Lightstalkers, what is it?

[mgd711]

As the title say's what is it, what purpose does it serve, what advantages is there to membership and why is membership restricted to invites by existing members?

A lot off questions I know, but somebody recently asked for an invite here and this evening I'm trying to research a photographer/ cum editor/ cum I don't really know what she does, etc... that I follow on Twitter and Googling her name takes me straight to Lightstalkers.

So, I'm curious to know what Lightstalkers raison d'être is?

 

[mgd711]

There is a couple off local photographer acquaintance's off mine who seem to thrive of off Lightstalkers but there work is so... Yawn... So, your probably right, I'm not missing anything.

 

[TaoPhoto]

Lightstalkers was originally a haven for photojournalists, now it's pretty easy to get an invite for just about anyone. Still, that extra step does keep the site fairly exclusive. Membership comes with a portfolio, similar to here, and access to the forums. Forums are much more sparse, even minimalist, compared to RFF, and are filled with lots of things like "I need a fixer in Beirut" or "Entry visa for Israel *after* Egypt - how?". Lot's of fun stuff. 🙂

I like Lightstalkers. It's one of my other hangouts, besides RFF.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

I've been a member for many years. It is a cool site for networking with other PJ's and there are some really good photographers there. As Norm said, it is a great place to hang out. It is not for everyone, but it is one of the more informative sites around and just a fun place to visit, as it is much different than most photo sites or forums.

 

[GSNfan]

Make RFF membership by reference only and suddenly people in others forums would asking, "what is RFF?" "why is it so exclusive?" etc...

 

[mgd711]

Make RFF membership by reference only and suddenly people in others forums would asking, "what is RFF?" "why is it so exclusive?" etc...

Yes, but... The photographers I know (loosely) there are terrible, a chimpanzee could take better photographs but these same photographers talk about how much there work is appreciated on Lighstalkers and in Lighstalkers Manifesto they talk about openness and sharing yet there site is locked down to the casual observer and the published Manifesto is rather cryptic...

Manifesto
Lightstalkers is a network of unconventional travelers. The core of our membership is made up of photographers, but we count journalists, aid workers, military and security professionals, and information techs among our community as well. We also have an extended crew of editors, agents, friends and family, and the odd people we meet at airports and rest stops, people who wonder where we are and what we’re doing out there. Lightstalkers is open to anyone who wants to participate. We have no membership requirements, only a code of sharing and cooperation.

Lightstalkers was created to help its members to help each other. It was designed to serve as a hook-up center for a mobile, global crew of of explorers and operators. Using the site as a virtual base camp, we track each others movements and projects, exchange unique, real-time information, and assist each other with advice and feedback. Lightstalkers is a directory, a database, and a resource center.

Beyond that, it’s hard to say what this thing is—we’re making it up as we go along in sketchy places, and interesting times. That’s standard operating procedure.

We live and work in uncharted, unstable territory, navigating the grey areas of geography and technology. We travel in countries that are still in development or recently destroyed, using gear just barely out of R&D. For better or worse, we are the beta testing generation of the post-industrial era. This is our homemade “do-it-yourself/donÕt-try-this-at-home” field guide and users manual to the 21st century. (Be warned, it’s the internet, and we do not verify or endorse anything posted on this site).

The last person I met and chatted to in an airport (I travel every month and often to the more unsavoury parts off the world) was a Korean arms dealer. So as I stated in my first post I'm just curious as to what is the raison d'être of Lightstalkers and would like to know what is special about it and hopefully this would drive me to ask somebody for a reference.

 

[mgd711]

I should add that I'm genuinely curious and not being flippant or trying to poke fun at Lightstalkers. I just thought this would be the best place to ask and get a good range of opinions from which I could base my own opinion.

 

[GSNfan]

I should add that I'm genuinely curious and not being flippant or trying to poke fun at Lightstalkers. I just thought this would be the best place to ask and get a good range of opinions from which I could base my own opinion.

My initial post explained it, its just another forum the only difference is that its membership is by reference.

It used to be open but they changed later, which does not mean they became exclusive overnight, they just had a membership base that they could go on with without leaving registration open.

