Photography

hello there fellow photography enthusiasts ^_^

i've seen some serious talent and potential in the current photography thread, but there is one huge problem - the thread itself is a pain to read. many of the images posted are so large that they skew the forums in an extremely annoying way, or take a very long time to load. many images are quoted multiple times, adding to the problem.

i was discussing this with kensai and a couple of other people in the current thread, but i'd like to discuss it further with all of you whom it will effect before going ahead and doing something.

what i propose is this:

- the first post of the thread will contain some rules which are yet to be finalised but will include rules along the lines of:
~ no direct posting of images with a width greater than 600 pixels. if you would like to post a larger image, you may post a 'sample' version of the picture in your post which is within the size limit and include a link to a larger version elsewhere (ie. flickr).
~ no quoting of images. if you would like to comment on a picture, address the person by their username and then refer to the picture (ie. "the 2nd pic you posted" or "the pic of the tree") so they will know what you're referring to.

- the first post will also include links to hosting sites (flickr, photobucket, etc), useful photography sites (dpreview for camera reviews, slrgear for lens reviews, other sites with technique tips for beginners, etc) and that sort of thing.

- i will personally keep an eye on the thread and edit each and every post which does not comply satisfactorily with the rules, giving a reason so that people understand the mistake they have made (eg. 'IMAGE REMOVED DUE TO LARGE SIZE, PLEASE READ THE RULES IN THE FIRST POST'). if i am not around and people are going crazy with huge images, you can PM someone like carmel, link them to the post and explain that it needs to be edited according to the thread rules and they can take care of it in my absence.

i truly believe that adding useful information to the start of the thread and enforcing rules regarding image size/quoting will make this thread much more pleasant to use for all of us. there is really no need to embed a massive picture in the thread, those who would like to see the image in a higher resolution after seeing the sample version can simply click a link, and those who do not want to see a larger version do not have to have their bandwidth raped or the forum skewed sideways.

what i would like from all of you is opinions on these changes, suggestions for useful links to include in the first post, and any other ideas that you have to make the photography thread a better place for people to share their work and view the efforts of others.

thanks in advance for any comments/ideas

Posted: Jul 10, 2008 6:21 PM - Quote - Report!

ctb

i totally agree with the picture size rule. i don't know about anyone else, but i the have 'images come up as links' setting. but i do hate it when the forum layout stretches out. 
 
same goes for quoting. but a lot of people are starting to comment photos now by listing names followed by their thoughts.

the first post will be really helpful. just like any what guitar to buy, what bass to buy type thread. it'll make it very welcoming.

Posted: Jul 10, 2008 6:44 PM - Quote - Report!

Kudos, I totally agree, we SHOULD start a more clean and orderly Photography thread. I am willing to help in anything. we should start building up rules. 
I can't wait taking the thread to a different height.

Posted: Jul 11, 2008 8:36 AM - Quote - Report!

have you guys got any links to sites which you think would be worth including in the first post?

my suggestions for useful sites are:
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.slrgear.com/

and for image hosting/galleries:
http://www.flickr.com/
http://www.photobucket.com/
http://www.imageshack.us/

what else?

Posted: Jul 11, 2008 12:25 PM - Quote - Report!

of course www.Deviantart.com and www.uber.com should be there.
we should add tutorials websites aswell, i'll add some as soon as I can, I am just leaving...

Posted: Jul 11, 2008 2:40 PM - Quote - Report!

hadn't seen uber before, looks pretty cool! also the information on the http://digital-photography-school.com blog can be really handy too (or at least it has been for me)

hadn't seen uber before, looks pretty cool! also the information on the http://digital-photography-school.com blog can be really handy too (or at least it has been for me)

Posted: Jul 11, 2008 5:19 PM - Quote - Report!

wow, that site was really useful...
also, I really want to stress in the first post that this is not 'the photoshop thread' and we only give links to tutorials that can enhance the photography, but not to alternate it completely...do you comply?

