observation

[loukas]

I think that the amount of photos and the time-span they are being shown is a bit too long, I understand that some people produce a large amount of pictures, and most of them are great, but honestly I feel sometimes this site belongs to only a few number of people and it does not encourage someone to go through the same kind of pictures all over again. Maybe it would be a good idea to have something like a maximum amount of photos per year posted and a limited time-span of them being available for viewing. Personaly I think it would upgrade the site in general. A person would have to log in at least once a month to be able to see the progress, or would otherwise lose contact with what is going on in pinhole-land.
Then again I think it is hard to find people that are interested at all in such sites, so what does anyone else think?

[ImageMaker]

I log in here daily, and I enjoy seeing new uploads practically every day, carrying on discussions on more or less a real time basis (at least at e-mail speeds), and being able to go back through the archives to see previous work by regular posters. I don't think it discouraged me in any way from posting my first pinhole images in 30 years, or from taking the same kind of pictures that have been done before -- there are some things pinhole does better than lens, and some things pinhole does that lenses flatly can't.

The only reason I can see to want to limit uploads if if there's a storage space problem or a bandwidth issue (as has happened with the gallery over at APUG). And that's up to Tom...

[taco]

I log in here daily, and I enjoy seeing new uploads practically every day, carrying on discussions on more or less a real time basis (at least at e-mail speeds), and being able to go back through the archives to see previous work by regular posters. I don't think it discouraged me in any way from posting my first pinhole images in 30 years, or from taking the same kind of pictures that have been done before -- there are some things pinhole does better than lens, and some things pinhole does that lenses flatly can't.

The only reason I can see to want to limit uploads if if there's a storage space problem or a bandwidth issue (as has happened with the gallery over at APUG). And that's up to Tom...
ImageMaker,
your own Avatar stands the logo "So much film, so little time..."
I would turn that around: So many uploads, so many time needed to see them. I fully agree with Loukas, sometiimes I feel it a waste of time to click on all the uploads and I agree (if that is still possible after already a full agree) even more with Loukas when he states:

"I feel sometimes this site belongs to only a few number of people and it does not encourage someone to go through the same kind of pictures all over again"

taco

[bino]

Best to learn about pinholing is to log in daily and see all the nice new pictures :)
and read the good informations here :)
Have fun!

[dwalters]

Now see, I tend to agree with ImageMaker-that I log in fairly regularly; almost daily at work when things get slow or at lunchtime. I admire the more prolific and knowed folks that post here. I only wish my stuff was half as good as the pictures posted here everyday. I like to log on to help motivate myself to go out and shoot some frames, it's too easy for me to get caught up in the mundane routine and after a day of work and the commute to and from and all the chores that go with the house...AAR, it's probably better that I'm not that good, I probably would'nt get anything else done and take up too much bandwidth.
David Walters
S. FL, USA

[earlj]

it does not encourage someone to go through the same kind of pictures all over again

I want to see everyone go through all the kinds of pictures that they want to or need to go through. I love everybody's pictures, and each of us brings something different to the table. If there are too many posts in a row of the same type of picture from the same artist, I just click through them. I try always to make my pictures in my way, and I hope everyone else does the same. And I hope that they share them with me. This is a magic place. It would be easy to wreck it. So let's all follow Daryl's advice: "Go shoot more film!"

[Nick]

I came here every day for any free time.
It's buatifull place - so many interesting photos.
I think, if it will be some trouble with web space, Tom do something without our advice...:)
If somebody tired to see pictures - don't see.....

Life is shot - " Go make MORE films" :)
Best wishes to All...