Even if RFF stopped new membership one of these days, the site would go on with its current member base and decent traffic for a long time, that is the nature of established message boards.

If you're interested in exclusive photographer clubs then apply to Magnum or VII agency, but even if you get accepted, they cannot offer you any work except annoying workshops with amateurs...

There is nothing exclusive left in still photography.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Mike, if you are interested, I will invite you and you can take some time and check the site out for yourself. It may be your cup of tea and it may not.

 

[furcafe]

Ditto. Like TaoPhoto wrote, my understanding is that Lightstalkers is (or was) mostly photojournalists & others who need to travel a lot & wanted to share resources & expertise, so a lot of the discussions are about working in various parts of the world, best brands of protective armor, etc.

I've been a member for many years. It is a cool site for networking with other PJ's and there are some really good photographers there. As Norm said, it is a great place to hang out. It is not for everyone, but it is one of the more informative sites around and just a fun place to visit, as it is much different than most photo sites or forums.

 

[PatrickONeill]

it was invite only because of a really bad case of spammers.

Not for smug elitism. it's pretty easy to get an invite.

it's mostly talk about the best kind of scarf to match your Leica and finding the perfect set of hiking boots available. 😉

if anyone wants an invite, I'll gladly hand them out.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Mike, if you are interested, I will invite you and you can take some time and check the site out for yourself. It may be your cup of tea and it may not.

Ditto? My interest is peaked now. Although, I wonder what Groucho Marx would say about having oneself invited to a club that would have one as a member. 😉

 

[GSNfan]

it was invite only because of a really bad case of spammers.

Not for smug elitism. it's pretty easy to get an invite.

it's mostly talk about the best kind of scarf to match your Leica and finding the perfect set of hiking boots available. 😉

if anyone wants an invite, I'll gladly hand them out.

Its cool you're offering reference without checking the portfolio of the applicants... I say that because in a similar thread about lightstalkers one member from there asked potential invitees to 'please provide a link to your portfolio', in other words i'll give you a reference to some internet forum after checking your portfolio... Anyway, i thought that was funny and sad at the same time.

 

[emraphoto]

it is what you make it.

if you need contacts in a specific region? good chance someone can help.

does the idea of interacting with and learning from some of the 'names' in the industry interest you? can be done their.

advice on visas or places to stay on the cheap? lightstalkers.

want to dismiss or share contempt? well sadly that can be done there too.

it's a tool for me and has proven to be a valuable one at times. i have met, and received advice/help from some very cool and influential people there. same goes for RFF.

 

[richardvanle]

As others have stated, it's a website geared more toward working photojournalists. For example, I've gotten some good information related to fixers and visas.

 

[mgd711]

Thanks for the comments, I see now that it's more geared towards the working PJ. Probably not the sort off info I'm looking for, i.e. Improving my photography.

I do remember Lightstalkers being open but that was 6 or 7 years ago, every forum get's it's share off spammers. I used to run one here and despite the fact that most off the forum was in Tagalog we still got the spammers, language is no barrier for them.

 

[Keith]

There is nothing exclusive left in still photography.

That's a surprisingly jaded outlook IMO!

 

[Damaso]

It is for sure geared towards working PJs. I've been a member for many years. It isn't as lively as RFF but more useful for working photgs. Mike if you're looking to improve your photography there are plenty of people here (myself included) who are happy to help. Of course the best way to improve is to keep shooting, keep reading and looking at photography and keep having fun!

 

[mgd711]

Thanks for the offer Damaso, I might take you up on that. I contacted Luis Liwanag before Christmas for some 1 to 1 coaching in the way's of a working PJ but I've not been able to find the time to hook up with him since then. Maybe once the summer heat has passed... Just now I'm struggling, yesterday was terrible and I can't even have a beer to quench the thirst as I'm on the wagon 😱

 

[pachuco]

Thanks for the comments, I see now that it's more geared towards the working PJ. Probably not the sort off info I'm looking for, i.e. Improving my photography.

I do remember Lightstalkers being open but that was 6 or 7 years ago, every forum get's it's share off spammers. I used to run one here and despite the fact that most off the forum was in Tagalog we still got the spammers, language is no barrier for them.

I would love to see you post this question (OP) on Lightstalkers... 😎