permit people to condense them to remove the sub sections from view that aren't of interest..
Push up the sections that you want to promote to near the top. It was a constant complaint on PhotoAnswers that any section which required scrolling down to reach was never looked at.
Encourage people who actually want comments to post in the critique section.
On a more positive note, I've found some of Aber's recent threads very stimulating, even if I haven't added much. And bluntly the only other forum I can say has anything stimulating (to me) is TalkPhotography.
Quote from: kerbside on October 19, 2014, 08:38:59 PM
I think that forums are dead or at least on the decline, sorry, (i am just closing a Volkswagen forum and web site that i have had running for about 8 years), why, because Facebook has taken over. Not sure that you can run a competition on Facebook but you can do everything else.
The Facebook group I am part of (Highland Photographers), regularly runs successful monthly competitions. One competition that runs for the calendar month. Voting is achieved by a simple point scoring systems, basically entries are posted to the competition folder and folks vote by commenting "1,2 or 3", "1" being 1st place etc, etc. The entry with the most "1's" is the winner. But this leads me back to the original point, we need to come up with something fresh to get the site out of 2nd gear.
I think the site is trying to do everything for everybody. It needs simplifying. One upload gallery only, one forum category only and one competition gallery. Although the site has a professional look (I think so) it is very confusing for new people to know where to start. It must be intimidating for them to participate in a well established group/site. It must be possible to get more people to participate if we all mention CC on the FB and websites people regularly visit. But I also noted that people are happy in the "small" community and do not wish it to become too busy. I do not know the answer, but I do know what I like to see, and that is a simple site where people upload images they like and hopefully get some remarks on. A forum where people ask questions and get answers and complain about the weather. A weekly or monthly topic people can shoot and call it a competition if you want. (but having a chat thread and an entry thread and a voting thread for that is for me over the top)
I like it quite on here, as it allows me to drop off to sleep. :2funny:
Quote from: Oldboy on October 19, 2014, 11:58:48 PM
I like it quite on here, as it allows me to drop of to sleep. :2funny:
You could just try counting all your cameras and lenses instead of sheep
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 20, 2014, 08:46:00 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 19, 2014, 11:58:48 PM
I like it quite on here, as it allows me to drop of to sleep. :2funny:
You could just try counting all your cameras and lenses instead of sheep
No, I'd never get to sleep counting all of them. There's too many! :P
If anyone's wondering why their last uploaded pics aren't showing on the front page, as a test I've set it to display random images from the gallery. Just as an experiment. ;)
As someone who comes and goes, I feel I should add something here.
Do I like the competition - yes, but I find the time criteria limiting and I don't want to just put 'junk' up. I would also like to see some feedback about why people chose a particular image, but I'm afraid to get into the 'critique vs comments vs silence' argument again.
Do I like the forum chat - normally I would say yes, but I live on the other side of the world and sometimes I have no idea what you are chatting about (and I speak English). I don't like chat forums that become personal, but I do like opinion forums where I might learn something photographically.
Do I upload images - No, I've had a terrible year photographically, and I want to go somewhere where I will learn, get some feedback and I'm happy to share feedback with others. I do believe we are ALL capable of this but it has to be done in a supportive way. We got into a terrible argument about this a while ago and I refused to visit again for some time. Now I am careful about what I say (perhaps a little wine helps).
I do visit Facebook (as a lurker) and I like the magazine tutorials (6 tips to take better photos of children, understand the metering system of your camera, 25 images that demonstrate shadows). I learn lots from this and I wonder why we are not sharing some of this information as well as some Photoshop and Lightroom tutorials. And so what if it has been listed already, someone new might find it helpful. Perhaps this stuff is boring to people that are already experienced photographers and people are tired of helping new and emerging photographers.
It would be sad to see the site go as its not the same as social media, and has the potential for good friendships across the globe.
Just my 2 bobs worth before I hit the sack.
having just started using the site i would be sad to see it go.
I mainly use the competition - a way of being challenged out of normal photo patterns and to get feedback.
probably would n't use Facebook as I keep that side for family use.
Like the idea of random images rather than newest on the front page.
Ah Mick random! Wondered where they had come from. Nice idea but the only problem will be in selecting image of the week. I`ve tended to go off the most recent additions and given the lack of comments etc I doubt many will go searching. Like it though and happy to see image of the week vanish if it must on that random front page basis.
Quote from: jinky on October 20, 2014, 12:32:20 PM
Ah Mick random! Wondered where they had come from. Nice idea but the only problem will be in selecting image of the week. I`ve tended to go off the most recent additions and given the lack of comments etc I doubt many will go searching. Like it though and happy to see image of the week vanish if it must on that random front page basis.
I thought about that actually. It's a simple click of the "latest uploads" button in the gallery. Or a click of the "latest images" from the main menu on the rest of the site. ;)
Quote from: jackel on October 20, 2014, 12:28:49 PM
having just started using the site i would be sad to see it go.
Jack, don't worry were not going anywhere, been here many times and not given up yet. Just need to get this place a bit more lively, and this kind of discussion often brings out new ideas. Knowing what people want from the site is a important factor, and unless they tell me I can't even try to put it into practice.
