Simplifying lifestyle - which photo forums to follow?

[BrianShaw]

I made a life decision today... thanks to one of the RFF members inspiration. I'm shooting a lot and enjoying life, but I spend way too much time on the computer reading photo forum postings. I'd rather be doing other research, writing, etc. but I don't want to lose track of the photographic community.

I now read the following forums:

APUG forums
Nelson.com forums
Classic Repair forums
Photo.net forums
RFF forums

At each, I read multiple forums. Seeking advise on which ones to start ignoring. All advise and opinions will be welcomed with extreme gratitude.

 

[Rich Silfver]

/.../

At each, I read multiple forums. Seeking advise on which ones to start ignoring. All advise and opinions will be welcomed with extreme gratitude.

Not to sound meanspirited in any way but honestly....seeking advice on what forums you should read and ignore? There seems to be a disturbing, increasing trend where people are asking for more and more 'decisions' and 'advice' on things that SHOULD be personal and subjective decisions.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I agree Brian sometimes access from internet cafes restricts my time spent browsing but my current forum choice of participation in order of preference:

• RFF
• Lightstalkers
• Photo.net
• Leica Customer Forum

This is based on a personal criteria of:

• sense of community involvement (in and outside of the forums including email and personal contact)
• information/images posted
• navigational/site design

Of course this order of preference may change at any time 😀

 

[back alley]

take a week off from all of them and then see which forums you missed the most and then which sections you missed.

use the week long time wisely.

joe

 

[Bertram2]

I would second Richs answer, you solely know what is really IMPORTANT enuff for you to spend time on. Maybe you should think about this first and then make a priority list which you can cut to the forum time budget you have decided to afford in future ?
The best time saving thing of all is beeing more and more selective with the decisions of which threads one reads. And much more selective with contributions.

bertram


bertram

 

[PeterL]

Aside from Rich's intelligent remark, Joe's method may be more useful as a way to practically go about. I would first dump photo.net, I've not found the posts there nearly as useful or entertaining as here. As a matter of fact, I unsubscribed my SLR forum when I came here, but I may be an exceptional unprolific forum reader 🙂


Peter.

[EDIT: corrected a stupid typo :bang:]

 

[RayPA]

...I'd rather be doing other research, writing, etc. but I don't want to lose track of the photographic community.

🙂 🙂 Apparently, you rather NOT be doing research, writing, etc., because...

...I spend way too much time on the computer reading photo forum postings.

this seems like what you'd really rather be doing! 🙂 🙂

I stick to one online photo forum (this one), because it has the greatest number of interest points for me (film, rf's, classifieds, connection to local photographers, etc.). If you get something out of visiting all the other sites, in addition to this one, then there's nothing wrong with that at all.

However, if it's becoming something else, where you're visiting all these sites and not doing the things you're supposed to be doing, then...welcome to the club! 🙂

I think Joe has the best suggestion.

🙂

 

[matt fury]

Although I used to spend a lot of time reading on Photo.net, I ditched it when I found this place and I haven't really missed it at all. I think you'll find the same.

 

[amateriat]

Well, other than Lightstalkers (which I signed up to only this week, by way of someone mentioning it here), this is about the only place of its sort I hit regularly (real regularly) anymore. Of course, that's because, in part, there really isn't any other place quite "of its sort". Partly for informational stuff, but 80% because of the people here, i.e. fun.


- Barrett

 

[back alley]

what is this 'lightstalkers'?

 

[peterc]

I check out several photo sites, some daily, others less frequently.
RFF is a daily check.
PBase is also a daily check (I have photos there and several favourite artists I browse each day)
Ontario Photo Collective - a daily check. It's a group of local photographers and we have monthly outings and theme shoots.
Nikonians - once a week for my Nikon fix.
Online Photographer - every couple of days to see what Mike Johnston is up to.
Luminous Landscape - less frequently of late.

Peter

 

[wlewisiii]

I just spent 5 days in Northern Wisconsin without net access. I missed RFF & Nelsonfoto. The rest didn't even register.

HTH,

William

 

[f/stopblues]

I mostly read on most sites instead of contributing. You know that old adage.. "You were given two eyes, two ears, and one mouth. Use them in proportion."

That being said, I use this site most often, but also frequent apug.org. I pretty much stopped browsing photo.net, but I use their archives if I'm looking for a certain bit of information, etc.

The site that has the highest quality photos consistantly is ball-saal.com. I *love* that site. The work is fantastic, though the member base is small and centered on a few key photographers. It's a joy to browse daily though.

 

[ch1]

what is this 'lightstalkers'?

I need to learn this too....

Meanwhile, I agree with Rich that a lot of threads here lately seem to be in the variety of :

"what should I do - I can't shoot with it anymore"?

"which camera (battery, film, digicard, bag, vest etc.) should I use"?

"I am taking a trip to be a survivor on a desert island in the middle of the Seine next to Notre Dame - which gear should I take"? 😀

I like this site.

Tried P-net about three times and said WTF.

And I wish APUG's SLR forum was half as lively as this place!

Oh well.

 

[amateriat]

http://lightstalkers.org

There's some "emergency maintenance" happening there right now. Might want to try a little later. (Hope it had nothing to do with that wicked thunderstorm that ripped through here an hour or so ago.)


- Barrett

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

tsk tsk tsk, and to think there's such an embrace for change. This new trend should be embraced too.

I think you should ignore the ones that tell you which sites to ignore; they may be playing mind tricks on you.

 

[ch1]

http://lightstalkers.org

There's some "emergency maintenance" happening there right now. Might want to try a little later. (Hope it had nothing to do with that wicked thunderstorm that ripped through here an hour or so ago.)


- Barrett

Barrett,

Damn - you blew their cover!

Seems the site is getting hit so hard they have a "maintenance" sign up!

😀

 

[amateriat]

Barrett,

Damn - you blew their cover!

Seems the site is getting hit so hard they have a "maintenance" sign up!

😀

Whoops...wild pitch. :bang:


- Barrett

 

[RML]

Just RFF and LightStalkers. Some P.nut to pass the time at work. 🙂

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

what is this 'lightstalkers'?

Joe, Lightstalkers is still offline right now but here's a general description of the site
off google.

"Discussion board, contacts list, list of resources, populated mostly by international photographers, with some editors, writers, and agents.
Lightstalkers is a networking tool designed for mobile journalists."

Actually it has over 7000+ members and although its seems to have a core group of regular contributors who are are mainly photojournalists, it has many other media based members. It's very easy to browse the members' pages and individual networking lists are publically displayed making it easier to see who's who.
It has a very good resources section. A lot of editors source this site for quick contact with photographers for assignments and it's excellent for HU re international competitions and photo festivals.