Other Sites

[jazzmechanic]

I really love this site, howver, I am looking for an additional site that has the comfort and feel of this site. I have looked at several but the interaction is not like on this site.

 

[TPPhotog]

Happily or possibly sadly for the Internet this one is unique. As you say the interaction is special here. We do have our moments and fallouts at times, but they are usually resolved instead of becoming bloodbaths like other sites.

 

[jazzmechanic]

Totally agree...I spend hours a day on this site. Always learning something new and like the quick replys. Reminds me of the Linux forums....hint ...hint...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If you shoot large format, the Q&A forum at lfphoto.info is usually pretty good. There's also a decent forum at www.graflex.org, if you use a Graflex. The forum at f32.net is also aimed at large format, and is pretty sane.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I find pretty much the same atmosphere in the B&W Film and Developing forum and the Classic Cameras forum at photo.net, but not at other forums there (I mostly avoid the other forums there). And I almost never get a single comment when I put up a photo for critique there, just numeric ratings that I can no longer even backtrack to what the rater shoots (to determine how much credence to give a very high or very low number). I've been a user over there for almost two years longer than here -- but I've already subscribed here, and never have bothered over there.

 

[gareth harper]

Photonet is probably the biggest and best on the net. Nor in my experiance do you get the bitching and sniping that pops up on this site now and again.

Perhaps the forums vary in the kind of people they attract. The B&W forums are generally excellant. Perhaps avoid forums such as the Canon and Nikon ones, endless digital questions and helpful one line answers to lens queries like 'just get the f1.0L, you won't regret it'.

I post pictures on the documentary and news sections, often I get interesting feed back. Also you can post/host loads of pictures there for free. Many of the photos posted are dross, but just flick through there is some impressive stuff and some very talented photographers.

 

[Dave Parker]

Gareth???

Photonet is probably the biggest and best on the net. Nor in my experiance do you get the bitching and sniping that pops up on this site now and again.

You have got to be kidding me! LOL p-net is one of the most bitch orientated websites that I have ever seen in over 20 years of being a photographer...

I find that astonishing, but not surprising...

Dave

 

[ann]

i have to agree with dave, it has improved recently, but they have some real problems as well.

No were with so many people involve is one every going to avoid issues. Sad, but seems to be true.

 

[gareth harper]

Gareth???



You have got to be kidding me! LOL p-net is one of the most bitch orientated websites that I have ever seen in over 20 years of being a photographer...

I find that astonishing, but not surprising...

Dave

I really struggle to think when the last time was I encountered bitching at photonet, whereas I have encountered it here on quite a number of occasions, quite nasty too. Photonet one of the most bitch orientated web site in the last 20 years? Boy, now that is funny!

Meanwhile your post confuses me further. "I have got to be kidding you,......... astonishing, but not surprising." What the heck does that lot mean?!

At the end of the day, APUG is a great site, there is perhaps, like almost any such web site, a little bitching here and there, but the +'s outweigh the -'s.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

Photo.net was my first real foray into the online photographic community. I learned quite a bit using the search engine. Discussion-wise, I don't bother. Photo.net has it's moments. Much too opinionated, although there are many people who have helped me indirectly in the past. DK Thompson's posts in particular were of much value to me.

Avoid the photo critiques unless you want to retard your photographic vision.
sigh..

The linux community is good, if you want a bit more maturity i'd go for the FreeBSD community

 

[Loose Gravel]

APUG is the best, but others I like are below.

Not as active. Some of the same folks double posting at:

http://largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/

Photo.net isn't bad. IMO less professional.

For the rangefinder folks:

http://rangefinderforum.com/

And should I mention?:

http://www.viewcamera.com/forum/ started after a tiff here.

And altho no forum, very interesting reading at:

http://unblinkingeye.com/

and

http://www.jackspcs.com/

 

[jazzmechanic]

Thanks for the comments..I will stay here! Love the atompshere........

 

[gareth harper]

Jdef,

Yes sometimes I say too much. I loved Satinsnows reply, but sadly I couldn't resist replying to it. So yeah I don't mind a wee ding dong now and again as long as we can have a giggle along the way. It's the sniping I hate. But like you say I'm a big boy.

Anyway photonet and APUG are pretty much the only photo sites I use now. Photonet is a very broad site though and quite different from APUG.

I also hear what Phillip and others have said about the critiques. On the other hand I like to dive in and see what they say. But sometimes you do think "what!" and bang your head off the table. But it's also worth bearing in mind that everybody and anybody can appreciate or critque a photo.
Some of the critique forums it has to be said are better than than others. The documentary one often turns out interesting pictures, whereas the street forum is just an endless stream of dross.

 

[Whiteymorange]

atomsphere

Thanks for the comments..I will stay here! Love the atompshere........

Sometimes a typo says it all. Amazing group of people, isn't it? I got hooked after a couple of visits. for the atoms and the atmos - phere

 

[bobfowler]

Photo.net is in the business of being everything for everybody, as a result, it isn't really good for any one specific area of interest. I'm still a photo.net subscriber (I'm current until sometime in 2006), but I won't renew once my membership there runs out.

