New Subsections?

[Gem]

I've noticed that "Show Your Photo" section is getting a bit cluttered. Any chance you could put in some subsections for it? Like Animals, People and Objects/Other?

Just a thought....

[jjeling]

I was going to mention this earlier to Marko, but did not want to interfere or try to tell him how to run his forum. I agree with you Gem. Creating sub-threads in the show forum can be good and bad.
The good - the forum stays tidy. People who wish to focus on certain image types(Nature, Landscape, Portrait, Abstract, etc. can do that through each sub-thread.
The Cons - The current set up allows people to view images they would not usually expose themselves to. It exposes people to new ideas and concepts to the art of photography. It might also seperate us as a community as we all will tend to focus on one type of photography and then lose focus on the others.
This is after all the Fine Art Photography Forum. I like the set up the way it is now. It has a small town feel that I really like to it(Go Canada!). I would just hate to see this turn in to the same old forum Ive seen in the past. It will probably be necessary in the future though as the site grows. There can be so many different sub-thread created. Here is what one other extremely busy and active forum has...
People/Portraits
Nude/Glamour
Urban Photography
Rural Photography
Animals/Birds
Landscape
Food
Travel/Journalism
Macro
Abstract
B&W
Events
Sports
Transportation
Still life
Night shots
IR/HDR
Dark Side
General
Manipulated

Crazy! The community is extremely seperated and unfriendly to say the least. There are over 12,000 members, but you can't blame the number of sub-threads. I would point at the moderators first and foremost, and Marko has done a good job here. These are just some thoughts I figured I would throw out there as Im sure more people are sure to comment on this. Ultimately though, it is Marko's decision, unless we can unanimously threaten to leave the forum until he makes the change.............

Sounds like a reason for a Coup De Ta!!!!

I'll be on Marko's side

[Gem]

^^^ Totally know what you mean JJ about the division that'll occur. Which is why I think only two or so subdivisions are okay for now. It's just that pictures are being pushed down because so many new threads are being created (yay for participation!).

[MoinMoin]

I agree with Gem - but I am so new on board, that I didn't want to start with a similar thread ;-).

But now... I would suggest another way – maybe we could get a gallery, where we can give our comments directly below the pictures.
I am a member of a fine german fotocommunity with a gallery like this and I would give you a link to take a glimpse – I only don’t know if it is allowed to set links to other communities here, is it?
You could make in this gallery subsections as you like. Just ask Mad Aussie – once I gave him a link to my pictures there.

[Marko]

Just as an FYI....I PREFER if members let me know what they think would be useful.....AND if it is in a thread that has been posted and I don't post in it...PLEASE PLEASE PM me. This forum is growing slowly by the day and it is getting almost impossible for me to be on top of all threads at all times...and i don't want members to think I'm dissing them. I'm a lover not a disser :).


I was going to mention this earlier to Marko, but did not want to interfere or try to tell him how to run his forum.Nobody can TELL me what to do - but nobody on this board does that anyway. Members are very nice and polite...so members should never feel shy about suggesting anything at all. Suggestions are never interfering and I appreciate them.

At the end of the day when members are happy so am I so please suggest.

One last thing is I can't 'know' what members think is useful on our board....so again suggestions are not interfering they are helping.

I am absolutely prepared to create some subforums in the show forum if that's what members want. In this case though (because it represents a medium-sized change in one of the larger forums on this board) ...I'd like more input from other members just saying that they agree and a suggestion of categories. Right now only 3 people have posted, I'd like to have more members post their opinions. If more members agree,
For now maybe just 3-4 subforums?

Eventually....if warranted...we could even get rid of the subforums and make them full on forums as part of the show forum category.

Thanks everyone!!
Marko

[Ben H]

Agree on a small number of subforums, maybe something along the lines of:

Nature / Landscape
People / Animals
Abstract / Arty

[kat]

Agree on a small number of subforums, maybe something along the lines of:

Nature / Landscape
People / Animals
Abstract / Arty

This sounds good to me!o

[jjeling]

Agree, on a small scale as well.

[casil403]

I think it's a good idea also.

[JAS_Photo]

I agree as well. A lot of stuff is getting dropped to the second page before it has a chance to be commented on.

