Is this forum fading away?

[JohnG]

It all comes down to what you are looking for. 5 years ago, photography forums were hugely popular as so many people were getting into it - it allowed a great avenue to discuss photography in general but also the exciting advances in the technology. Participation in many forums has waned. Steve's is no exception. With specific regard to photo sharing:
Originally there was a lot of general excitement about posting and sharing photos because it was new. I think there are a number of people that like a mutual admiration society approach - someone posts a photo and everyone else tells them it's great. The problem is, that gets boring for people after a while. Their ego get's stroked enough and they move on. So, that type of activity on forums doesn't last very long.

The much more interesting discussions, IMO, are around photos themselves - peer review. Again, the focus being on the photography and discussing what is good and bad about it. Again, my personal opinion is - this type of discussion is best done in genre-specific forums not gear forums. Who cares what camera a person shoots with if they have valuable knowledge and insight to share? You can learn much about the photography and even the technology aspect about the gear from people with knowledge and experience regardless of whether they shoot with the same brand camera as you do.

Unfortunately, that's also difficult to keep things fresh and interesting. Lots of people that are very knowledgeable and have good experience get bored with discussing it on the internet. So, while their hobby endures, their participation in discussion forums does not.

Best of luck to those looking for something different than Steve's. There are certainly other sites, but my experience is that other sites experience a similar decline in participation around photography. Still lots of gear-head talk but not so much about photography. I will say, at least Steve's isn't inundated with cat photos. I am thankful for that

[TCav]

Originally Posted by Lordje

I still think you Shouf take a closer look to the Olympus part. This is really active, living and usefull.
The picture posting in the brand section is very good to learn about things.
I do agree à picture of a flower can be made on every brand or model, but settings and lens specific things really differ.
I have the feeling the Nikon section has no interested in this.
More the we have a Nikon camera, so... Attitude.
People want to learn from each other, to grow in using their camera.
All I can ask for is to think once deeply on this.

I think that, since Nikons and Canons dominate the market, people with Nikons and Canons dominate the subject forums. There isn't a lot different between shooting with a Nikon or a Canon and shooting with an Olympus or a Samsung. By limiting exposure of your photos to a brand specific forum, you're not only limiting your exposure to the techniques of others, but limiting others exposure to your techniques.

It's certainly your call, but I think you may be selling yourself short.

[jopeter]

I appreciate what you all have said perhaps it is my fault that I did not take note that the forum was brand specific, makes it like the ''Rolls Royce Club''. I thought I had remarked that maybe a bit more of a welcome for aspiring new members would not go astray ,perhaps these were my thoughts and were not converted to text......I only received one welcome and that was from the administrator.
So having had my say I will search for another forum.
I must say I did enjoy seeing images from the Northern Hemisphere and I did attempt to post from a Southern Hemisphere perspective.

[JimC]

Guys...

I've been glancing at this thread from time to time without interfering and posting my views.

But, you have to look at the irony in the starting post:

Originally Posted by jack55

...I haven't been in here awhile and noticed that there are very few members viewing posts...

Bold added for emphasis.

IOW, if members don't visit as often, and if others don't visit as often, then there is not as much activity in the forums. So, if you want that to change, visit and post more often, and encourage others you know to visit and post more often. ;-)

The forums here provide a platform that allows photographers to discuss photography, share photos, etc.

Some of the individual forums here are more active than others, because of the community spirit where members have come to know each other over time, share information about their lives and photography, new equipment purchases, technique, etc.

We have no problem if you want to post photos in an individual equipment forum versus a forum that's more subject specific (transportation, wildlife, etc.).

Some of the forums here show that photographers do that because they feel like they're part of a community of members using a given camera brand and they have something in common. Others want to post their photos in subject specific forums to share their interest in a given subject (wildlife, sports, people photos, transportation photos, etc.).

There's no "right and wrong" way to do it. We don't have a problem with either (or both) approaches.

Of course, if members did post more often in the subject specific forums, they'd see more activity; as some of the brand specific forums are not as active as others, and the same thing applies to subject specific forums. But, the only way to make it better is to post more often. ; -)

We have a very "hands off" approach to moderation here, with very few exceptions. For example, we try to keep spam out of the forums here (which can be a job, as I delete spam every day), and we don't want the forums turning into a big "flea market" for buying and selling stuff . If I see posts with personal attacks, or posts that get into religion and politics, I'm probably going to get involved in those, too (and ask members to take those kinds of debates to someplace other than our forums).

