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Archive 2009 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Steady Hand
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p.2 #1 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Agilehound wrote:

Wanted to add one more thing I look for in a forum: a variety of styles. All CC is based on personal pref, but if 99% of the people giving CC are all creating very similar images, well . . . it's very easy to work towards having your images look just like theirs. Which is fine if that's what you want to create (and I do think that's part of the learning process), but having a variety of styles on a forum kind of helps me at least think outside the box, both by what inspires me and what kind of feedback I get. Even though I don't have to want to create a certain style to admire it, or I can admire / emulate a certain aspect of it without becoming a total copycat.

Although, in general if everyone on the face of the planet is saying "the tilt just doesn't work'" maybe, just maybe the tilt doesn't work, and it's not just your unique style.

+1

Oct 14, 2009 at 04:35 PM

HappyCamp
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p.2 #2 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Geo31 wrote:
Regarding Facebook, not only can your photos be copied, but if you post photos there, IIRC you transfer your copyright to Facebook (for ALL content, not just photos) in perpetuity when you agree to their terms or policies or whatever the heck it is. There was some real furor over this a while back.

Why do you need to "IIRC" when you can just go look:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/terms.php?ref=pf

Sharing Your Content and Information

You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings. In addition:

1. For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos ("IP content"), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License"). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it.

Oct 14, 2009 at 04:39 PM

liamh
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p.2 #3 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

I only visit FM and I'm pretty exclusive to the People Forum - I have no idea why!

And despite the bashing this forum sometimes gets from the Wedding Forum Mafiosi (you know who you are

) I think it's good forum. It could improve, free beer would be a start...

Oct 14, 2009 at 04:48 PM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #4 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

liamh wrote:
I only visit FM and I'm pretty exclusive to the People Forum - I have no idea why!

And despite the bashing this forum sometimes gets from the Wedding Forum Mafiosi (you know who you are

) I think it's good forum. It could improve, free beer would be a start...

Hey...I agree!

I find myself here more than I ever expected.

The beer suggestion...first one is on me.

Oct 14, 2009 at 05:02 PM

liamh
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p.2 #5 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

I'll hold you to that

Oct 14, 2009 at 05:08 PM

davidcl64
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p.2 #6 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Oct 14, 2009 at 05:09 PM

alphakappa
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p.2 #7 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

As FSJ_Guy mentioned, Facebook's terms of use were just standard CYA stuff which they modified after all that furore. You retain ownership of whatever you put up there.

As for copying - anything you put on the Internet can be copied. Putting a transparent layer and making the image the background is not a barrier for anyone who wants to copy the image. (For example, as a programmer, I have Firebug installed on all my browsers - it's an easy matter for me to 'inspect element' a picture and find the URL of any image behind it.

Using javascript to block the secondary-click is also no protection against copying of images since it's a trivial matter to disable javascript and do it anyway. Also, it annoys me when websites do that since it breaks other aspects of my browsing experience. (For example, I like to right-click on links and open them in new tabs/windows occasionally, and when someone disables basic browser functionality for me, I know that this is a website I do not wish to visit in the future.

Oct 14, 2009 at 05:12 PM

T-bone1
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p.2 #8 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ has become a new one for me. Not nearly the trolling we see here.

However, FM remains my favorite.
Question, and I hope if fits your thread here, but I feel a bit guilty for not paying the FM fees with all the use I get out of this forum. I upload from Deviant Art (free). Reason being, I've heard horror stories about the billing and cancellation on FM. Anyone want to confirm or negate these billing stories?
-Tim

Oct 14, 2009 at 05:19 PM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #9 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

T-bone1 wrote:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ has become a new one for me. Not nearly the trolling we see here.

However, FM remains my favorite.
Question, and I hope if fits your thread here, but I feel a bit guilty for not paying the FM fees with all the use I get out of this forum. I upload from Deviant Art (free). Reason being, I've heard horror stories about the billing and cancellation on FM. Anyone want to confirm or negate these billing stories?
-Tim

HI Tim,

You brought up Deviant Art.