[Greg_Nuspel]

I don't see any disagreement here maybe post a poll, or just go for it after all you are the supreme commander :cool:

[Gem]

I don't see any disagreement here maybe post a poll, or just go for it after all you are the supreme commander :cool:

As the saying goes "If you build it, they will come." ;)

[GregL]

Agree on a small number of subforums, maybe something along the lines of:

Nature / Landscape
People / Animals
Abstract / Arty

Good idea. The only negative I can see is that the categories need to allow for everything or include an "other". eg Street photography may not fit into the above categories. Sometimes when you put categories people get possessive of what is in there and critical if the wrong thing goes in (of course not on this forum :) )

I think, keep the number small, and the categories general.

Just my :twocents:

[Ben H]

that's what I mean - very general. Street photography could go in landscape, people or abstract, depending in the content of the photo. You just put it in the category that seems most appropriate.

I'm against having an "Other" category in general as that implies your existing categories aren't wide enough to cater for it - and people will just chuck stuff in there rather than thinking which category is most appropriate.

Basically, three or four categories is ideal. Any more than five and it's getting to specific, in my view, and will potentially start to lead to problems with ever-increasing specificity (there isn't a "golden horse drinking from a stream at sunset with a robot on its back" category, where do I put my photo).

[Barefoot]

I really like Kerstin’s idea of individual member galleries if it wouldn’t be too troublesome. Include the ability for the individual to create categories within their gallery would be super!

Just my:twocents:

[Greg_Nuspel]

I think for individual galleries just post your Flickr, Smugmug, etc. account address so people can look at what you are doing. If you want to call attention to something you've done, link to it under a category or the critique section.

[EJC]

My :twocents:. Personal categories can be links to your Flickr type site and go with:

Nature / Landscape
People / Animals
Abstract / Arty

cheers

[MoinMoin]

I have to correct the idea of the gallery a bit:

It is one big gallery for all – with several subsections for animals, flowers, landscapes…. etc. (but you can call up (? difficult english ;-)) a list with only your own photos).

Here is a link to my mentioned german example:

http://gallery.digicamclub.de/4images/

By clicking on a photo you’ll enlarge it and under the photos there are coming first some datas and then the comments from other members.

[Marko]

Thanks for all the input - please keep it coming.
Moinmoin Your link features a gallery that runs on a different engine.

But it's an interesting concept...although totally different from the current format on our forum. HMMM.

I could see how a gallery style or mixed gallery style skin might be interesting - though this would require some modification. If any members have seen layouts that they like, please PM me.

In terms of the categories for subforums

Nature / Landscape
People / Animals
Abstract / Arty

I like these choices. I'll keep this thread open a few more days before making a final decision, so please continue to feed the thread.

Many thx
Marko

[Gem]

Oh! I just wanted to ask about a minor thing. Seemed pointless starting a new thread for something so small, but is there any way you could take off the limit for # of smileys per post? I like my smiles (:D) and sometimes it's really limiting :(
Like I said, it's minor so if you can't for whatever reason, it's all cool :)

[Marko]

Done - smilie quantity doubled :highfive::highfive::highfive::highfive::highfive: :highfive::highfive::)

[Gem]

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-happy036.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

Thanks!

[Mad Aussie]

I agree that a small amount of subforums would help immensely.

Something like a basic 4 categories ...

People (would include portrait, sports & recreation etc where people are present)
Animals (all animals, birds, insects etc)
Landscape & Nature (scenery vistas, flowers, trees, storms etc)
Architecture & Man Made (includes cities, buildings, bridges, towers, roads, tools, JJ's rust, Raiven's gates etc etc)

[Mad Aussie]

Done - smilie quantity doubled
Oh hell yeh! I often run short of expressing myself properly http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/hail2.gif http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/claphands.gif http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/getdown.gif http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/toocool.gif http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/dance.gif http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/yeehah.gif

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/Mad-Aussie/09%20photographyca/photographyca.gif http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/1st.gif

[Marko]

I will get to these subfurms tomorrow so one more day for input.

No prob on the smilies...and i just added about 5 new ones now...

Thx everyone!
Marko

[BlueX]

Another suggestion along those lines...

I've noticed and seen quite a few members here with galleries or collections of their images on other image hosting sites. I thought it might be nice to have a subforum where members can create a thread to link to these gallery sites. That way, others have a central location to find these galleries and a place to comment, discuss and talk about that member's work as a whole.

This is just a suggestion. How do others think about this?

Btw, I also agree with the idea of subdividing the show your pics forum. I'm the type that likes things in specific places so I'd like have more, more specific categories. But the problem with that is that some pics can have subjects that fit into more than one category. So I guess less is better.

