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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Open Letter to Langdon
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Showing posts 501 - 525 of 604, (reverse)
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 01/17/2013 06:45:34 PM · #501
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Originally posted by Spork99:
...If you can afford a camera and a computer, even one with a 3rd world monitor, you should be able to afford $25...

Anyone who truly cannot afford $25 per year would not be spending their time at this site. I know someone who is very well-off and will retire at age 55. He whines about every penny he spends, and typically "forgets" his wallet whenever he invites you to meet up somewhere for drinks.


My suggestion has nothing to do with the affordability of membership. In every challenge I have participated in until the most recent one the Update button was available whether I was a paid member or registered user. I can afford $25 but I personally don't feel DPC in its current state is worth it. It is kind of stale, IMHO.

I made a suggestion that I feel would encourage registered users to become more involved in the site, participate more and possibly join as paid members. On the internet content is king and the competition for site traffic is not getting any easier.

Many people believe that retaining 80% of your members annually is a decent retention rate but in reality this would mean you will lose 1/2 of your members every 3.1 years. No business can sustain and thrive with those numbers. Listening to the paid members (and registered users) and implementing a better product based on that input is the only way this site will survive.
 01/17/2013 07:06:49 PM · #502
I became a registered user in September 2005. The update button was only for paid members and that was one of the reasons I paid. The other was to be able to enter two challenges a week. I haven't been able to enter nearly as much for the past few years, but I am happy enough to keep my membership current.
 01/17/2013 07:51:23 PM · #503
The famous Update Button is a membership benefit.
Always has been. Probably always will be.
We get lots for free these days.
Instant gratification (or frustration) is not one of them.
 01/17/2013 08:33:30 PM · #504
Originally posted by seenosun:


................. In every challenge I have participated in until the most recent one the Update button was available whether I was a paid member or registered user. .........................

I made a suggestion that I feel would encourage registered users to become more involved in the site, participate more and possibly join as paid members. ....................



Are you sure you are not misremembering your update button experience, especially since you hadn't been participating since 2007? I know I registered in 2006 and could only enter one of the two "Exclusive Open" challenges, which only updated at 10 after the hour. It was the desire to participate in the other challenges that were offered, joining teams and side challenges, and the ability to use the update button, that induced me to plunk down my $25. I now have 3 days left to renew my membership and even though life, and camera and computer issues have prevented me from entering since June, I'll be re-upping again for all those reasons again, and to support the site. I wonder how many people would pay for a membership if that addictive update button was available for free? :-)
 01/17/2013 09:50:02 PM · #505
Originally posted by CJinCA:
I wonder how many people would pay for a membership if that addictive update button was available for free? :-)

Exactly the same amount. Rhetorical questions... the only kind I can answer correctly.
 01/17/2013 10:23:42 PM · #506
Originally posted by CJinCA:
Originally posted by seenosun:


................. In every challenge I have participated in until the most recent one the Update button was available whether I was a paid member or registered user. .........................

I made a suggestion that I feel would encourage registered users to become more involved in the site, participate more and possibly join as paid members. ....................



Are you sure you are not misremembering your update button experience, especially since you hadn't been participating since 2007? I know I registered in 2006 and could only enter one of the two "Exclusive Open" challenges, which only updated at 10 after the hour. It was the desire to participate in the other challenges that were offered, joining teams and side challenges, and the ability to use the update button, that induced me to plunk down my $25. I now have 3 days left to renew my membership and even though life, and camera and computer issues have prevented me from entering since June, I'll be re-upping again for all those reasons again, and to support the site. I wonder how many people would pay for a membership if that addictive update button was available for free? :-)


I joined the site in November 2005. The last challenge I entered was in 2011. That is until my most recent entry. I have always had access to the update button. Maybe I'm unique. Anyway no big deal. You guys seem to have all the answers on why the site traffic is not what it used to be and what needs to be done to fix the problem. Best of luck bringing the site back to its former glory.
 03/04/2013 05:48:24 AM · #507
My 2 cents worth is that many of the challenge themes have become quite unexciting and uninspirational generally. There are so many exciting and original themes that one can come up with and that allow for most people to be able to compete. Just take the DPReview challenge themes as an example. So many great themes many of which I have never seen on DPC yet.
//www.dpreview.com/challenges/ChallengesFinished.aspx

I don't know...I'm sure many wont agree with me but it's just what I feel. Challenges such as photograph something starting with the letter B just doesn't do it for many people. We also have so many repeat challenges here such as the Art challenge which is now in it's 5th or 6th reincarnation. And white on light we have also had so many times before. It's ok of course to have repeats of some really popular and succesfull challenges from the past but there are just so many repeats. A challenge theme should make one get all excited and make one want to go out and shoot something spectacular or impressive.
The themes should also be of such a nature that most people should have no great difficulty in finding something to photograph that fits into the challenge theme. Maybe some more nature, landscapes, animals, flowers, people, streetscenes, cars, macro's and things one encounters almost everyday will be nice. Also a better mix of editing requirements such as basic and minimal that allows for even the less professional or experienced photographers like myself to be able to enter and be creative and have fun without having to need highly developed technical skills with Photoshop and such.
Just a better mix of challenges that offers something for everyone to get excited about.

Message edited by author 2013-03-04 05:59:24.
 03/04/2013 12:22:41 PM · #508
I agree. I am just a person who likes to take pictures and TRY my hand at editing. I love to see the really talented and what they come up with and want to learn as much as possible. I wish more winners or high scoreing people would go through the steps of their processing as a learning tool for the rest of us. As far as the challenges go,I'm sure there are more suggestions, that we would not have so many repeats.It might not be the case, but it appears that some challenges are a last minute thought, just something to come up with. I could very well be wrong about it though.I know it is my own fault for not entering more, but take the challenges now, B is for.. just OK smoke.. unless you know how to create, let alone capture, or happen onto a fire not much of a chance to enter.(at least what I can think of) Beauty of... is a good one with lots of things to pick from. To me the only one to get really excited about. Just my opinion and no offence to anyone I hope.

