Just wanted to say thanks

THC_SsSsSnake

THC_SsSsSnake

THC_SsSsSnake

Associate
Joined
7 Jan 2003
Posts
1,466
Location
Leicester
To all you guys.this is a very helpful forum and makes me feel i can ask you guys anything about photography and get some well informed help.

Really glad i took up photography ,making me see nature with even deeper vision.

Thanks
 
DragonWoLf said:
Really at OcUK? I found home for photography newbies at talkphotography forums tbh
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When I returned to photography 5 years ago it was TP that got me up to speed again, it's probably the best single learning resource for photography I've come across.
Having said that there some very knowledgeable people on here and some fine photographers.
 
There are still some very knowledgeable people here, but I'v noticed a stark difference since a certain few posters rarely come here any more, and when they do they no longer post any images, so this forum now mainly seems about spec'ing camera's for people, than showing results from those camera's
 
An Exception said:
There are still some very knowledgeable people here, but I'v noticed a stark difference since a certain few posters rarely come here any more, and when they do they no longer post any images, so this forum now mainly seems about spec'ing camera's for people, than showing results from those camera's
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+1

I'd noticed the same but not mentioned anything. Might be tempted to go back to TP and POTN more - trouble is I've lost the mojo atm and struggling. :(
 
^^^
I know what you mean, but part of the appeal of this forum was that it was smaller and had more of a community feel and some high quality tog's. Now the content from that community has disappeared and we are left with the remnants of what used to be...
 
An Exception said:
^^^
I know what you mean, but part of the appeal of this forum was that it was smaller and had more of a community feel and some high quality tog's. Now the content from that community has disappeared and we are left with the remnants of what used to be...
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There are still some good photographers left though. You make it sound like anyone with a shred of skill has left lol.
 
They've left because the admins oddly consider their names to be advertising their business when they watermark their photos. Oddly other people seem free to have massive links to their websites and huge watermarks emblazoned across all the photos they do post. The whole thing both disappoints and baffles me.

Also some that went professional don't want to be associated with forums like these, and prefer to either stick with their own site and 'fanbase' they built from a lot of hard work, to keep the impression of being nothing but professional, or occasionally appear on TP forums.

I'm sure if you look on the major 2 or 3 photography forums you'll spot the style of old posters from these forums. I know I have.

It really is a shame as these forums used to be buzzing with life, and VERY active 'latest photo' threads for many people were up every day. It seems that every now and then something will happen that squashes the spirit of the posters, and another 3 or 4 leave/stop posting.

You only have to look at the threads recently, and apart from new camera launches, it's very similar queries popping up. If people fully researched their queries, I imagine this section of the forums would have a huge dip in postings. Not that I'm saying I don't like people posting, as I myself prefer to post a question as more often than not, despite answers being out there, often the specifics of what you need to know aren't :)
 
ElDude said:
They've left because the admins oddly consider their names to be advertising their business when they watermark their photos.
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Erm, the rules of the Forum prohibit anyone from advertising their business. Certain individuals did link their signatures to their websites where they were advertising their photographic services for hire.

If the watermarks linked to a blog or a website which has no commercial interests advertised within it, then that would stick to the rules. A good example of this is Tugs website, it is a blog and a showcase to his excellent photographs.

Some people didn't stick to the rules.

Admittedly it had been going on for some years without Mods interfering, perhaps they should have done so sooner, but that is an issue for the owner of the board at the time and the moderators.

The persons involved were not permanently banned and COULD if they wished have altered links / watermarks accordingly to point to a non commercial area of their site. They COULD have stayed if they wished. However they had a free choice and chose to do what they did. I'm not criticising them for it and indeed agree with you, they are talented photographers, but hey lets not make them out to be martyrs. They didn't play by the rules and were called out. If they made an exception for one or two individuals then they would have to make an exception for everyone and not just within the Photographic section. If advertising your services as a Wedding Photographer at £1500+ per event is ok then why not allow people to advertise their home built computers or website development on these forums? It would soon become a free for all and clearly not acceptable to the providers of the forums.

Now back to the OP -you're welcome.
 
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Maybe your right, but the forum is all the worse for it now, and just because people put their name on a watermark, the juice doesn't seem worth the squeeze to me...
 
I don't think it is the absence of certain individuals, sure they did give a lot of insight into their techniques etc and like you I do miss them. I think the weather hasn't helped, a lot of people are stuck indoors and there is a lack of photographs being posted.

That said if you look through a lot of the subforums, there are a hell of a lot of 'spec me' threads - cars, watches, shoes and even chairs :)

The thing is do we ignore these threads? The answer has to be no, because the new photographer who gets good advice from the forums will come back. Hopefully they will show off their photographs and get feedback and bit by bit they will get better.
 