How about:
People- self explanatory, where the subject is/are people
Scenes- travel, landscapes, buildings, architecture, citiscapes, the view of the outside world, etc
Nature- Plants, animals, insects, etc
Objects- still life's, food, cars, bikes, toys, coins, etc (this could belong to the next category too)
Abstract/artsy- self explanatory
Special techniques- composites, HDRs, panoramas, light painting, double exposure, etc (this category is just to have a single place to view, discuss and learn about "special" techniques, although, I know the subjects of these could also belong to other categories...)

Just my thoughts.

[jjeling]

Another suggestion along those lines...

I've noticed and seen quite a few members here with galleries or collections of their images on other image hosting sites. I thought it might be nice to have a subforum where members can create a thread to link to these gallery sites. That way, others have a central location to find these galleries and a place to comment, discuss and talk about that member's work as a whole.

This is just a suggestion. How do others think about this?



I like this idea if we are thinking the same thing. Essentially this is how flickr, and similar sites operate. It is also the whole concept of forums such as this. If you really want to put all your work out there for us as a forum to see, you can add a link to your flickr account in your signature. Just enter into your User CP in the upper left hand part of the forum, and then edit your signature.

[BlueX]

I like this idea if we are thinking the same thing. Essentially this is how flickr, and similar sites operate. It is also the whole concept of forums such as this. If you really want to put all your work out there for us as a forum to see, you can add a link to your flickr account in your signature. Just enter into your User CP in the upper left hand part of the forum, and then edit your signature.

I know we can show our galleries here (if we have them), but I'm thinking of a place to show them and comment on them, as a forum. I know that you can also do this in flickr, but you have to be a member and the screen names might be different and maybe we wouldn't know who's who.

[Ben H]

I feel this place is less of a "show off my work and portfolio as a photographer" and more "here's a pic I want to show" and for learning and sharing - so I'm not particularly up for uploading complete photographers galleries - there are already plenty of places for that, and I don't think this forum is really focused on that...

[Marko]

ok then I created 3 sub-forums in the show forum and left the show forum itself for landscape and nature since that seems to be the majority of shots.

Thanks for all the suggestions!!!

I'll start moving threads into those forums slowly over the next decade :):clown: (love that clown)

The entire forum is a work in progree so feel free to comment.

[Marko]

Now that some divisions have been set up in the show forum and i have to manually move hundreds of images I have 2 big favours.

1 - Please make thread titles descriptive of the image in the thread. Titles like blue jay, or rusty bridge, or abstract paint are 10 billion times better than what did i do wrong, old n' new, ouch, etc.
MANY THANKS in advance if you can think to do this from now on.

2 - please post images in the appropriate sub-forum when necessary.

many thanks
Marko

[Mad Aussie]

Now that some divisions have been set up in the show forum and i have to manually move hundreds of images I have 2 big favours.

1 - Please make thread titles descriptive of the image in the thread. Titles like blue jay, or rusty bridge, or abstract paint are 10 billion times better than what did i do wrong, old n' new, ouch, etc.
MANY THANKS in advance if you can think to do this from now on.

2 - please post images in the appropriate sub-forum when necessary.

many thanks
Marko
Those descriptive titles aren't necessary if the threads are placed in th correct forum section/division anyhow are they?

[Marko]

actually - it still makes a huge difference when someone is searching for a thread. much harder to find if the thread title is obscure. and there will likely be more subforums in the future...means more moving threads again easier on me and visitors when they can know what the thread contains.

Thx - Marko

[Mad Aussie]

Oh ok ... I see how you thinking on this.

[AcadieLibre]

These new sub forums, gotta go, sorry but I wholly hate them, but as always just my :twocents:

[Gem]

These new sub forums, gotta go, sorry but I wholly hate them, but as always just my :twocents:
How come?

[AcadieLibre]

I just have to open more f'n links to get somewhere. I enjoyed just scrolling down and seeing what was there, now it is categorized just takes longer to look and I am a lazy surfer I like to go to one area and just browse, not knowing what was there was part of the interesting part of viewing that Forum. Cognitive dissonance comes into play, I will not look at certain categories because I know I really don't care for that area of photography for the most part, where as I would just pop open what I had not seen just to view prior. I think you lose views and just the curiosity that not knowing what type of photography was there was cool.