Posted: Jul 13, 2008 6:55 AM - Quote - Report!

do many people mistake it for a photoshop thread?

Posted: Jul 13, 2008 2:46 PM - Quote - Report!

^ no they dont, theres the odd digital piece here and there but not much.

and i agree with your 1st post. Having a decent 1st post with lots of info ect ect, will be very useful, and help others who may not have the time to post a question.

I think its all a good idea

Posted: Jul 13, 2008 3:15 PM - Quote - Report!

if the photoshop thing isn't a huge problem i don't see the point in really mentioning it. i think the more concise and clear the first post is the better - you know what the average UGers' attention span is like lol

another useful site:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/
reviews of canon slr's and their compatible lenses, general tips, etc.

Posted: Jul 14, 2008 4:46 AM - Quote - Report!

maybe just a quick note like "We encourage post-processing your pictures for the purpose of enhancement, but please refrain from posting images which have been Photoshopped beyond recognition."?

Posted: Jul 14, 2008 4:49 AM - Quote - Report!

^ sounds perfect to me.

Posted: Jul 14, 2008 7:06 AM - Quote - Report!

RevaM1ssP1ss

All sounds like a good idea to me

xo.

All sounds like a good idea to me :)
xo.

Posted: Jul 14, 2008 12:24 PM - Quote - Report!

thanks for the feedback

thanks for the feedback :)

Posted: Jul 14, 2008 1:26 PM - Quote - Report!

I was planning this a while back. I thought I'd do something like:

- Etiquette and rules of thread, link to a site with good tips on giving critique

- Link to users galleries, link to galleries you can upload to

- Links to tutorial sites I know

- Links to galleries you find inspiring

and some other stuff, with an index at the top and fancy bullet points. I think the bullet points are cool.

Posted: Jul 15, 2008 3:58 PM - Quote - Report!

hahaha i'd like to keep it as simple and concise as possible - people don't like reading massive amounts of info so you'd be wasting your time if you did anymore than what is absolutely necessary i think.

as far as user galleries and inspiring galleries go, maybe those could be posted in the second post, to keep just the really important stuff in the first post, but so the information is still easy to find.

etiquette, rules, links to tutorials/info/useful sites, links to hosting sites, etc would be great in the first post i think.

now, have you actually written anything up for it yet kensai? or is it all still just an idea? i'd like to get started on it asap as the current thread is friggen huge and the large images are driving me up the wall - wanna work together on it? (if you say no i'll just edit whatever you post anyway :P lol kidding... or am i?

)

Posted: Jul 15, 2008 7:29 PM - Quote - Report!

I would help writing but my english apprehension is bordeline autistic

Posted: Jul 16, 2008 8:20 AM - Quote - Report!

^ haha

divid3d - i like the idea of using a 2nd post for gallerys ect. that way the 1st post isnt overwhelming

^ haha ;)

divid3d - i like the idea of using a 2nd post for gallerys ect. that way the 1st post isnt overwhelming

Posted: Jul 16, 2008 12:47 PM - Quote - Report!

apprehension

apprehension :D <3

Posted: Jul 16, 2008 4:50 PM - Quote - Report!

don't tell me I didn't spell THAT right...I think that's the only long word I know.

anyway, let's get started!! just give something to do! i'm ready to go..

Posted: Jul 17, 2008 6:33 AM - Quote - Report!

comprehension

if you wanna help out, it would be handy if you compiled all the useful links suggested so far and either put them into categories (like image hosting sites/gallery sites, technique tips, equipment reviews etc), or make a list of links with a note next to each about what they are useful for. adding any other good sites would be great too (not too many though haha)

you could also find a site with some good tips for critiquing other peoples' photos if you like

comprehension ;)

if you wanna help out, it would be handy if you compiled all the useful links suggested so far and either put them into categories (like image hosting sites/gallery sites, technique tips, equipment reviews etc), or make a list of links with a note next to each about what they are useful for. adding any other good sites would be great too (not too many though haha) :)

you could also find a site with some good tips for critiquing other peoples' photos if you like :)

Posted: Jul 17, 2008 1:38 PM - Quote - Report!

