Lenswork Forum, R.I.P?

[jovo]

I just visited lenswork.com and found a completely redesigned site. I went there to check on the forum posts, of which there have been very few, and found that the forum itself seems to have been eliminated. What's up with that?

I wrote on another thread that I thought Brook's podcasts were usually not controversial at all except when he went on about his newfound affection for digital, and when he expounded on the merits of $20 inkjet prints. It seems I must have been correct, because there were a string of initial posts from "Holly" with zero responses. So...I'm sorry to see it go, but not surprised that it did.

Anyone feel a pang of sorrow at the demise of the forum?

 

[reellis67]

I didn't know there was one! I guess I should have looked in the magazine a little closer. What was discussed there?

- Randy

 

[Lee Shively]

This used to be on photonet but migrated away. There was very little activity on photonet while it was there.

 

[lenswork]

Glad you found the new web site. Just got it posted this afternoon and we're working on the kinks and bugs this weekend.

As to the forum, it is not RIP, but there are no links to it yet on the new site. You can still access it directly at Dead Link Removed

As to its long term future, we are taking a look at a complete revision. There is certainly no need for us to duplicate the really great forums (like APUG!) and a few others. They do a fine job of being a home for discussions of all things photographic and it certainly does appear that the LensWork forum is not really needed -- at least based on traffic stats and post counts. That said, we are not yet ready to shut it completely down. We are, however, re-thinking it and maybe we'll find an idea that the photographic community really wants and needs. We'll keep you posted on our (new) website and if any of you have anythoughts you'd like to share, feel free to send me PM or email me at editor@lenswork.com.
Thanks!
Brooks Jensen
Editor, LensWork Publishing

 

[grahamp]

I am not too surprised that it was closed. The software used (in common with a number of similar services) had a couple of serious security breaches in 2004/5 that broke a number of promising discussion threads, and people never came back. There was also the on-going problem of people signing up just to promote a gambling or pornography web site. Any site administrator will tell you how much time is taken with that sort of policing.

When it was going well there were some good discussions on aesthetics and communication. It was almost devoid of technique or equipment issues. That is something that APUG does not do as well, in my opinion. Which is interesting, because a lot of the same people post here.

I surmise that the level of interest at LensWork did not warrant the time and energy to support and develop a forum. And APUG's success probably has some bearing, too.

The discussions were often wide-ranging and erudite, which I do lament. But it had been suffering for a long time.

 

[grahamp]

Brooks slipped in...

If the discussions on the portfolios survive at least, I would be pleased.

 

[Troy Hamon]

As grahamp said...the Lenswork forums really did offer something different until they got hacked...then the posters just never came back... They definitely provided interesting opportunities to examine aesthetics rather than technique.