[Mad Aussie]

Using the 'New Posts' link at the top of the forum might you there A.L

[AcadieLibre]

Using the 'New Posts' link at the top of the forum might you there A.L


No like I said I am a lazy surfer, I don't always go to all the forums, sometimes when I am trying avoid making decisions I waste time and start these threads I do but mostly I come to look at the photos so I hit the critique and show you photo forum just to enjoy the photos. That would mean I would have to read all the discussions to see which are photos and which have people discussing things. I just don't like it, you all seem too, but just hate them. I dislike more categorization then absolutely necessary.

[Mad Aussie]

Well if there's one thing I've learned over and over again about running forums it's that no matter what you do, no matter how much thought or research you put into a decision, you simply can not and will not ever please everyone.

In the end you listen to the feedback and make the best decision you can and live with it.

[jjeling]

No like I said I am a lazy surfer, I don't always go to all the forums, sometimes when I am trying avoid making decisions I waste time and start these threads I do but mostly I come to look at the photos so I hit the critique and show you photo forum just to enjoy the photos. That would mean I would have to read all the discussions to see which are photos and which have people discussing things. I just don't like it, you all seem too, but just hate them. I dislike more categorization then absolutely necessary.

I feel you on this AL. The nature thread for me is going to get much less attention. A lazy surfer myself, I am going to search the threads that interest me. The surprise of clicking on a thread is going to fade. At the same time, it will be nice to be able to avoid genres that I usually do not care for.

[AcadieLibre]

This is the only one of two forums I belong to on the web and the other one I just joined and it is not about photography, what ever Marko does to the forum to please the majority I understand, not like I will stop coming. Just giving :twocents: and if asked, the reason for those :twocents: worth of opinion.

[Gem]

A.L., that's a fair enough of a reason, I guess. I use "Today's Posts" to force myself to look at pictures I normally wouldn't. Trying the whole "open-minded" thing, lol.

[AntZ]

Using the 'New Posts' link at the top of the forum might you there A.L

New Posts is all I use. More subsections is actually a problem form me when the new posts search "clears" itself when there are still posts I haven't caught up on, because I need to go in to more sections. I wil probably work out how to use the search to give me a list of posts sorted by most recent post. I usually don't care what section things are posted in other than to give different comments for critique Vs show thread.:twocents:

[Gem]

New Posts is all I use. More subsections is actually a problem form me when the new posts search "clears" itself when there are still posts I haven't caught up on, because I need to go in to more sections. I wil probably work out how to use the search to give me a list of posts sorted by most recent post. I usually don't care what section things are posted in other than to give different comments for critique Vs show thread.:twocents:
That used to annoy me too, but now I find using "Today's Posts" better because it doesn't get cleared.

[Marko]

Well if there's one thing I've learned over and over again about running forums it's that no matter what you do, no matter how much thought or research you put into a decision, you simply can not and will not ever please everyone.

In the end you listen to the feedback and make the best decision you can and live with it.

Thanks for that MA - It's true.
I'm a community pleaser and I'll generally give our community what we collectively want. I've been adminning forums for years and it's extremely rare that i play the dictator. Sure this is my forum legally....but the reason for the subdivisions came from a member suggestion which 100% of the members supported until I actually did it....

I can see your point A.L. and I appreciate your input and your photography and I'm glad you will hang around. Even though you disagree, I do think for the long term health of the forum it's a good thing...

Just as an FYI, for now TODAY"s Posts (located in the dropdown from the quicklinks menu item in the blue navbar at the top of the page) will be more accurate while the threads are being moved.

many thanks
Marko

[Ben H]

I think it's just growing pains. When new communities are small, it's quite personal and friendly and supportive, and you can get a good feel of everything that goes on.

Once you start having 200+ people contributing, the dynamic changes, and while you can still make an effort to guide the community in terms of tone and expectation (and Marko does this pretty well, as well as the self-policing good-natiured vibe of folks here) the bottom line is the community, and the nature of contributions changes.

You just have to go with it, and if you feel that a given community really isn't for you, then there's plenty of others to try (or start your own, which is what Marko did). But I hope you can deal with the changes due to growth and stick around... there's are worse plaes to hang out... ;)

[Mad Aussie]

I might just add that I also do understand the point being made ... but I also know how this will be better in the long run as things get faster around here.
I also wouldn't like to see more than about 4 or 5 sub sections, for the same reasons AL and a few others state, which is why I suggested only 4 when others had suggested more.

[AntZ]

That used to annoy me too, but now I find using "Today's Posts" better because it doesn't get cleared.

:lightbulb
Thanks Gem.:thankyou:

[Gem]

No probs :)