I've noticed an imbalance on RFF

[back alley]

the 'real' people in my life WILL talk about my photographs with me, but then i hang out with poets and musicians among others.

they WILL NOT talk about gear and their eyes glaze over if i spend more than a minute showing them a new lens.

here people ARE interested in gear and this is where i get those needs met.

 

[ywenz]

If you go to a corvette forum, do the people there talk about the exhiliration from driving the corvette or how to maintaine and fix it?

 

[clarence]

the 'real' people in my life WILL talk about my photographs with me, but then i hang out with poets and musicians among others.

they WILL NOT talk about gear and their eyes glaze over if i spend more than a minute showing them a new lens.

here people ARE interested in gear and this is where i get those needs met.

It's the same with me. In the college photo society, I'm the only one with more than a modicum of interest in gear. Also, only one of them had ever heard of rangefinders. There's nothing wrong with that, but this forum certainly fulfils my need for conversation that's oriented towards the equipment.

Clarence

 

[foto_mike]

I like talking gear as much as anybody and I kind of assumed that's what RFF was mostly about. A review of the forum topics shows a strong tilt towards separating the various RF camera types into their own discussions. The only forum topics specifically oriented toward photos and their discussions are the RFF contest and the Words/No Words topics.

I'd welcome more discussion of photos. The RFF owners and moderators could promote that by adding a new high-level forum section along side of the current RF Forum, Digital RF, 35mm, Medium Format, and Misc forums. The new section could be named something like Photo Discussion and have sub-topics like Street Photography, People/Portrait Photography, Nature Photography, Infrared Photography, and others. You get the idea.

I'll continue to participate in the mostly gear related discussions, but I'd also like to see something to encourage an organized discussion of photos.

 

[FrankS]

I like talking gear as much as anybody and I kind of assumed that's what RFF was mostly about. A review of the forum topics shows a strong tilt towards separating the various RF camera types into their own discussions. The only forum topics specifically oriented toward photos and their discussions are the RFF contest and the Words/No Words topics.

I'd welcome more discussion of photos. The RFF owners and moderators could promote that by adding a new high-level forum section along side of the current RF Forum, Digital RF, 35mm, Medium Format, and Misc forums. The new section could be named something like Photo Discussion and have sub-topics like Street Photography, People/Portrait Photography, Nature Photography, Infrared Photography, and others. You get the idea.

I'll continue to participate in the mostly gear related discussions, but I'd also like to see something to encourage an organized discussion of photos.

Good idea, Mike.

 

[ChrisN]

There is the critique section ("Rate my photograph") of the gallery, too.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5275

 

[back alley]

not trying to rain on people's parade here but i don't see this forum becoming much more 'artistically' inclined.
we have tried different things, like 'rate this photo' and separate threads just about rating a photo and they didn't really take off.

for me, i don't have the same enthusiasm for posting photos here. the stuff of mine that i like doesn't seem to attract much attention and even fewer comments. other stuff seems to be popular here. i'm not complaining but why would i post lots of pics here if i get no comments as i could just admire/critique my own stuff at home.
as it is, people give me grief when i post about hoods or miscellaneous kit.
but who do i talk with about wrist straps if not you guys here on a forum about rf shooting?

joe

 

[Kim Coxon]

I don't want to sound negative here but I am not sure it would work in this format. I am not sure a "new" high level forum would encourage more discussion of technique. After all the gallery is already there with the facility to leave comments. There is a parallel thread going on about how to critique a photo. I find it interesting that of the 3 "main" critiques, there are 3 approachs. One on the artistic merit, one on the technical merit and one on how it could be PS'ed to look better. There are already forums on these available.

I am not sure there is an imbalance as such, the facilities are there but there is more gear talk. Perhaps this means that most are happier to talk about that for reasons already mentioned. Perhaps we need to look at in a different way. Why do people post pictures and why do some want more discussion? If members are posting their work just to showcase it, then is there any need to "promote" more comments. If on the other hand they are looking for help/advice to improve their technique, then perhaps it should be approached differently.

