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09/16/2013 01:01:06 PM · #51 |
Haven't been here in over a year, but I still tossed in my $25.
DPC was a major factor in pulling me back to photography, and that is enough of a reason for me to keep supporting the site. I stepped away a few years ago because the conversations had become quite negative, but I have not forgotten what the site was like early on. Anyway.... I'll poke my nose in and see what's going on. |
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09/16/2013 02:51:56 PM · #52 |
Wow what a firestorm this simple question started. (smiling)
Here's my perspective as a (5) month newbie.
I absolutely LOVE IT here!!! I'm thrilled with the frequent challenges which force me to think outside of my normal realm. I'm reasonable technically but I'm not the most creative guy in the world. So I need this push.
I've also had a number of the "regulars" reach out to me privately and give me advice or friendly conversation which I appreciated. I enjoy reading the forums and occasionally chiming in. It's kind of fun watching the personalities of the "regulars" and "semi-regulars" unfold before my eyes.
Every day I sign on I can look at top photo's and see what the best of the best are doing. It inspires me and it enhances my knowledge base.
I also learned very quickly after my first public spanking, (lower score than I expected), that I'm not the cats ass that I thought I was. I'm so so so very average. It was really an awakening, and a good one at that, to have perspectives outside of my friends and family. You know.....real opinions that have no bias. That has really caused me to try to dig in and better myself.
As for Mr. Langdon. I know nothing of this man. I'm too new to know the history or why the frustration so many seem to have. All I can say is that I buy things frequently in which a portion of it goes back to the person that came up with the idea or concept. It don't bother me. I need those things and without their contribution I wouldn't have it.
So I say to Mr. Langdon. Thanks for a great idea. I'm digging it and by virtue of the fact that you've got people here with (10) years. of time in then there are a lot of folks digging it. As for my $25.00 bucks Mr. Langdon. Take it, run with it, and have a ball cause I appreciate it's existence, just keep it running. I've also got to believe that it runs as well as it does because there are a number of folks that volunteer their time for free (that's my assumption - I could be wrong).
I know to the folks that have been around for some time there are a number of things that probably need tweaking or improvement hence the frustration. From the perspective of a new guy. It's a really cool site and it was the best $25.00 bucks I've spent in a long time.
Thanks for hearing me out.
Message edited by author 2013-09-16 14:52:24. |
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09/16/2013 03:05:57 PM · #53 |
| DPC must go on. its one of the few honest things on the web. please keep it running. |
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09/16/2013 05:08:00 PM · #54 |
"Important Notice!
Your membership is set to expire in 18 days."
I receive this lovely message every time I login now.
Hmmmmm...I don't think I'll start a thread about it (Can I just borrow this one...;-)...)
I suppose all good things must come to an end, but with DPC...those words become difficult to wring true.
I'm going to have to find my annual flower to pick. You know...the one with lots of petals...
DPC LOVE ME...LOVES ME NOT...LOVES ME...LOVES ME NOT...
I love this annual (and somewhat sacrificial) ritual.
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09/16/2013 05:12:41 PM · #55 |
Originally posted by hihosilver:
I love this annual (and somewhat sacrificial) ritual. |
I'll haunt you if you leave. I'll send a hit squad of Deb and Johanna after you. I'll... I'll.... sigh... don't you DARE! |
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09/16/2013 06:00:12 PM · #56 |
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09/16/2013 06:34:09 PM · #57 |
I think my annoyance springs from I remember how brilliant this site used to be - I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Seriously I have spent hours and hours on it, bantering, arguing, learning.. But recently its the same old crap - the challenges get recycled - the rules changed to make it survival of the photoshop powerhouses. Some threads, pointless threads ("Last Wins" anyone?) that are always on the frontpage and just stink of a group of people who have lost their way... DPCHallenge will never really die, it will come to a point where it no longer becomes cost effective for Langdon and he will finally put a post up offering the site for sale - some of you guys may club together and buy it out and then it will be the same site, with more bickering, politics and THEN it will die.
I guess I just remember the best days of the site - Heida, Saberi, DrAchoo, JSetzler and all the others - the golden age of DPC.. a fading memory now sadly.. I guess thats where my bitterness comes from - Langdon made this site great and now he is running it into the ground.. It's his prerogative I know, but it still leaves a slight bitter taste in ones mouth.
For me the best time was when it was one challenge per week - that was it - neat, sharp and to the point.. And whatever happened to Drew?
Sigh - if it ever does go up for sale, and I think it will eventually - I would love to see the new owners look at revisiting what made the site great and implement it - maybe the future for DPC is "less is more". Regardless - it will never change whilst Langdon still holds the reins - I only hope it one day comes into ownership of someone who loves it and has a passion for it.
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09/16/2013 06:47:19 PM · #58 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by hihosilver:
I love this annual (and somewhat sacrificial) ritual. |
I'll haunt you if you leave. I'll send a hit squad of Deb and Johanna after you. I'll... I'll.... sigh... don't you DARE! |
::beams sweetly at Puppy Bear::
Not to worry, you'll always have my vote for DPC President!