That's because we want our forums to be a friendly place for photographers to get together and share info and photos, regardless of their political or religious beliefs, culture and background. There's enough argument in the world over those kinds of differences already, and we'd prefer the forums here to be a friendly community where everyone feels welcome, without those kinds of debates causing hard feelings between members.

But, for the most part, the forum members here are what shape the mood for the forums, where photos are posted, what topics are discussed, etc. So, if you don't like the way things are going, do something about it, and post more photos, discuss topics you're interested in with others, invite others to do the same thing, etc. ;-)

You don't have to be an expert photographer to post photos. Everyone is welcome. In fact, some of what makes a community of members draw closer together is sharing of photos of their kids and grand kids, homes, autos, pets, etc.; just to become better acquainted with other members, regardless of the technical aspects of the photos. It's amazing that we have the technology available that allows us to do that now, making friends that are thousands of miles away and sharing our life experiences with them over the internet via forums like we have here.

If you do want to improve your photography, just ask for critique. We even have a separate Photo Critiques Forum setup just for that purpose (as some members prefer not to have others giving them advise about photos, and just want to share their efforts with others, hence a separate forum just for getting critique).

Many members only want to share their journey through life with others via sharing their photos, and that's great (as the forums give them a chance to make friends and share with others).

Unfortunately, I have seen a drop off in traffic over time. Perhaps that's because so many venues are around now with virtually everyone having a camera of one type or another (even if that's only their camera's phone). I don't know. But, we try to keep the forums a friendly place to visit and post, with a very "hands off" approach to moderation, except for the cases mentioned above.

So, the only way the forums are going to be more active is if members do something about it and post more often and encourage others to do the same thing. ;-)

[TCav]

No Religion?!? No Politics?!?!?

I'm gone.

[amazingthailand]

I too have been absent from Steves for a number of years. Back when I was active, this place was fairly lively. Now it is just DEAD. It seems that it's decline really started when it was sold a number of years ago.

If you want an active forum, there are certainly many to choose from. DPReview being perhaps, one of the most lively (althought, not necessarily the most useful). But at least plenty of postings to give you something to read.

This place used to be useful. I think now it is not.

Adios.

[Lordje]

Originally Posted by amazingthailand

I too have been absent from Steves for a number of years. Back when I was active, this place was fairly lively. Now it is just DEAD. It seems that it's decline really started when it was sold a number of years ago.

If you want an active forum, there are certainly many to choose from. DPReview being perhaps, one of the most lively (althought, not necessarily the most useful). But at least plenty of postings to give you something to read.

This place used to be useful. I think now it is not.

Adios.

It still depends of what part of the forum.
The Nikon part is indeed almost dead for example and as I learned from this post so far because of an attitude because of making pictures with a big brand.
Pitty ...

We can only try to make a change.
Due health reasons I'm not full active week in / week out in making pictures, but I promise to keep posting.

Also want to say to everyone that comes to read : typing some words or saying some word will not really make that extra damage on your keyboard . Please comment on things, answer, get involved ...

[jopeter]

Your quite right Lordje , a comment no matter how brief to a newcomers post would encourage them . Unfortunately it is not the case on this forum. That is the reason I will leave ,I am sure that there are more friendlier forums . Unless this cliquey attitude changes others may follow.

[TCav]

If you would like to be welcomed, go to the Welcome Center section and open the Welcome! Introduce yourself here forum.

If you would like to look at the photos others have posted, go to the Post Your Photos section, and you'll find multiple forums where members' photos are categorized by subject matter, such as Animal & Pet Photos, Close-ups, or Sports & Action Photos.

If you've got another idea about how all this could be even easier to understand and/or use, you are welcome to leave feedback in the Contact Steve's forum.

Nothing much is happening in this particular forum, because nothing much is happening in the world of Nikon dSLRs. That's the way it goes sometimes.

[SIMON40]

Though I'd put some "action" into the Nikon area...
Great Orme road race... and my trusty D3100... with 50mm f/1.8