Got me wondering

[Ian]

Re: Got me wondering

It wasn't my suggestion DP now copy 1X, I finished my post saying as much, they have found a formula that works for them, but that doesn't mean there aren't ideas that could be looked at & adapted to the DP Now ethos.
I do however have reservations about equipment reviews. I am thinking of buying later this year a Canon 7D, so I typed into Google 7D review and found a large number mostly extolling how good the camera was but others less enthusiastic, but it does show we don't really need more reviews they are already thick on the ground. Look at areas neglected my the photography community there is probably more mileage in doing so.
But that's the difficult bit and would take some doing.

Patrick

Another reason I started DPNow was because there was so much ignorance and plain misinformation being posted in the Internet about digital photography, especially in reviews. Today, some reviews are very good, but a lot are not. Maybe I should do a review watchdog service?

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: Got me wondering

Another reason I started DPNow was because there was so much ignorance and plain misinformation being posted in the Internet about digital photography, especially in reviews. Today, some reviews are very good, but a lot are not. Maybe I should do a review watchdog service?

Ian

When you started consumer digital photography was in its infancy, film was still dominant. How it has all changed in a relative short time. Yes there was and still is misinformation about, some lingering from the early days taken on board then as fact, still not disregarded even though time as proved it wrong.
Perhaps a review of reviews might be a good idea, it needs some lateral thinking to come up with a new angle.
If reviews are essential could you not try and persuade one or two makers to supply equipment, you could circulate round trusted DP Now members for them to review in the real world as it were. I'm sure it would result in a lot of different opinions but could still benefit makers.

Patrick

[Stephen]

Re: Got me wondering

If I'm not wrong, the site Patrick refers to is One Exposure (www.1x.com). I visit there a lot too, and have a photo published. While it has a forum, it is primarily an online photo art gallery. As the 'owners' of any gallery, they are entitled to hang whatever they wish on the 'wall'. Extremely good images don't make it, others do. It's not elitist nor snobbish, just people with certain taste accepting what they wish and saying 'no thanks' to the rest. There is no competition involved, save for that in the hearts of the submitters.

It in no way is the same as this site or any other that allows uploading of any image you choose. It has no equipment chat, except for whatever shows up in someone's forum conversation. This forum (DPNow) has provided me with useful information. It allows me to show some serious stuff and and some whimsical photos too. A fun place to be. That I think is as it should be. Ian, as if you don't have enough to do, you could always start something more 'serious'. But I find this place a nice little coffee shop to hang out in, with really nice people. It's just around the corner from my house, I can get there anytime. I would hate to see it close!

I too am a member of the 1X site and have a small gallery of photos that were accepted. In fact Mal who is running the current Salon is one of the moderators on the site. I used to think it was a breath of fresh air when I first joined and it inspired me in various ways with my photos. I don't contribute these days and found that part of the problem was that you could virtually produce images to order. There were styles that were liked more than others, and if you look on the front page over a period of time you will perhaps see what I mean.

It was their concept of having photos approved before they were accepted that originally provided the inspiration for the Golden Gallery on DPNow. The trouble was that the Gallery software had its limitations and we had to adapt the idea to fit in with them. The owners of 1x were software programmers in some cases and were able to create a much slicker and efficient system that was made for the job.

Both Ian and I thought the GG was a good idea and felt it might inspire some photo excellence on the site. At the time I remember we were accused of being elitist, and frankly it has not been a success. We still get the odd submission, but they are not usually of the standard we would have liked............... good pictures but not special pictures as we had hoped for. Though it must be said that I have seen a few in the galleries that I would happily accept were they to be submitted. If anyone wants to submit a photo to the Golden Gallery, it can be done HERE

[Patrick]

Re: Got me wondering

I too am a member of the 1X site and have a small gallery of photos that were accepted. In fact Mal who is running the current Salon is one of the moderators on the site. I used to think it was a breath of fresh air when I first joined and it inspired me in various ways with my photos. I don't contribute these days and found that part of the problem was that you could virtually produce images to order. There were styles that were liked more than others, and if you look on the front page over a period of time you will perhaps see what I mean.

It was their concept of having photos approved before they were accepted that originally provided the inspiration for the Golden Gallery on DPNow. The trouble was that the Gallery software had its limitations and we had to adapt the idea to fit in with them. The owners of 1x were software programmers in some cases and were able to create a much slicker and efficient system that was made for the job.

Both Ian and I thought the GG was a good idea and felt it might inspire some photo excellence on the site. At the time I remember we were accused of being elitist, and frankly it has not been a success. We still get the odd submission, but they are not usually of the standard we would have liked............... good pictures but not special pictures as we had hoped for. Though it must be said that I have seen a few in the galleries that I would happily accept were they to be submitted. If anyone wants to submit a photo to the Golden Gallery, it can be done HERE

When I first joined 1x it was a revelation and I quickly had images accepted with one acceptance for every two offered, then acceptances slowed, after my subscription finished I didn't bother much. I started again recently and only one image which after being re-worked and screened a second time has been accepted out of 14, indicating its tougher to get accepted now. There isn't always a logic I can see to success & failure, judging from some of the failed pictures that have been put up for critique.
Its however noticeable that very heavily manipulated & or constructed pictures do well. Now as you know I'm not against manipulation, but many of the pictures are a step too fare even for me, some I feel with questionable messages. And if I see another northern lights shot.

You may think from these comments I no longer like the site but strangely I still enjoy it, I think because its solely about pictures & photography with equipment used referred too, but not given any importance. There is certainly no brand battle going on between users.

Patrick