YAY! Right on it, sir.

Posted: Jul 18, 2008 10:37 AM - Quote - Report!

maa'm

Posted: Jul 18, 2008 10:37 AM - Quote - Report!

hahah thanks for your help!

Posted: Jul 19, 2008 5:11 AM - Quote - Report!

divid3d wrote on Jul 15th, 2008 at 7:29pm :
- wanna work together on it? (if you say no i'll just edit whatever you post anyway :P lol kidding... or am i? )

Well if you put it like that

:

What I thought we'd do is:

1) First we post in this thread what we'd think should go into the new photothreads two first posts.

2) Make two threads in the group, these will be for discussing the first two posts in the new photothread respectively.

3) Post in each thread what we think should be in that post in the new thread.

4) Make a new thread in the group where we merge the final results of each threads and do some finishing touches.

5) ?????

6) Profit!

Maybe it sounds difficult but it's not. Unless your english apprehension is lacking

[QUOTE u='divid3d' d='2008-07-15 19:29:30']- wanna work together on it? (if you say no i'll just edit whatever you post anyway :P lol kidding... or am i?

)[/QUOTE]

Well if you put it like that :p:

What I thought we'd do is:

1) First we post in this thread what we'd think should go into the new photothreads two first posts.

2) Make two threads in the group, these will be for discussing the first two posts in the new photothread respectively.

3) Post in each thread what we think should be in that post in the new thread.

4) Make a new thread in the group where we merge the final results of each threads and do some finishing touches.

5) ?????

6) Profit!

Maybe it sounds difficult but it's not. Unless your english apprehension is lacking :p

Posted: Jul 19, 2008 8:50 AM - Quote - Report!

, i'm sorry, I suck at english..
is there anything else I can do?

:(, i'm sorry, I suck at english..
is there anything else I can do?

Posted: Jul 19, 2008 9:37 AM - Quote - Report!

I think your english is fine. It's not like you're from norway. 
 
Now, got any useful ideas for the 1st and second post?

Posted: Jul 19, 2008 10:22 AM - Quote - Report!

what about a picture posting limit? like in the pic thread?
credits? examples fo what we expect (a 600 pixels picture, etc.?)
meh, I got nothing, i'm throwing out ideas...

Posted: Jul 20, 2008 6:37 AM - Quote - Report!

I think divid3d got all of it all ready.

1st post : RULES - pic size restriction, no quoting pics.

"We encourage post-processing your pictures for the purpose of enhancement, but please refrain from posting images which have been Photoshopped beyond recognition." Mention of something about criting photos.

And probably links to hosting sites, which can resize the photos after youve uploaded them like PhotoBucket.

If thats it then the 1st post wont be too big.

2nd post can have links to decent tuts, sites like DA, flickr and Uber. and then equipment + reviews.

Personally for one who procrastinates way too much i think all this democracy here is over the top

i say we do it!

Posted: Jul 20, 2008 8:57 AM - Quote - Report!

I already sent divid3d everything she wanted me to do, I think it's actually quite ready...IT'S ON

Posted: Jul 20, 2008 6:18 PM - Quote - Report!

Ok then I'll create the first two threads here later today and we'll bounce ideas.

Posted: Jul 21, 2008 12:21 PM - Quote - Report!

i'm not sure if any more ideas need to be bounced other than confirming exactly what size limit we should impose (whatever is not going to screw up the way the forum naturally is would be fine with me... is a width of 600 pixels ok or can we get away with any larger than that?)

i can send you the stuff that jagstang sent me and you can go ahead and make the thread with any info you think should be included, and then both of us can edit anything in/out of the first and second posts to get it how we like it. it doesn't have to be perfect when we put it up

Posted: Jul 22, 2008 5:53 AM - Quote - Report!