participation - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/24/2005 11:04:25 AM · #1

What is the average life of a member at DPC? What does one do when they have achieved all the techniques taught here? After mastering processing? Where does one go with this?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

08/24/2005 11:09:15 AM · #2

DPC members forfeit their life by joining. ;-)

I don't think anyone can really "finish" mastering everything. There's always something more you can do to keep it interesting.

dahkota

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/24/2005 11:16:32 AM · #3

There is always someone else here to learn from. If one believes he/she already know everything, why be at a site that promotes learning and the exchange of ideas and techniques?

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

08/24/2005 11:16:36 AM · #4

absolutely agree.........but really what length of time do members hang around for? This might not have an answer but I am curious. How long does this satisfy the need of photographers?

taterbug

Nikon D300

08/24/2005 11:21:58 AM · #5

I don't think there is an answer to your question. Different people will have different interest levels, and will stay interested in things for different amount of times. I'm sure that there are many people that have come and gone for different reasons and stayed for many different lengths of times. There are also many people that have been involved since the sites beginning days, and are still around and quite involved. So, again, I don't feel there really is an answer.

08/24/2005 03:50:48 PM · #6

I agree with you 'taterbug' that there is not likely an answer to my question. 'dahkota' this is a most amazing place of learning technique(s) but on the idea side I find it a little empty.

SteveJ

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

08/24/2005 04:01:01 PM · #7

photography is like gardening. If you think your garden is finished/complete, you aren't a gardener. Same goes for photography, you learn all the time, if you reach the point where you think you can go no further...take up crocheting.

Steve

08/24/2005 04:14:20 PM · #8

hey 'formerlee' I agree but that was not my question. I do not believe learning ends, at least, not until you decide to discontinue it. I wondered how long people last here. How many people, 'reach the point where they think they can no longer go on'? I would say many. It takes great discipline and creativity to continue any form of art. As for gardening....I love it! and am open to any comparison to it!!

SteveJ

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

08/24/2005 04:18:56 PM · #9

Originally posted by azoychka:

I guess like most sites, people gradually drift away. However, I have noticed that they drift back here. I suppose with photography it is possible to move away from it when boredom sets in and pursue some other interest. This happened with me with film, I would have mad periods of taking pics, then do something else, then come back to pics again.

The biggest thing that keeps people in here is the fact that it is digital, once the investment in equipment has been made, there are few added costs. Hence people keep at it longer.

Steve

SJCarter

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/24/2005 04:22:12 PM · #10

I can really only speak for myself (and I love gardening too), so I would suggest that there's really no "average lifespan" for DPC members that statistically really means much. There are so many reasons for someone to discontinue their membership or visitation to the site that I think it would probably be irrelevant. Granted, I don't know the actual statistic - and it would probably prove to be interesting - but I'm not sure how much actual clinical data you could derive from such numbers.

I think that for those of us who plan to continue with photography for the rest of their lives (and yes, I am VERY much a newcomer to the foray), there will always be a place for this type of forum. This site has so much to offer professionals, mentors, advocates, amateurs, and hobbyists that I can't see it ever really fading in terms of relevance. IMHO, for those of us who really want to improve, there's simply too much talent, desire, new tools & techniques, to create an environment whereby someone feels they can't benefit and quit because they think they've learned it all - or all this site has to offer.

Just my 2 cents...

SandyP

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 USM

08/24/2005 04:37:13 PM · #11

Maybe a lot of it depends on whether or not people feel that they really are growing and getting better, or getting discouraged and losing their confidence, or maybe even getting bored. For myself. . . a couple of times, I got discouraged having several pictures in a row get slammed, and quit for a while, but like Formerlee said, I ended up drifting back because the opportunity to take pictures each week with different topicsin mind ended up being the best practice for getting better that I could find. So I tried to have thicker skin and take the good with the bad. I'm glad I did because since then, I have had several great scoring pictures and won a ribbon. . . but I still get discouraged when I get a picture slammed too. Most of the people I know who leave, leave because they get upset by low scores or rude comments. . but I don't know the average life span tho.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/24/2005 04:42:34 PM · #12

My guess is that there is a core group of 1-200 folks who just stay -- it is as much being a part of a community as taking a class. You may as well ask how long someone stays a member of a photography club.