In the "repairs" section there are not that many "look at what I have done guides" and if there are little discussion after. However, if someone says this doesn't work, what do I do? the answer normally appears. As far as image manipulation is concerned, the "darkroom" threads would work well. So rather than have muliple threads based on subject matter it would be better to a "problem solving" one. In other words have a thread or section in which members could post a picture they were not happy with and say "This doesn't do what I want for x, y and z reasons. Can anyone offer any advice?"

Sorry for a bit of a ramble but I am still thinking my way through it.

Kim

I like talking gear as much as anybody and I kind of assumed that's what RFF was mostly about. A review of the forum topics shows a strong tilt towards separating the various RF camera types into their own discussions. The only forum topics specifically oriented toward photos and their discussions are the RFF contest and the Words/No Words topics.

I'd welcome more discussion of photos. The RFF owners and moderators could promote that by adding a new high-level forum section along side of the current RF Forum, Digital RF, 35mm, Medium Format, and Misc forums. The new section could be named something like Photo Discussion and have sub-topics like Street Photography, People/Portrait Photography, Nature Photography, Infrared Photography, and others. You get the idea.

I'll continue to participate in the mostly gear related discussions, but I'd also like to see something to encourage an organized discussion of photos.

 

[rbiemer]

A big part of why I hang out here is, as others have noted, there isn't anybody in my day to day world who "gets it" about these--meaning RF--cameras.
My friends and family are happy to look at my photos; and some of them have my stuff on their walls.
I also don't feel confident in my vocabulary as far as discussing/criticizing anyone elses' images. I know what I like in my work and in other peoples work--and I trust myself in that kind of discrimination--but I can't always articulate it very well beyond "I like this" or "I don't find this one appealing".
One other thing about my own photos--I'm not trying to be a photojournalist. I am trying to get visually appealing or compelling images and if I need to give my photos "context" then I feel I haven't really got the shot I wanted. In other words, I try to make photos that speak for themselves. And mine don't particularly have any other meaning.
One other thing about being here: I'm still(and hopefully always) learning the craft and my tools for this hobby of mine. So I am interested(usually) in the gear discussions for what they can add to my knowledge of their capabilities.
I've been a cook/chef for 20 odd--some of 'em very odd--years and I don't talk with the other chefs I know about our knives(for example) but that's because I have long since learned what works for me and what I need. I haven't spent 8-10-12 hours a day for 50 weeks out of a year using my cameras so I don't have that level of knowlege about the gear. Which means I still want to talk about it.
My .02$
Rob

 

[ch1]

The prevelence of certain types of threads and the relatively popularity of each of them is simply a reflection of the collective interests of the members.

 

[JoeFriday]

I equate RFF to a hot rod car club that meets at a drive-in every Sunday evening in the summer where everyone pops their hood and stand around with displacement envy

while cars are made to be driven, they are also an artform in and of themselves.. and there's nothing wrong with hanging out and discussing that aspect.. other people might criticize the owners who polish their cruisers more than they drive them.. but if it makes you happy and keeps you out of prison, I don't see any harm in it

IMO, RFF is foremost a forum designed to share information about a niche of photo gear.. it's not called Macro Photography of Flowers or even Street Photography.. I came here originally because I wanted information about RF cameras and their advantages/disadvantages over other systems.. this group is pretty much considered the authority on the matter.. that's something to be proud of.. and just like the Shriners, we even have our own hats

 

[wtl]

The "what is your daily carry camera" did it for me last night. Yeah, everybody walks around with an M7 stuffed in their pocket 24/7. Sure you do. It's really "Look at me, I have an M7" isn't it?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

uh, bill, i do carry my m2 or m6 pretty much everyday coming and going from work to wherever so people do that. don't have an m7 though. i did not respond to that thread because there does not seem to be any meaning to claim the fact. it is not just "look at me" factor at work for some though we got plenty eager to tell you what they eat that morning. i made some reference to that effect before but it wasn't puopular.

and yes, it gets annoying just the same. and i probably am the one everyone hates here bitching about the similar things you have just mentioned...tried to keep my mouth shut but once in a while the lit comes loose...

i don't post much photos here because i feel i am hanging out with a wrong group. i keep hoping it will change but so far it hasn't. and why should it? so i am on the boat that goes to some other place at the moment...

btw, do i need to acquire another rf as a backup for my everyday walkaround?