That is a site I visited years ago. It sure has grown! There are some very talented graphic artists there too (as I recall).

I think that is a "fee based" subscription site isn't it? That is OK with me, if the content and community are good.

I do not post my photos on a gallery here on FM, but I think it is a good service to have. I cannot help you with any issues related to that though. Perhaps others can chime in.

Oct 14, 2009 at 06:07 PM

ESC in KC
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p.2 #10 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

T-bone1 wrote:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ has become a new one for me. Not nearly the trolling we see here.

However, FM remains my favorite.
Question, and I hope if fits your thread here, but I feel a bit guilty for not paying the FM fees with all the use I get out of this forum. I upload from Deviant Art (free). Reason being, I've heard horror stories about the billing and cancellation on FM. Anyone want to confirm or negate these billing stories?
-Tim

I shared your feelings about not contributing but using the forum so much, so I joined for one year and paid the fees. Then I dropped my subscription until I had some gear to sell, and bought the buy and sell for a three month period. They auto-renewed me twice. The first time I let it pass but the second time I insisted on a refund which they promptly issued. I had tried twice to cancel, so I am not sure what the trouble with that was. They said they had never received any cancellation notices from me. Hmmm...

I figure between my 1 year membership and my buy and sell fees, I'm in good standing for a while.

Oct 14, 2009 at 06:35 PM

bryanlindsey
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p.2 #11 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

New, up and coming forum:

http://www.prophotobusinessforum.com

Oct 14, 2009 at 06:49 PM

Gordon walker
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p.2 #12 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Steady - interesting topic.

I visit three regularly, FM, photography-on-the.net, and texasphotoforum. I didn't even know dpreview really had a forum like this, I just read reviews there.

As to a critiques of forums. TFF is too small and not as popular as it could be. POTN is very large, and maybe I have not frequented there enough, but it doesn't have the same feel as FM (my fav). There seems to be a small number of loyal and professional talented folks who regularly contribute to FM. It's the right size due to that and for me to enjoy it. I regularly follow a couple folks whose work really like, and like seeing say 6-10 names regularly I like reading.

I was disappointed at FM's policy of subscribe to sell, but you have to pay the bills somehow. I have bought from there and find the folks trustworthy. If I ever need to sell, well.....

Oct 14, 2009 at 06:50 PM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #13 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

bryanlindsey wrote:
New, up and coming forum:

http://www.prophotobusinessforum.com

Hi Bryan,

I followed the link to the forum.

I saw your photo (headshot) there too.

You should post that photo here on FM and use it as your avatar.

You are one of the Contributing Writers! (good for you!

And I read your article about Wedding Photojournalism (makeup point is good).

I also surfed around that site some, read some more, looked at things and even read the "Oil Tanker" article from the founder/administrator.

I wish you luck.

__________________

Here are some comments that might help you:

I did not really get a sense of that forum being much different from the other wedding forums out there. Perhaps you can tell us more about it here (your chance to brag some and do PR).

One impression I got was that it leans HEAVILY to wedding photographers.

Another impression was caused by the following statement: "..gain credibility with designations from The Forum! Join Today!"

I don't know how a local group of Houston photographers can use designations to gain credibility. What is meant by that? Something like the CCP PPD PPDD WPPI XYZ initials that are sometimes following a photographer's name?

Perhaps you could explain that better on that site (or here).

Here is a question to help you (plural) and it is asked in a totally friendly tone of voice (as always):

What is going to separate that forum from another more established forum for wedding photographers such as the "Digital Wedding Forum?"

I hope these comments help you and your community.

Edited on Oct 14, 2009 at 08:21 PM · View previous versions

Oct 14, 2009 at 07:57 PM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #14 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Gordon walker wrote:
Steady - interesting topic.

I visit three regularly, FM, photography-on-the.net, and texasphotoforum. I didn't even know dpreview really had a forum like this, I just read reviews there.

