Where Have all the Members Gone ?

[asnow]

Seeing Iggy back commenting made me think ..... 'Where have all the members gone'

This forum used to be so vibrant with lots of very talented photographers. I would enjoy every day getting on and seeing what great work had been added. Also you would get lots of very helpful constructive criticism. I'm sure that this helped me improve as a photographer.

Now the forum is a skeleton of its former self. It's so sad.

Is there anything that we can do to lure back those old members and get new members contributing?

[theantiquetiger]

I totally agree. I basically learned photography from this forum. I use to love the critiques, different images from around the world, and small (but close) relationships we had here.
One of my favorite posters was a guy that lived in Vienna (or Venice, I forget). He produced some amazing abstracts.

I also believe the photography bubble has burst. I think the photography craze has dropped significantly.

I haven’t helped the board myself due to not shooting a lot in the last year. Between two surgeries, and an injury to my arm where I couldn’t even hold my camera for six months, I haven’t shot in a long time. Plus, one of my top lenses is broken, so I am limited to what I can shoot.

[asnow]

Wow. You've had a tough year. Lets hope you have a speedy recovery and can get back to making and posting those great shots that we have have learned to enjoy from you over these past years.

p.s.
I don't think the photography bubble has burst. It's just that people are taking pictures with their phones and posting on Facebook\Instagram instead.

[Iguanasan]

I can't speak for others but I'm happy to "explain myself" since I sort of triggered the conversation. I have two main passions, photography and karate. 2 years ago, my Sensei retired and left me to run the Atlantic Karate Club here in Halifax. The person looking after the books and coordinating the membership (all the paperwork) was someone who did it for him. When he left, she left. So, for the last two years, I've spent a bunch of time focusing on trying to run the club and to the best I can do there. That stole time from my photography.

Also, I felt I was in a rut. Taking photos was getting a bit boring me as I didn't seem to be improving much and I found the processing to be too much work. Maybe I just don't have the time or ability to get better. Or maybe the improvements were so minimal that I couldn't see them. Regardless, this made photography easier to put on the back shelf for a while.

[asnow]

You don't have to explain yourself Iggy. You certainly have contributed a lot to this forum over the years. I know where you are when you feel like you are in a rut. I was like that in 2018. I don't think I took one picture the whole year. I was basically MIA on this forum last year. I took a vow (sort of a New Years resolution) that I was going to get back at it in 2019. I signed up for a photography workshop in Chicago and Boston and just got back from two weeks in Scotland with a lot of photo opportunities (Just starting to post these). I seem to have renewed vigour. I think the year off helped. The only downer is having somebody to show my work to. This forum is the only photography forum I'm on and there seems to only a few people active. Not like the old days.

[Iguanasan]

We'll build it back up!

[edG]

Simple answer- life gets in the way.
From late 2014 to early 2019 work took over my life. 40 plus hours Monday to Friday on the tools and then I was teaching health and safety courses up to 3 weekends each month. 2015 diagnosed with spinals stenosis in the lumbar region, vowed not to have surgery till I retired.
November 29, 2019 suffered a stroke - fortunately my wife noticed a very slight change in my facial muscles that morning as I was getting ready to go to work and insisted I go to the hospital. I made a rapid recovery with no deficits thanks to my wife Heather.
So with that said (not looking for sympathy or whining) I'm back and happy to be here.

[Marko]

Glad to see you back Ed!G

[edG]

Thanks Marko!