I like this site for photo browsing. Some exceptional work is posted there and if you click on the photography section (there are many different categories of art there) it is broken down into various subcategories (urban,photojournalism, macro, people, etc, etc..). While not necessarily a forum as typically thought of I have found some interesting dialogue in the comments sections of photographs.
Hi....
That is a good forum/site. It does have LOADS of interesting graphics and artwork on it. Photography too.
I have only spent a few minutes there over the last few years but found the type of posting and portfolios to be more like flicker or smugmug (sharing with comments below a photo). Now it looks sort of like facebook with lots of external links on person's site/page.
When I first started around 3/4 years ago, I visited POTN, DPReview and Canon section of FM all the time as well as buy and sell here.
As I understand more about my camera/lenses, I haven't been back to POTN or DPReview and only peek at Canon forum once a while. Now FM is very much the only forum I visit. I spent times between lighting forum, people forum and wedding forums.
Excellent topic, thread, SteadyHand.
Similar experience to yours on dpreview. I go there for technical info on equipment, programs and occ to their re-touching forum to see some of the great retouching mixed in. But trolls, for sure!
May not be of interest here, but http://www.birdphotographers.net/ is excellent for supportive critique of bird images by Artie Morris and friends (including FM's Jody Melanson), tutorials, wonderful images, but you have to post by link.
www.TMElive I have used mostly to read, watch webcasts, but some good boards I dont use much.
www.photo.net for some wide-ranging wonderful images, less feedback.
All in all, FM is the place for me. Great talent, few trolls (off the equipment forums and even then not bad), good tone, helpful critiques, advice, responsive boards, each with a different culture.
seebeyond wrote:
When I first started around 3/4 years ago, I visited POTN, DPReview and Canon section of FM all the time as well as buy and sell here.
As I understand more about my camera/lenses, I haven't been back to POTN or DPReview and only peek at Canon forum once a while. Now FM is very much the only forum I visit. I spent times between lighting forum, people forum and wedding forums.
Thanks for adding to the discussion. Seems like a common thing or trend (visiting those other forums and coming back here).
sbeme wrote:
Excellent topic, thread, SteadyHand.
Similar experience to yours on dpreview. I go there for technical info on equipment, programs and occ to their re-touching forum to see some of the great retouching mixed in. But trolls, for sure!
May not be of interest here, but http://www.birdphotographers.net/ is excellent for supportive critique of bird images by Artie Morris and friends (including FM's Jody Melanson), tutorials, wonderful images, but you have to post by link.
www.TMElive I have used mostly to read, watch webcasts, but some good boards I dont use much.
www.photo.net for some wide-ranging wonderful images, less feedback.
All in all, FM is the place for me. Great talent, few trolls (off the equipment forums and even then not bad), good tone, helpful critiques, advice, responsive boards, each with a different culture.
Hi Scott,
Thanks for adding to this discussion....and adding several other forums that did not pop in my mind too. I did not know Jody was a birder too.
I am surprised no "auto photography" or other specialist type forums has popped up yet.
its a lot like this place, and its actually how I found FM forums.
WOW this looks to be a great forum. Thanks. I already like their buy/sell area better where it is broken down into categories (I though FM was going to do this...I still think he should).
it was started by the Denny Manufacturing Company and they only want serious photographers. I was a member for a short time and found FM a better forum.
cmillc22 wrote:
it was started by the Denny Manufacturing Company and they only want serious photographers. I was a member for a short time and found FM a better forum.
Not sure where it started but it's run by KIrk Voclain now, and yes, most of the members are pros and good amateurs. Because of that there isn't any bickering or name calling, just experienced, friendly people helping each other. The fee tends to weed out the less serious types.
photobear wrote:
Not sure where it started but it's run by KIrk Voclain now, and yes, most of the members are pros and good amateurs. Because of that there isn't any bickering or name calling, just experienced, friendly people helping each other. The fee tends to weed out the less serious types.
Just my opinion, of course.
Bill
Hi Bill.
So you don't HAVE to be a full time pro there then?
I got the impression (by seeing their home page (about as far as any visitor gets) that the forum was "JUST" for PROs.
What do you think is the percentage or ratio of "full time working pro" to "part time pro" to "amateur who may get paid now and then?"
I seem to recall some forum I ran across years ago that insisted that ALL members were FULL TIME PROS and the emphasis was on people who owned photography studios (brick and mortar).
Steady Hand wrote:
Thanks for adding that warning too.
That is an issue to consider....seriously.
I have never opened a Facebook account because when I read (carefully) the Terms pages (most people don't), I was surprised by that kind of position.
But....who knows. Maybe....it is a misunderstanding.
Anyone else have something to add on THIS issue?
Steady
Havent read all the posts here. Sorry if its already covered.
I've seen this warning before. I didnt seriously think they wanted your copyright. Just that it would place Facebook in a difficult situation if they were in litigation and it would be useful to have this term in their user contract. ie with images being copied and images being posted that did not belong to the poster.
Somebody else has stated much better than I:
Facebook's terms of use were just standard CYA stuff
Havent read all the posts here. Sorry if its already covered.
I've seen this warning before. I didnt seriously think they wanted your copyright. Just that it would place Facebook in a difficult situation if they were in litigation and it would be useful to have this term in their user contract. ie with images being copied and images being posted that did not belong to the poster.
Somebody else has stated much better than I:
Facebook's terms of use were just standard CYA stuff
Hi...thanks for adding to the discussion.
I understand.
But...it is always a concern if you have marketable images (that may sell as stock someday for example) that they not be copied and considered the "perpetual" property of someone else (unless they pay).
I recently came across a website that took some of my photos without permission, to use to make their site look better. I am not talking about a client using a proof photo either.
I just read their (Pro4um) FAQs page and it seems you are right, that it is only for pros. Since I am a pro I never paid any attention to the restriction. I don't remember having to PROVE that I was a pro, but perhaps the forum has changed. I'd suggest that anyone who is interested in joining Pro4um just send an email to Kirk and ask him. He's a decent guy and I'm sure he'll be able to answer any of your questions.
As I recall there were a fair amount of "beginning" pros on the board, as well as a fair amount of more established pros.
Steady Hand wrote:
But...it is always a concern if you have marketable images (that may sell as stock someday for example) that they not be copied and considered the "perpetual" property of someone else (unless they pay).
I recently came across a website that took some of my photos without permission, to use to make their site look better. I am not talking about a client using a proof photo either.
It is a great way of networking but...
Totally understand. I havent joined Facebook. I have several Facebook auto generated reminders to join my friends on Facebook. I just delete these as spam.
i forgot about dgrin, i am a member there also but have not visited it lately, it is a very good forum and they have a tutorial section that is pretty good if i remember right.