As to a critiques of forums. TFF is too small and not as popular as it could be. POTN is very large, and maybe I have not frequented there enough, but it doesn't have the same feel as FM (my fav). There seems to be a small number of loyal and professional talented folks who regularly contribute to FM. It's the right size due to that and for me to enjoy it. I regularly follow a couple folks whose work really like, and like seeing say 6-10 names regularly I like reading.

I was disappointed at FM's policy of subscribe to sell, but you have to pay the bills somehow. I have bought from there and find the folks trustworthy. If I ever need to sell, well.....

Hi Gordon,

I read your post here with interest.

I understand.

When I first wanted to sell some stuff here on FM, I was a little miffed that I had to pay to post my stuff for sale. I did not have to do that at photo.net.

However, I found the "price to play" very small, considering that I have bought THOUSANDS of dollars of gear here and SOLD THOUSANDS of dollars of gear here.

I LIKE the "community" in the Buy Sell forum and the way feedback HELPS both parties. I know I did my best to provide accurate descriptions, fast shipping, fast tracking numbers, and fair prices. Overall, the experience was VERY positive and I think the sense of TRUST is better in this buy sell venue.

That stuff above must sound like I work for FM!

I don't. I just value good things and people and places.

I hope that helps you and others.

Oct 14, 2009 at 08:01 PM

bryanlindsey
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p.2 #15 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Hey Steady,

(friendly tone of voice...)

http://www.prophotobusinessforum.com is geared towards the business aspect of photography. It's members are international, not just from Texas. It's the brainchild of one of my photography mentors, so I am happy to be a part of it. If others find value in it, then great! The content is sure to grow exponentially over the next few months, so perhaps there will be more differentiation. Hope to see you there, you would be a valuable addition!

Oct 14, 2009 at 08:45 PM

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p.2 #16 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

I can honestly say FM is the only photo forum that I frequent on a regular basis.

Nearly joined DWF... but never (I did enjoy watching the videos during my 2 free trials)

I sometimes visit dpreview for gear talk, although it becoming less and less.

Photo.net was one of the first photo forums I came across and I found some interesting stuff there, can't remember the last time I was there though.

Steady, keep up the good work Sir, always a pleasure.

Cheers
BK

Oct 14, 2009 at 10:33 PM

Jacob D
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p.2 #17 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

FM, POTN, and DPR are the only forums I visit. I don't post on POTN (no reason really), and I rarely post at DPR (reason below). For me it's the members that make or break a forum, FM has some excellent photogs and the feedback here seems to be honest and constructive.

DPR, and this is in my opinion, is ladden with measurebators and trolls, and is mainly focused on gear anyhow. Too many posts over there draw smart @ss responses and negative attitudes, I tend to avoid posting there at all costs.

I'm also a member of a hobby related (saltwater aquarium) forum that has a photography sub-forum. Most of the posts there are snapshot quality, but there are always a handful of really interesting photos being posted.

Oct 14, 2009 at 11:12 PM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #18 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

BKphotography wrote:
I can honestly say FM is the only photo forum that I frequent on a regular basis.

Nearly joined DWF... but never (I did enjoy watching the videos during my 2 free trials)

I sometimes visit dpreview for gear talk, although it becoming less and less.

Photo.net was one of the first photo forums I came across and I found some interesting stuff there, can't remember the last time I was there though.

Steady, keep up the good work Sir, always a pleasure.

Cheers
BK

Hi BK.

Glad to see you participate here in this discussion.

Seems like we have followed the same path too.

I am surprised you did not mention any UK based forums. I thought there would be some strong ones there.

Cheers!
SH

Oct 14, 2009 at 11:26 PM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #19 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Jacob D wrote:
FM, POTN, and DPR are the only forums I visit. I don't post on POTN (no reason really), and I rarely post at DPR (reason below). For me it's the members that make or break a forum, FM has some excellent photogs and the feedback here seems to be honest and constructive.

DPR, and this is in my opinion, is ladden with measurebators and trolls, and is mainly focused on gear anyhow. Too many posts over there draw smart @ss responses and negative attitudes, I tend to avoid posting there at all costs.