Quote from: jackel on October 20, 2014, 12:28:49 PM
Like the idea of random images rather than newest on the front page.
Thanks, just experimenting with this idea. I'm guessing not everyone will like it because their latest masterpiece won't be on display on the front page. But it will give people the chance to see images they perhaps won't without delving deeper into the gallery.
We'll see what others say. ;)
Can we have (below the IOTW) another box displaying a rolling slide show of random images from the gallery - followed by the latest uploaded images box - followed by the weekly comp ; below that .....? if that makes sense :)
Quote from: Oldboy on October 20, 2014, 09:29:45 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 20, 2014, 08:46:00 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 19, 2014, 11:58:48 PM
I like it quite on here, as it allows me to drop of to sleep. :2funny:
You could just try counting all your cameras and lenses instead of sheep
No, I'd never get to sleep counting all of them. There's too many! :P
Yes but I'll bet you haven't got one of those simply gorgeous Nikkor 85 1.4 D lenses have you! :-*
Probably (for many) a very stupid question, but I don't do facebook, so what's the 'Like' button at the bottom of every comment meant to do?
When you click it, does that mean you like the comment? And what happens next? Are all the likes added up and will there be a 'most liked' something, at some stage?
Do they show up in someone's facebook account? Or does CC now do facebook too?
Reinardina, yes Camera Craniums does have a Facebook page but it has not been used that much.
The "like" just adds your tag to say that you have liked a picture that that person has uploaded, no more than that.
The "Comment button" is just that, it allows you to add a comment to any post that is on-going thread.
At this moment it looks like there is no public access to enable you to write or create a new post, don't know why?
Hope this but just ask me if you need anything else.
Jeff
I am glad to see the ideas are still coming.
I pretty much only use the "Show unread posts" for viewing the forums. I go in when I am going to make a new post, which I feel I have neglected. I am not putting any pressure on the other moderators, but as "staff" I feel I should do what I can to keep things interesting. Again, that is how I view it and I am not suggesting anyone else needs to do it. So I will set some reminders to myself to make some posts. I have lots to post, aside from all of my purchases lately :)
Quote from: Graham on October 20, 2014, 01:26:20 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 20, 2014, 09:29:45 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 20, 2014, 08:46:00 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 19, 2014, 11:58:48 PM
I like it quite on here, as it allows me to drop of to sleep. :2funny:
You could just try counting all your cameras and lenses instead of sheep
No, I'd never get to sleep counting all of them. There's too many! :P
Yes but I'll bet you haven't got one of those simply gorgeous Nikkor 85 1.4 D lenses have you! :-*
If it's gorgeous why hasn't it sold? :P
Thanks for the explanation Jeff.
If it is possible to 'like' things, without actually registering with facebook, I might just about do it, but I'm not joining facebook, not even foor CC!
Quote from: Reinardina on October 20, 2014, 05:51:07 PM
Thanks for the explanation Jeff.
If it is possible to 'like' things, without actually registering with facebook, I might just about do it, but I'm not joining facebook, not even foor CC!
Unfortunately not, you have to set up an account with Facebook in order to use it's features.
Quote from: Matthew on October 20, 2014, 09:01:29 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on October 20, 2014, 05:51:07 PM
Thanks for the explanation Jeff.
If it is possible to 'like' things, without actually registering with facebook, I might just about do it, but I'm not joining facebook, not even foor CC!
Unfortunately not, you have to set up an account with Facebook in order to use it's features.
That's me out of the running then. I will not bow to facebook pressure.
Quote from: Reinardina on October 20, 2014, 09:03:36 PM
That's me out of the running then. I will not bow to facebook pressure.
Shouldn't be a problem R. Those social share buttons are there for those who wish to use them. Those who don't can just ignore them. Anyway, they should hide away when your not hovering over the text in the first post. Hopefully they won't be too annoying.
Quote from: Mick on October 20, 2014, 09:08:16 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on October 20, 2014, 09:03:36 PM
That's me out of the running then. I will not bow to facebook pressure.
Shouldn't be a problem R. Those social share buttons are there for those who wish to use them. Those who don't can just ignore them. Anyway, they should hide away when your not hovering over the text in the first post. Hopefully they won't be too annoying.
Only visible in the first post, and for the rest, they're not there, so won't annoy.
You are not wrong about Facebook being quiet, I just checked to see what it was about to find I have already 'liked' it, I wondered why I was not getting anything in my feeds, and it seems the last activity was March.
A little bit of activity in Facebook might bring people back, or remind them to pop in
I find Facebook a PITA quite frankly. I only have a few contacts on there, a couple of old school friends and some family, and even with that small constituency whenever I look at it there are pages of inanity, mostly linked from something one of them has commented on or worse, from Twitter.
I miss seeing the new uploads at a glance, but I love the constantly changing exhibition on the front page.
So, would it be possible to put the new uploads at the bottom of the page, where the poll is now?
This would possibly also prevent people getting bored, with a series of similar competition entries dominating the front page.