I'm not really sure why certain individuals not posting here just now is such an issue. It was a blatant infrigement of the rules that the vast majority of people who earn money from photography here have no problem following. Let's not pretend this was simply about a watermark. Personally I think that recent events have been long overdue and the absence of certain posters has been a great improvement to the general attitude of this particular sub-forum. The often venomous fanboyism and associated brand trolling has most certainly decreased. It is also possible again to view this forum without feeling that I'm reading someone's blog with associated advertising. If the argument is that it wasn't advertising and self promotion then it was certainly the most narcissistic posting I've come across. This section of the forum is curiously the only place I've ever felt compelled to add someone to an "ignore" list.

Many good photographers have left this sub-forum over the years and I know a couple of times it's been down to the attitude and cliqueness of certain people that were on here. After recent events I can't help but feel the sub-forum is much better than it has been in recent months. At the end of the day it is a sub-forum of a technology centred website... the focus of people's critique and the spec me threads only stem from this. The people who you consider talented just now were not in the same position a number of years ago and there will be a new crop of talented photographers occupying the same space soon. There are still a lot of good photographers here and more importantly people who will genuinely help, have good information and balanced opinions to offer to the site and newcomers to it. It is ultimately the willingness of people to help and the attitude of the community here that makes OcUK a good place to come...not the hosting of strategically bumped, self congratualatory extensions of serial narcissists' blogs. I still enjoy the posting of people who are here and active and I don't think OcUK has lost anything that won't be replaced by certain people on here very soon.
 
DJ_Switch said:
I'm not really sure why certain individuals not posting here just now is such an issue. It was a blatant infrigement of the rules that the vast majority of people who earn money from photography here have no problem following. Let's not pretend this was simply about a watermark. Personally I think that recent events have been long overdue and the absence of certain posters has been a great improvement to the general attitude of this particular sub-forum. The often venomous fanboyism and associated brand trolling has most certainly decreased. It is also possible again to view this forum without feeling that I'm reading someone's blog with associated advertising. If the argument is that it wasn't advertising and self promotion then it was certainly the most narcissistic posting I've come across. This section of the forum is curiously the only place I've ever felt compelled to add someone to an "ignore" list.
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Have you not been in the graphics section?

DJ_Switch said:
Many good photographers have left this sub-forum over the years and I know a couple of times it's been down to the attitude and cliqueness of certain people that were on here. After recent events I can't help but feel the sub-forum is much better than it has been in recent months. At the end of the day it is a sub-forum of a technology centred website... the focus of people's critique and the spec me threads only stem from this. The people who you consider talented just now were not in the same position a number of years ago and there will be a new crop of talented photographers occupying the same space soon. There are still a lot of good photographers here and more importantly people who will genuinely help, have good information and balanced opinions to offer to the site and newcomers to it. It is ultimately the willingness of people to help and the attitude of the community here that makes OcUK a good place to come...not the hosting of strategically bumped, self congratualatory extensions of serial narcissists' blogs. I still enjoy the posting of people who are here and active and I don't think OcUK has lost anything that won't be replaced by certain people on here very soon.
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Narcissists? I just think they were talented, and I enjoyed seeing work that was of a much higher standard than my own, because this helped raise my standard.
As for soon being replaced by equally talented tog's, I hope your right.
 
Dj

Wrt to your comment about the rules; for many years these have been loosely applied in photos as we were a bunch of good guys/gals and were pretty much self regulating even the fanboyism was good hearted . The watermarks were big but they were only protecting their work; what really got it going was the heavy handed way the dons then suddenly decended and kicked up all sorts of fuss rather than a quiet suggestion which would have been best around. That thread got locked so I don't know if it still around, Cba to look for it.

Forum been better recently? Have to disagree gone very much downhill, :(
 
An Exception said:
Have you not been in the graphics section?



Narcissists? I just think they were talented, and I enjoyed seeing work that was of a much higher standard than my own, because this helped raise my standard.
As for soon being replaced by equally talented tog's, I hope your right.
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I've not been in graphics for a while.lol

I stand by the narcissism comment if the argument was that it wasn't advertising...using the plural is the only thing I'd perhaps change. I don't deny that any talent left. I just think the drama with which it was undertaken was beyond laughable and I can't help but feel that the forum could do without such attitudes. Some of the work was good but not all of it and there were too many times I saw people jumped on for even daring to criticise a particular aspect of a photo or god forbid have anything negative to say about an L lens that was in the bag. All I'm saying is that I don't miss the bad attitudes. There's a wealth of good photography to be found on the net but I'd come to OcUK for the good spirit of the posters.
 
^^^
I don't remember any particularly bad attitudes, at least no worse than my own, and even so, it takes all sorts to build a community else it just becomes very boring.
The only place I go to see talent now is other togs blogs. It seems these guy's don't post on TP (why would they when they have their own blog), they certainly don't post here, like a couple used to.
If you wan't to see good spirit's of posters, you can venture into any section (except graphics). If you want to know which camera to buy you come here. If you want to be inspired, you go elsewhere...
 
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