[taco]

See here the opinion of another Pinholer in a private mail to me: (as long as he doesn't identify himself, I'll call him Mr. Noname), anyway, he's a well known member to all off us:
> Taco,
> Thank you. To be honest, I have stopped posting to f295 because of the
> lack of quality of what is posted. There seems to be a small group of
> people posting every single test they do and it just flooding the lists
> with crap.
>(Signed: Mr. Noname)

I just did a little review of our page:
It's officially called the Pinhole Photography Discussion Forum

It's in general devided in several parts:

a) The Pinhole Day Coordinator Discussion Area (which is unvisible for normal members or visitors)

b)The several upload galleries :
Black & White Upload Gallery (365 topics),
Colour Pinhole Photograps (325 topics),
Polaroid Pinholes (21 topics) and
Alt Process Pinhole Prints (11 topics)

To be short: from the last 3O entries in B&W there were 12 of the same member and from the last 30 entries in Colour even 17 of the 30.
From the same member are in relationship very little entries in the forum sub-parts

c)The several "round table" entries (all together 171)
Thoughts and Observations,
Camera Making and Modiyfing,
The Darkroom/Lab etc.

Specially regarding
1)The mail of our "unknown guest" and
2) The first posting of Loukas
I think it's a very good idea to look again at Loukas'. If I have seen 2 or 3 "zone plate stils" of this famous member, for me there is no need to see another couple or even more. :K)
taco

[Tom Persinger]

This discussion seems to be spiralling out of control, in fact it's bordering on hostile. Which the management definitely frowns upon.

This forum is, by definition, an "open forum"... ie: it's not regulated and/or moderated, which means members are free to post as often as they like. I agree that we might have a few "over active" members, who should perhaps exercise a bit more restraint, but we'll never please all of the "Mr. NoNames" of the world.

I started a similar thread to this a few weeks ago re: asking for voluntary self censorship in posting images which met several criteria. I think adherance to that "voluntary guideline" would help all participants.

I am against actively prohibiting/limiting posting of members. Do I want to become the person who decides what is "good" and what is "bad"? Do I want to become the person who decides what the rest of the members should and should not see? NO.

This is supposed to be an inclusive area for all people who are experimenting with pinhole photography to go for reference (what to do, and perhaps what not to do) this is not a museum or gallery. This site is supposed to be for seasoned pinhole practitioners as well as persons new to the art form. There's no reason why someone should feel compelled to view every post (well, save for me -to make sure that we're not breaking the law) so, if you're not enjoying the work of a particular photographer, hit the "mark as read" button and move on.

I'd like all members *(yes, you too Mr. NoName) to continue posting their images to f295, but if you're uncomfortable sharing your work in an unmoderated forum perhaps you should seek juried or gallery type shows/forums. The loss of the self perceived high quality work will be missed, but I think our members who are new to the forum will find ample stimulation/advice etc from the members who still regularly contribute and post.

This was never meant to be a site of high quality work, but instead a place to view, learn and observe a variety of work from around the world. Even some work that I find of marginal quality I find value in seeing - perhaps an interesting compositional element, or some other idea that I can incorporate in my work.

As long as I have the space and the bandwidth it's my goal to keep f295 posting unmoderated and uncensored (so far as legal limits allow)

Here's a good example: if i was moderating this forum I may have never selected Daryl's "Birth of a Legend" photograph. It's a nice photograph of a great model car -but frankly nothing spectacular....no offense Daryl. That post/photograph has spawned a wonderful dialogue not only about james deans fatal car crash but also about developing, exposure times and the lesser known "Schwarzschild-factor".

Thanks to all of you for your concern.
Tom Persinger
f295 Administrator

[suttonjp]

...and that is exactly why I come here everyday. I'm fairly new to pinholing and to this forum. I've found inspiration, technical advise, and encouragement. The fact that I can post a picture and ask for, and receive, honest critique is huge. I thank Tom for his stance and for the opportunity.

[bino]

Thank you very much, Tom.

[dokola]

I think, that I identify with with mostly.

I glad, that this place exist, I here instruct from foreign photo and in moment when me it unpacked, so I dont see it.

I sending here majority my photo because am beginner and have not much time do them more.
On the contrary very appreciate, if somebody stops over my photograph and valorize it.
I'd rather welcome also critical public acceptance...maybe people should then thought before photograph, isnt it?

A primarily, reading comments and cognition with from they lot of ideas though at random with photograph.