Message edited by author 2013-03-04 12:23:44.
 03/04/2013 12:35:35 PM · #509
Originally posted by meow:
smoke.. unless you know how to create, let alone capture, or happen onto a fire not much of a chance to enter.


Insense stick, black background, gentle wafting, flash from the side (or camera top flash bounced with mirrors). BAM! Top 3 finish. Or, drop some paint into water, photo it, process it to look like smoke.

I'm starting to do less specifically 'for the challenge' and more for me. When I learned to care less about my scores and more about my photography and I enjoy it more. The challenge topics are irrelevant anyway. DNMC is not a DQable crime and there are lots of shots that DNMC. It's more of a loose guideline; a hint rather than a rule.
 03/04/2013 05:00:22 PM · #510
Originally posted by theFREDfactor:
We also have so many repeat challenges here such as the Art challenge which is now in it's 5th or 6th reincarnation.


It needs to be noted that the site is about 12 years old (that I know of, maybe older) so the fact that some themes get revisited is not that unexpected... 6 reincarnations = once every 2 years.

Not totally disagreeing with your premise, but had to point that out.

Also, I made a post in the Challenge Suggestion thread a couple of months ago and listed about 6 suggestions. I've seen three of them used. If you want to see more interesting challenges, suggest some in that thread... Curse the darkness v light a candle kinda thing...

Just sayin'
 03/04/2013 05:54:56 PM · #511
Originally posted by theFREDfactor:
My 2 cents worth is that many of the challenge themes have become quite unexciting and uninspirational generally. There are so many exciting and original themes that one can come up with and that allow for most people to be able to compete. Just take the DPReview challenge themes as an example. So many great themes many of which I have never seen on DPC yet.
//www.dpreview.com/challenges/ChallengesFinished.aspx

I don't know...I'm sure many wont agree with me but it's just what I feel. Challenges such as photograph something starting with the letter B just doesn't do it for many people. We also have so many repeat challenges here such as the Art challenge which is now in it's 5th or 6th reincarnation. And white on light we have also had so many times before. It's ok of course to have repeats of some really popular and succesfull challenges from the past but there are just so many repeats. A challenge theme should make one get all excited and make one want to go out and shoot something spectacular or impressive.
The themes should also be of such a nature that most people should have no great difficulty in finding something to photograph that fits into the challenge theme. Maybe some more nature, landscapes, animals, flowers, people, streetscenes, cars, macro's and things one encounters almost everyday will be nice. Also a better mix of editing requirements such as basic and minimal that allows for even the less professional or experienced photographers like myself to be able to enter and be creative and have fun without having to need highly developed technical skills with Photoshop and such.
Just a better mix of challenges that offers something for everyone to get excited about.


just so you know you are allowed to suggest topics.
 03/04/2013 06:11:09 PM · #512
Originally posted by theFREDfactor:
My 2 cents worth is that many of the challenge themes have become quite unexciting and uninspirational generally.


I think it's the instability of your username. I mean for god's sake you've changed it five times! Is nothing sacred?! Besides, we all know based on your pic that you are really James Spader anyway.


03/04/2013 06:37:43 PM · #513
Dear Langdon. Thank you for not committing suicide. Love, Brian
03/04/2013 06:38:26 PM · #514
Originally posted by bvy:
Dear Langdon. Thank you for not committing suicide. Love, Brian


LOL, no shit. :)
 03/04/2013 07:45:52 PM · #515
Originally posted by bvy:
Dear Langdon. Thank you for not committing suicide. Love, Brian


ROFL!!!!

Indeed, thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!
 03/04/2013 08:51:42 PM · #516
I have scored over 7.0 and below 4.0, I've entered over 350 challenges in over six years. I can do nice stuff and I can lay eggs.

This place makes me push myself out of my comfort zone, learn, and grow because I avail myself of what it offers.

I know how to get what I want and need to improve here, and I love it for that.

Thanks, Langdon.
 03/05/2013 06:45:34 AM · #517
what ever happened to the other site admin, drewmedia? where did he go?
 03/05/2013 06:46:27 AM · #518
Originally posted by LanndonKane:
what ever happened to the other site admin, drewmedia? where did he go?


It's just too upsetting. We don't talk about it.

;)
 03/05/2013 09:31:21 AM · #519
Yes, sad. It was about the time that "she-who-must-not-be-named" came along,
but as Cory says, "It's just too upsetting. We don't talk about it.'
 03/05/2013 09:51:14 AM · #520
We don't talk about orbs either.
 03/05/2013 10:00:00 AM · #521
now im curious, what happened?
 03/05/2013 10:07:39 AM · #522
Has anyone offered to buy DPC?

A little investment in marketing the site wouldn't hurt.

03/05/2013 10:16:29 AM · #523
Originally posted by mike_311:
now im curious, what happened?

nothing happened. he just got busy with his real life, which oddly enough is a software development company. dpc was never meant to be his main focus, regardless of how much potential it had/has. more here.
 03/05/2013 10:17:26 AM · #524
Originally posted by Yandrosxx:
Has anyone offered to buy DPC?

A little investment in marketing the site wouldn't hurt.


I disagree. It ain't broke.
 03/05/2013 10:18:15 AM · #525
Originally posted by Skip:
Originally posted by mike_311:
now im curious, what happened?

nothing happened. he just got busy with his real life, which oddly enough is a software development company. dpc was never meant to be his main focus, regardless of how much potential it had/has. more here.


darn, urban legend...
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