I almost became a subscriber to photosig.com, but the moderators of that site tend to be too heavy handed, and it's real rare for a good, down in the weeds type discussion of analog technique.

f/32.net doesn't seem to have anyone in charge, or at least anyone who will answer an email.

The largeformatphotography.info forums are sort of a break off of the large format forum on photo.net and, after APUG, is my second choice of a place for photo discussions.

There are a few others as well, but all in all, I avoid ANY site that has a points rating systems for members (such as photosig).

 

[Lee Shively]

In my opinion and observation, APUG is a much more dignified site than photonet. There's disagreement on APUG but PN takes the prize for bad manners and spoiled brat attitudes. Also there's the d****** thing at PN. It's pervasive. I still look in on the B&W forums, the Leica forum and the Medium Format forum but I don't get much out of them anymore and don't have much to contribute.

I don't really have much time to spend interacting on Internet forums. APUG is the only photo forum I check on a regular basis and in which I feel comfortable. I get a lot of useful information and try to contribute with what little information I have to offer. APUG is also the only website to which I have ever made any monetary contribution.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The largeformatphotography.info forum is NOT a break off of the LF forum on photo.net.

It was started by Q-T Luong as an independent forum on Philip Greenspun's original greenspun.com discussion board page and photo.net absconded with it in the middle of the night and took it over, much to the dismay of many of the participants. It functioned on photo.net for a while until enough people got fed up enough, server space was located, and the software was re-written so that the old independent forum could be re-established. The LFphoto.info forum is that re-established non-commercial forum.

 

[Mongo]

David's spot-on regarding the largeformatphotography.info site. There's an article there that details the full story at:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lfphotoinfo.html

It's also the only other forum I visit on a daily basis. I still stop by photo.net occasionally, but the signal-to-noise ratio there's just too low to make it a regular stop for me.

 

[Sean]

Years ago I found the larger communities with broad subject matter to be hostile to those not "advancing" the art of photography by going digital. APUG was born out of that frustration and so far has become the type of photo community I want to be a part of. The problem with hybrid communities is so many topics are considered rocking the boat, and then the majority always wins. I've seen threads promoting traditional on these sites get shut down within hours, and threads basically bashing traditional go untouched. I think when sites have that kind of bias it's great to take advantage of the internet, and find a site that has exactly what you're looking for..

 

[David Henderson]

I've been a regular viewer and contributor to Photo.net since 1998. I don't regard it as a conflict zone , though it must be said that I don't rate photographs or submit mine to be rated which probably avoids the most problematical area. Sure, there's disagreement from time to time and as with any electronic exchange its easier for this to get a little vitriolic than it would be if the same people are face to face. But frankly I've seen similar here and I'm not conscious of the proportions being much different. And having people hurl a few rocks on a photographic forum isn't the worst thing thats ever going to happen to me anyway. The real measure is whether you find the experience helpful and enjoyable, and I do. Just as I anticipate that being true on APUG also.

 

[Ole]

I check on lfphoto.info regularly, and the LF and Classic cameras forums on photo dot net. These tend to be less d'g'tal and "flamey" than the others. Then there's foto.no - if you read Norwegian. About 99% dig*tal, so I just look in for the last per cent. In German there's grossfomatfotografie.de, and the (rarely visited) fotoimpex labor forum.
And f32.net.

 

[bobfowler]

The largeformatphotography.info forum is NOT a break off of the LF forum on photo.net.

It was started by Q-T Luong as an independent forum on Philip Greenspun's original greenspun.com discussion board page and photo.net absconded with it in the middle of the night and took it over, much to the dismay of many of the participants. It functioned on photo.net for a while until enough people got fed up enough, server space was located, and the software was re-written so that the old independent forum could be re-established. The LFphoto.info forum is that re-established non-commercial forum.

You're right, I stand (sit) corrected.

 

[anyte]

The problem with hybrid communities is so many topics are considered rocking the boat, and then the majority always wins. I've seen threads promoting traditional on these sites get shut down within hours, and threads basically bashing traditional go untouched. I think when sites have that kind of bias it's great to take advantage of the internet, and find a site that has exactly what you're looking for..

Add to that the number of critiques suggesting digital manipulation and correction of photos instead of sound advice on how to improve your photographic skills.

This is the only photography forum I visit.

 

[stark raving]

I really struggle to think when the last time was I encountered bitching at photonet

Gareth, LOL. Perhaps you've never tried to hang out in the Leica Forum on P-net? Ask a question there that the membership thinks is "beneath them" and see what happens!

I'm with Donald, I participate in the Classic Camera forum there and pretty much nothing else. I can get plenty of uncivil behavior here at work, I don't need it go looking for it on the Internet!

 

[TPPhotog]

..... Perhaps you've never tried to hang out in the Leica Forum on P-net? Ask a question there that the membership thinks is "beneath them" and see what happens!

I've heard a rumour that there's a sign over the entrance to the Leica Forum that says "abandon hope all those that enter", sounds like a friendly forum :rolleyes:

The other forums I received a lot of help and support there, but got sick of the in-fighting of the minority that ruined it for the majority.