I want to log in to a photography site to show my photos and see other peoples photos. I always tried to comment on the new uploads and was happy to receive comments or critique on mine but lately people dont bother and you can find a photo with 10 views and not one comment. Now i know a lot of people are saying oh i dont like commenting or theres no need but surely if thats the case and you take away the competition which i never entered for 2 reasons never time to take photos for a theme and no inclination to win when winning just seems like a lot of hassle what is there left. No one seems to use the forums for anything but talking about the competition.
I dont know what the answer is but it would be a shame to have to shut it down as Micks kept it going well when many have folded.
The above suggestion seems a good one. Put the competition somewhere where people who are interested in it can go look
Quote from: Karen on October 21, 2014, 01:53:26 PM
I want to log in to a photography site to show my photos and see other peoples photos. I always tried to comment on the new uploads and was happy to receive comments or critique on mine but lately people dont bother and you can find a photo with 10 views and not one comment. Now i know a lot of people are saying oh i dont like commenting
I'm happy to comment, but selfish (or lazy) enough only to do so on my own terms. As I said earlier in this thread, I've been burned too many times from offering comments when photos were simply placed in a gallery, because either only positive comments were wanted, or the "please comment" flag was left on by mistake. I learned that even if people put up such a flag, you can't rely on it. So my first "rule" is - only comment if an image is placed in an area set aside specifically for critique. My second rule is that given that a proper critique is lengthy (in terms of time taken to study the image, think about it and finally write up the thoughts - half an hour in total is a not unreasonable estimate, and it can be longer) then anyone posting more than one image in a thread will be passed over. And finally, if I think that the image has no redeeming features (and the same applies to other images from the same person) I walk on by.
The change to the front page is very refreshing and makes one stop and look much more than the previous format. It displays the wide range of photography practised within CC and should attract the casual viewer, if there is such a person.
For the ardent CC member it jogs the memory and sometimes raises a smile.
Great stuff Mick. :tup:
After all the excitement, the site seems to have gone quiet again.
I'm keeping an eye on the new uploads, in the hope to find the stunner for next week's IOTW.
However, people seem to have given up on uploading images. Again.
I've asked this before, but don't know if it is technically possible, and if people like the idea, but if the 'Poll section' of the front page, could be used for new uploads, it will, I think, increase interest.
The poll shows the same pictures for a week, so people won't look a second time. With new uploads, the 'scene' will be changing regularly, even if there are only competition shots, and any outstanding images, will immediately stand out. Now they are all hidden from view, and hardly looked at.
Quote from: Reinardina on October 24, 2014, 08:08:35 AM
I've asked this before, but don't know if it is technically possible, and if people like the idea, but if the 'Poll section' of the front page, could be used for new uploads, it will, I think, increase interest.
R, I have tried this, in fact after Andy's post http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?topic=4141.msg48059#msg48059 I tried to recreate all those suggestions, but so far failed to make it work together. What happens is, when running two identical scripts on the same page, they collide and one will stop working, or blurt an error. I have to find the right way of stopping this happening so the latest images and random image blocks play nicely together. Also tried the "rolling slide show of random images" idea from Andy's post, but it's not having any of it. Something has changed in the coppermine core code which stops the slider working.
I'm still working on these ideas in between work, and decorating the house. :'(
Thanks for the explanation Mick! Didn't realise you were working on it. Won't ask again, just hope, more people will take the trouble of clicking on the 'latest images' link.
Just got back on the internet after bombing out yesterday whilst uploading images to flickr. ???
Quote from: Reinardina on October 24, 2014, 09:13:24 AM
Thanks for the explanation Mick! Didn't realise you were working on it. Won't ask again, just hope, more people will take the trouble of clicking on the 'latest images' link.
No problem R. I should have said that I was trying out some of the ideas. Have a workaround for the block problem for now, one block showing four rows of random pics at the top, and four rows of latest images below them. ;)
This is the sort of thing I meant. Thanks Mick. Love he random gallery shots, but if new uploads are not shown, it will discourage people to add to the gallery.
Still think the poll could be removed to a thread, as the competition is a minority interest, and the pictures do not change during the week. This would create more room for the random shots, as I think they are very entertaining.
Quote from: Reinardina on October 25, 2014, 07:53:41 AM
Still think the poll could be removed to a thread, as the competition is a minority interest, and the pictures do not change during the week. This would create more room for the random shots, as I think they are very entertaining.
Removing the poll block from the front page is not a problem for me, can do this with a simple click. It would also save me a job updating it weekly. I'm happy to do this if everyone agrees?
The poll can be set wherever you guys want, that bit is up to you, you could even revert back to the old way of doing it and not adding images to the poll, that would make it easier for setting it up tbh.
I prefer having images in the poll; it prevents me accidentally voting for the wrong entry. (My age, you know ...)
If the poll was just in the 'Poll thread,' we'd be able to find it easily enough. Especially if it was regularly bumped.
But yes, you'd have to ask the 'compers' what they think. Maybe a dedicated thread, to make sure people see it? Or even a poll?