OK Folks, what is Missing? How can we improve RFF ?

[RichC]

I'd like a "thanks" button, like on LUF. It works a treat on the Leica forum, and is popular and useful.

Note that saying "thanks" is not the same as "like"!

 

[hendriphile]

Love the site. My only wish: to make it easier to post images for computer semi- illiterates like me. ( I've tried the usual places on the site to try to get help but nothing happens).

 

[Doug]

Love the site. My only wish: to make it easier to post images for computer semi- illiterates like me. ( I've tried the usual places on the site to try to get help but nothing happens).

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117509

 

[Clark.EE]

Photography Club

Photography Club

How about a "Camera Club " syle weekly competition.
Different subject every week? Or Month?
Any Camera any Medium, or different classes?
Winners voted for by moderators or Peers?
Or no Winners, maybe a "Highly Commended" now & again.

No Prizes Necessary. Unless of course you can get that Japanese firm to sponsor a few Prizes?

Please no Pixel Peeping, just great subjects Well shot?
No archive stuff, photo taken in that week/Month.

Our subject this week for Camera Club is "After the Storm"
Still no rain, may have to get the hose out........

 

[__--]

Not viewing photography as a competitive endeavor, for me, a camera club-type competion would be the kiss of death, even if there were no prizes or winners but only a "high commendation." The same thing for voting by moderators or peers, but I won't elaborate...

—Mitch/Potomac
Tristes Tropiques
[Direct download link for PDF file of book project]

 

[Michael Markey]

Not viewing photography as a competitive endeavor, for me, a camera club-type competion would be the kiss of death, even if there were no prizes or winners but only a "high commendation." The same thing for voting by moderators or peers, but I won't elaborate...

—Mitch/Potomac
Tristes Tropiques
[Direct download link for PDF file of book project]

I agree ...kiss of death is too kind a description 🙂

 

[xayraa33]

More talk about film and film cameras would be nice in addition to the myriad of weekly digital wonders.
I know we can't turn the calendar back a decade but I do miss the way it was when I joined RFF even if the old guard are no longer here, or are now silent.

 

[Photon42]

Still after years I like reading this site. However, given the increase of mobile devices, I'd say you should ditch Forum Runner and replace it with something which receives at least some attention and maintenance (such as Tapatalk). Most longer threads create errors on Forum Runner.

 

[B-9]

Still after years I like reading this site. However, given the increase of mobile devices, I'd say you should ditch Forum Runner and replace it with something which receives at least some attention and maintenance (such as Tapatalk). Most longer threads create errors on Forum Runner.

I agree, RFF is frustrating at best on a mobile device.
Virtually impossible to upload photos, or even use the gallery menu, Ive attempted uploads numerous times only to get frustrated and move my images to flickr.

It would be nice to have more activity in the DIY section, although I'm a big fan of most all the mmoderators, I think somone could do a better job by posting a new thread atleast once a week.

I'm sorry but those true DIY'ers never stop, I'm constantly working on one thing or another. Unfortunately I no longer feel the need to share, when projects receive little to no attention. In my few years here, we've went from a powerhouse of vintage and boutique, to mirrorless rumor hub and boring w/nw threads.

Just my 2 cents.
If there was a better place, ide be there, but for now RFF is still where my heart lays.

 

[fdarnell]

I think it would help if you had an easier way to search for photos by the kind of gear. Let's face it, most of us are gear heads and I like to see photos taken by different camera/lens or gear in different locales. The fact that there are users all over the world means we can see real-world performance in all different conditions. Sometimes I think the preview types of tests are stilted since the cameras are used mainly in mild climates, like the Pacific Northwest or England. They behave a lot differently in Manila than they do in London, for example. Just being able to easily find photos by "gear type" would do this.

Seems right now it's a little buried but then again it may be my ignorance.

 

[aeturnum]

Be very careful when adding features, you may discover you miss the inability to do something. 🙂

As others have said, I think RFF does what it does very well. However, I think it's a natural place to collect knowledge about the cameras we all like. Repair guides, pdfs of manuals, lists of various development techniques for a given film stock, etc. We have all this collective knowledge in a population that, like all populations, is aging. I want to preserve that knowledge.

 

[rolfe]

As others have already commented, the ability to post pictures is currently arcane and frequently frustrating to newcomers. That is the #1 problem.

There should be a way to archive frequently asked for data other than creating a sticky thread, which is arguably not the most efficient way to access this kind of data.

 

[JChrome]

... not only do I 'not mind' the present look and feel, I positively prefer it to that of many others, including that WetPixel example. I choose to view RFFM in the -- VBP Hex Cell Xpand option mode, and find it clear, concise and uncluttered. Not that I would necessarily object to a 'more modern' web design if it really delivered simplification and usability.
But, at my age, I don't think I could take another Flickr-style continual change of format and change of user interface access to functionality .

Certain things are of course subjective and you can have your opinion. But I, IMHO, really think that the Wetpixel posts are much more attractive, simple etc. Just take a look at the two below screenshots and tell me which one is more appealing.

Or This:

We should think about web design like we do our photos... Who here isn't constantly striving for better composition with their images? There are things that can be done to make things simpler, more readable etc. What's wrong with exploring that?

 

[thegman]

Not viewing photography as a competitive endeavor, for me, a camera club-type competion would be the kiss of death, even if there were no prizes or winners but only a "high commendation." The same thing for voting by moderators or peers, but I won't elaborate...

—Mitch/Potomac
Tristes Tropiques
[Direct download link for PDF file of book project]

I agree, competitions I think would be more like a popularity contest than standard of work.

 

[Michael Markey]

I agree, competitions I think would be more like a popularity contest than standard of work.

They`ve crippled any creativity in the UK .
I see the resulting vapidity every week.
Folk just shoot for the judges not for themselves.

 

[majid]

Hi!
As an inveterate 'Feed Reader' (RSS preferred)

Don't tell me, there's all ready one here and I've missed it over the past decade or so!!! ;-)

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/external.php?type=RSS2

As others have already commented, the ability to post pictures is currently arcane and frequently frustrating to newcomers. That is the #1 problem.

Yes:

• Bigger limits on attached images
• Auto-scale large images to the available width of the page

 

[p.giannakis]

I do like the idea of a blogging section.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I agree, competitions I think would be more like a popularity contest than standard of work.

All "standards" of creative work are popularity contests, in my opinion and of benefit only to the egos of the conformists. 😀

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Just take a look at the two below screenshots and tell me which one is more appealing.

I prefer the RFF sample.

 

[RichC]

They`ve crippled any creativity in the UK .
I see the resulting vapidity every week.
Folk just shoot for the judges not for themselves.

I completely agree. Not helped that many "judges" are poorly chosen - awful at feedback, trotting out trite superficialities and preferring the commonplace. And I don't think democratic voting by members would be useful either - that's just a useless popularity contest (Andres Serrano's photograph is an important artwork, but not many people like it!)

Brighton & Hove Camera Club (whom I help out on occasion) are moving to a system of critiques with feedback from experienced photographers (called "commentators" not "judges"). The aim is not to have "winners" and "losers", and the end game is for all participants to improve their photography. The format is the same as a "normal" competition (except for no scores): you submit a photo, and it is presented in front of everyone, and the commentator critiques it publicly.

That way, the intent of competition to improve skill and ability is retained while doing away with the pitfall of creating and submitting only to win - since there are no winners.

If RFF wants to help its members become better photographers, then this alternative to the traditional competition may be worth pursuing.

The downside is that it needs more effort than the typical online competition, since you need experienced photographers willing to help critique. Which is why I guess you rarely see such online "reviews"!