72 images 6 comments!!!

[jan normandale]

Don’t people look at the galleries any longer? Over 5000 members sitting on their hands?

I just made two comments and decided to check how many comments were posted at 12.45 am Sunday there were 6 comments for about 72 images. One comment was from the person who put up his own shots so you can’t include that. Looks to me that there are about 3 comments for all the hard work of some photographers.

I don't want to be a "promoter"but…. There are some excellent photographs in this set and I’m surprised there isn’t more discussion and consideration of the shots posted.
Is RFF going to sleep? Is RFF turning into a mono culture. All tech and no art? All polls and no photography. All talk and no uploading?

Lets kick it up a notch here crew. Start looking at your peers work and see what they’ve done. Let them know there are people looking or I believe there will be a gradual decline in uploading to the galleries.

Now lets have a poll on this …. LaL!!

cheers , Jan

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Being a promoter is cool when it's about the whole community and not just you. 🙂

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I think that the random images on the home page helps too.

 

[ruben]

Certainly the come back of the small pics at the front page has already prompted me to comment.
But I agree we have a big treasure escaping our eyes.
Cheers,
Ruben

 

[sf]

I have noticed that the gallery action is slow lately. Actually, it's been a long time since there has been any real action on there. I mean, it's been very slow. Sort of a dripping pace instead of the constant movement as before. "Trickle", that's the word.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Thank you for raising this Jan.

Just check out how many people are in the forums at any one time and how many people are in the galleries. Usually about 10:1 at least in favor of the forums.

Or, start a thread about an obscure Leica lens and see it grow minute by minute. Then start another thread about an online photography exhibition and see just two responses in one week.

Many people here are not interested at all in photography. They are interested in cameras, and they often like to buy and sell. I have never been to 'Classified' because I'm not buying or selling anything. Their hobby is not my hobby. The only time they seem to use any film is when they photograph a test chart in their back yard, or 'test' a new film and 'report' on the shadow detail.

But I guess we can all enjoy this site together. I'll ignore the endless bokeh threads and camera bag threads and they can feel free to ignore the fine work many people show onsite and/or offsite.

 

[Ergo]

It's all good.

 

[Rich Silfver]

I must admit I haven't commented on anything in the gallery for about a month or so - until the random image feature on the main page made its return and I caught glimpse of some images I really liked.

When it comes to people being 'into' the artistic/creative side of photography vs being into bags, lenses and camera bodies I find myself being equally interested in both camps and I don't think that's uncommon.

I post in - and start - W/NW threads and comment on photos in the gallery - but I also love camera gadgets and even bags for that matter 🙂 Heck, with 30+ cameras I could even be considered a gear-head/collector.

Also - keep in mind that a forum named 'RangeFinder Forum' is bound to attract a lot of members that have a passion for the cameras they use and it is inevitable that there will be a lot of tech-talk.

But I echo Ergo - it's all good 🙂

 

[jano]

I used to be okay on leaving comments, try to say what I like and don't like on images which capture my attention. Stopped doing this a couple months ago when I got too busy. This thread rekindled my interest, so left a few comments and even uploaded one shot, thanks Jan.

When it comes to people being 'into' the artistic/creative side of photography vs being into bags, lenses and camera bodies I find myself being equally interested in both camps and I don't think that's uncommon.

Well said, Rich 😎

 

[jan normandale]

@ Ergo... you're right of course "its all good" I agree 100 percent

@ Rich... same here for me, I guess I'm just trying to measure the depths of the 'water' here.

@ Shutterflower.. I just would like to see more feedback. I know some fine members have uploaded less lately and I'm wondering if they are slowing down because no comments have been forth coming. Several photographers whom I admire posted quite a few shots with minimal feedback or response. I'd hate to see them become disinterested.

 

[bmattock]

What if we think all the photographs in the gallery are simply hideous?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[J. Borger]

Jan, .... glad you bring this up.

The number of tolerated uploads per day is too large ..... especially with the new "unlimited" rule for paying members.
I would say 1 or 2 per day is enough if commenting and getting feedback is the goal .............. Perhaps splitting the Gallery is an option.... create a separate explicit "forum" with limited uploads ( 1 per day?) ...... where people strictly post their best work or work they want crtisized... . The Gallery is not strictly a posting forum in the true sense of the word ...... more some free picture-hosting space where the uploads are made visible.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Then you say so.

Or not.

 

[bmattock]

Then you say so.

Or not.

And if 'not', then I get asked why I don't comment on the photos in the gallery...

Apparently, mutual rutabaga-rubbing is all the rage now.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Rich Silfver]

Sometime ago we used to have a recurring thread every week (Tuesdays I think it was..) where you would post links to the five photos posted in the past week that you thought were especially good and/or interesting. I think that worked really well in that people looked through the past weeks postings and for those that didn't - they could always see the 'nominations' that people posted links to.

But that was then - when there were much fewer photos being posted into the gallery - not sure how feasible that would be today.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I think I could handle some honest negative reactions.

I've actually had members recommend that I edit my gallery. It worked. I'm due for another culling.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Random photos on the front page are a very good thing and should encourage people to visit the galleries, and then stay a little.

I tend to look around and leave without making a comment.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Thank you for raising this Jan.
SNIP

Many people here are not interested at all in photography. They are interested in cameras, and they often like to buy and sell. I have never been to 'Classified' because I'm not buying or selling anything. Their hobby is not my hobby. The only time they seem to use any film is when they photograph a test chart in their back yard, or 'test' a new film and 'report' on the shadow detail.

But I guess we can all enjoy this site together. I'll ignore the endless bokeh threads and camera bag threads and they can feel free to ignore the fine work many people show onsite and/or offsite.

Jon and Jan - you raise an important points here and in part i agree but perhaps some feel easier -more comfortable - to talk about equipment and gear GAS than offering constructive criticism of photographs taken by other members - which is more personal.

Another point (and this is not a criticism of the design of the RFF site more a personal viewing preference ) - i find the layout and browsing of member's photgraphy on forums like Pnet and Lightstalkers much easier to navigate and more imformative - and i spend a lot of time looking at some galleries of members who post on these forums.

Many of the threads here on RFF tend be more conversational than offer a critical analysis of a given subject with plenty of good humour thrown in (giving it its sense of famiuly and community) and i think the WNW threads get a good response when members post - perhaps more than in an individual gallery.

Having said all this i could discuss and joke about gear needs all day - RFF is a place to let off steam. If i want to be serious about photography issues (like the OW Bill) i'll spend time on Lightstalkers. If i really want to view members work i'll usually visit their own personal website.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Yes, you're right Simon, the offsite galleries are often very nicely desgned both from a functional point of view and good-looking.

 

[Branestawm]

I think the restoration of the random views on the home page should make a significant difference. Without them there was little incentive to either view or to upload work. This is one of the reasons I have never set up a gallery of my own: There seems little point spending time and effort putting work online if no one is going to look at it (sorry if that sounds pessimistic). On a more posative note I think that the W/NW forum has been a big step in the right direction and I have shown work there in preference to a gallery because it is more likely to be seen in the context of an active thread.
As a fairly new member I also wonder if there is a seasonal effect. As the days become longer and warmer in the parts of the world where most of the membership is based maybe people are out shooting in preference to spending time processing and uploading work.

Paul