I'm also a member of a hobby related (saltwater aquarium) forum that has a photography sub-forum. Most of the posts there are snapshot quality, but there are always a handful of really interesting photos being posted.

Hi Jacob.

Thanks for adding to the mix here.

Sounds like we have had some similar thoughts about DPR.

I hope you continue to enjoy your time here (me too).

The aquarium photography site sounds interesting to me. Would you post a link here to some photos?

Oct 14, 2009 at 11:35 PM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #20 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

bryanlindsey wrote:
Hey Steady,

(friendly tone of voice...)

http://www.prophotobusinessforum.com is geared towards the business aspect of photography. It's members are international, not just from Texas. It's the brainchild of one of my photography mentors, so I am happy to be a part of it. If others find value in it, then great! The content is sure to grow exponentially over the next few months, so perhaps there will be more differentiation. Hope to see you there, you would be a valuable addition!

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for the invite.

I don't have time to do weddings anymore. I have turned down many...which was honestly tempting at times. But it is not something I want to do to reach my goals. So I am taking a different path on my journey.

But, if your new forum has a group of friends starting it, and if it has nice people like you, it should be fun and a success. Good luck!

SH

Oct 14, 2009 at 11:38 PM

bryanlindsey
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p.2 #21 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Thanks Steady. It's for ALL professional photographers, including studio owners and portrait specialists like yourself.

Oct 15, 2009 at 12:04 AM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #22 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Greg Hawkins wrote:
model mayhem, canon digital learning center/white papers

Hi Greg,

You bring up a good one. Model Mayhem and a few other sites like that are focused on glamor and similar styles using models (amateur or pro). Most of the subjects are young women.

That site appears to be one of the better ones for that genre of photography.

I seem to recall another site similar to that, "One Model Place" I think the name was.

I am not a member of either, but they do appear to offer a wide range of services and many posted examples for others to see if that is your genre.

Oct 15, 2009 at 01:09 AM

Geo31
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p.2 #23 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

FSJ_Guy wrote:
They modified this several months back. There was standard language in there stating that they had the rights to your photo SO THEY COULD BACK IT UP on their servers. That was is. They modified it so that it looked less "scary" to people. Also, there was language in there saying that even if you delete your account, some versions may still exist on their BACKUP servers for a period of time. It was all legal CYA stuff, but some people saw it and freaked out.

IMHO, FB is NOT a good way to display photos simply because the image size is too small for decent viewing. FB is a social networking site, not a photo sharing site.

This doesn't smell right and doesn't jibe with what I read.

Saying they had rights to your photo SO THEY COULD BACK IT UP is absolutely silly.

I am not a lawyer, but the article I read did have opinions from lawyers in it. I would say that FB is not a place to put any photos you are not willing to give up your rights to, if for no other reason than as you said, there are better places to share photos.

Oct 15, 2009 at 01:21 AM

Jacob D
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p.2 #24 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Steady Hand wrote:

Hi Jacob.

Thanks for adding to the mix here.

Sounds like we have had some similar thoughts about DPR.

I hope you continue to enjoy your time here (me too).

The aquarium photography site sounds interesting to me. Would you post a link here to some photos?

Reef aquariums (saltwater with living coral) make interesting subjects, especially for macro and abstract work. The forum has a little of everything from aquariums and diving to wildlife and air shows... all mixed happily together

Here's a time lapse that one member made, he's done a few of these.
http://www.vimeo.com/6079680

Here's a link to the forum:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=118&order=desc

Oct 15, 2009 at 01:49 AM

Steady Hand
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p.2 #25 · Your Favorite Photo Forums?

Hi Jacob.

Thanks for posting the links.

I watched the Cnidarian life forms video. WILD Life!

The color and shapes and time lapse photography was really nice to see.

This is a very good example of how some creativity makes a difference. The use of a 100mm macro lens and a Rebel XSI and a LED waterproof light, and an aquarium full of nice living marvels, makes for a very nice video.

Oct 15, 2009 at 02:03 AM


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