 

[Andrew McK]

I like the gear orientated side of this site.
There many other places on the web you can show photos and get (hopefully) constructive criticism but there's very few that you can turn to if you have a sticking shutter on your Kiev.
People on here have always been so helpful and friendly which maybe is a reason that you're not going to get lots of comments on your photos here.
Maybe everyone is too nice?

 

[wtl]

"Hey, I just got my second APO Cron Nokton Hyper Uber Super Whiffdoodle and I noticed it has a focus tab that is one millimeter smaller than the original. Which one should I use? Or should I get another one and keep one in each of my THREE HOUSES? Did I mention I have THREE HOUSES?"

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Now, to that question, the correct answer is "if it is smaller than the original, you need to send it to DAG for a complete CLA. of course Don can replace the tab with the correct one. last time he did mine, it only costs $666 which is more than reasonable. and yes, you have told us many times about the three horses. they are beautiful and deserve anything you can give to them. they are so beauutiful that make me want to also buy some horses and a farm..."

so our day starts...

you got the idea.

keep this up, folks. you all have done a great job. see ya...

 

[telenous]

Well, isn't silence from the part of the viewer a form of criticism? Like Bill remarked, if he has nothing good to say he says nothing at all. When I post photos, I post them because I value them in some way. However precious these photos are to me, I am fully aware what it means for them to be greeted in silence. Failing to elicit a response from the viewer means only one thing: they communicated nothing.

For my part, I do the same. If I see a photo I like, I say so. On the other hand I can't really say I 've seen photos I absolutely loathed, but I 've seen many that failed to tell me something in particular. So, what's to say? After all, we are all on the same boat here. Why discourage a fellow traveller?

 

[wtl]

Well, isn't silence from the part of the viewer a form of criticism? Like Bill remarked, if he has nothing good to say he says nothing at all. When I post photos, I post them because I value them in some way. However precious these photos are to me, I am fully aware what it means for them to be greeted in silence. Failing to elicit a response from the viewer means only one thing: they communicated nothing.

For my part, I do the same. If I see a photo I like, I say so. On the other hand I can't really say I 've seen photos I absolutely loathed, but I 've seen many that failed to tell me something in particular. So, what's to say? After all, we are all on the same boat here. Why discourage a fellow traveller?

now, if that's the case, your silence still discourages the fellow traveller, no?

 

[BudGreen]

Well, isn't silence from the part of the viewer a form of criticism? Like Bill remarked, if he has nothing good to say he says nothing at all. When I post photos, I post them because I value them in some way. However precious these photos are to me, I am fully aware what it means for them to be greeted in silence. Failing to elicit a response from the viewer means only one thing: they communicated nothing.

For my part, I do the same. If I see a photo I like, I say so. On the other hand I can't really say I 've seen photos I absolutely loathed, but I 've seen many that failed to tell me something in particular. So, what's to say? After all, we are all on the same boat here. Why discourage a fellow traveller?

Well put. My feelings exactly.

 

[BudGreen]

now, if that's the case, your silence still discourages the fellow traveller, no?

It doesn't discourage me. It lets me know that I'd better get busy.

 

[telenous]

now, if that's the case, your silence still discourages the fellow traveller, no?

I see what you mean. It may do. Or not.

But surely there is a difference of degree in the kind of discouragement one's to get by specific forms of active criticism on the one hand and silence on the other. At least that's how it seems to me.

 

[Solinar]

The is an art side to the RF forum. It's the galleries with a huge number of postings and some with very well though out comments.