Gosh...ask not what Langdon can do for us, but rather what can we do for each other and our community?!
Puppy Bear, you define the answer to this question because ALL of your contributions are worth their weight in platinum blue ribbons!
Yeah...I miss the old days...even that  DrAchoo! (Jason...you know I love ya!)
Ha...the male SC members always did have the squinty-eyed look.
Message edited by author 2013-09-16 18:47:41. |
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09/16/2013 07:30:04 PM · #59 |
| Simms has a good point about there being too many challenges per time slot. |
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09/16/2013 08:26:33 PM · #60 |
| The power of DPC gives us a place to shape a story and more importantly...a perception. Some with a core viability and some quite flat reflecting only the quick and the fast. I haven't quite figured out the difference yet. I'm sure someone will be kind enough to enlighten me? |
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09/16/2013 08:33:14 PM · #61 |
| Been here since 2002. Let's see 11 years times $25 = $275. Best money I ever spent! |
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09/16/2013 08:43:00 PM · #62 |
5 years and counting - I've just recently renewed. I'm happy with the value I'm getting for my money and I'm more than happy with the company I'm keeping.
(It seems this conversation has been going on since I joined and it has dual drifts - simultaneous requests for change and nostalgia for the good old days.)
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09/16/2013 09:33:08 PM · #63 |
Originally posted by Simms:
I guess I just remember the best days of the site - Heida, Saberi, DrAchoo, JSetzler and all the others - the golden age of DPC.. a fading memory now sadly.. I guess thats where my bitterness comes from - Langdon made this site great and now he is running it into the ground.. It's his prerogative I know, but it still leaves a slight bitter taste in ones mouth. |
Great art is also produced during Decadent periods. |
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09/16/2013 09:50:20 PM · #64 |
I would hate to see what a new owner would do to the place. It makes me cringe to think about it. Too many times I've seen things total destroyed by makeovers. The new grocery store that came in 2-3 years ago, replacing my old grocery store, is the most awful place. They pile my bags of groceries on top of each other, squishing things or ripping the bags. They put the raw hamburger in on top of the apples. It was supposed to be such a great replacement for our old, wonderful grocery store.
Bring in more people, give me 1200 pixels horizontal, and leave the rest alone.
I don't want squished groceries!
Next thing, it will be like next top model, and they'll all have to be "living pictures"
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09/16/2013 11:26:37 PM · #65 |
| Mine came up this month too. 6 years and I did question the renewal. Mainly because of my lack of participation and secondly because of all the chatter about the owner(s) not doing much to update and/or possibly care. I do visit, look at winners, review the new challenges, try to participate when time allows, so I decided to stay with another firm resolve to try and participate. I actually have a great idea for a posted challenge but can't figure out how to do it without burning the house down! lol I will still haunt this place for another year! |
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09/17/2013 01:38:25 AM · #66 |
Originally posted by Simms:
... I would love to see the new owners look at revisiting what made the site great and implement it |
I think the challenge here is that it was the people that made dpchallenge great, rather than the web site itself. I remember those days because it was forum thread that got me to put aside my fears and start shooting portraits. There was an energy as people tried to push each other. Some of those people are still here, but many have left. I stopped back today looking for the enthusiasm for photography that once existed here (and hopefully still does). |
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09/17/2013 01:43:02 AM · #67 |
Originally posted by Katmystiry:
... I actually have a great idea for a posted challenge but can't figure out how to do it without burning the house down! ... |
I'd offer to help, but my ideas would almost certainly make the undesired outcome more probable, rather than less...
Message edited by author 2013-09-17 01:43:14. |
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09/17/2013 04:03:23 AM · #68 |
Originally posted by Simms:
I think my annoyance springs from I remember how brilliant this site used to be - I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Seriously I have spent hours and hours on it, bantering, arguing, learning.. But recently its the same old crap - the challenges get recycled - the rules changed to make it survival of the photoshop powerhouses. Some threads, pointless threads ("Last Wins" anyone?) that are always on the frontpage and just stink of a group of people who have lost their way... DPCHallenge will never really die, it will come to a point where it no longer becomes cost effective for Langdon and he will finally put a post up offering the site for sale - some of you guys may club together and buy it out and then it will be the same site, with more bickering, politics and THEN it will die.
I guess I just remember the best days of the site - Heida, Saberi, DrAchoo, JSetzler and all the others - the golden age of DPC.. a fading memory now sadly.. I guess thats where my bitterness comes from - Langdon made this site great and now he is running it into the ground.. It's his prerogative I know, but it still leaves a slight bitter taste in ones mouth.
For me the best time was when it was one challenge per week - that was it - neat, sharp and to the point.. And whatever happened to Drew?
Sigh - if it ever does go up for sale, and I think it will eventually - I would love to see the new owners look at revisiting what made the site great and implement it - maybe the future for DPC is "less is more". Regardless - it will never change whilst Langdon still holds the reins - I only hope it one day comes into ownership of someone who loves it and has a passion for it. |
Whilst Mark often "say's it as it is" and is Bertie Blunt with some of his posts I think some of his comments above are spot-on.
DPC was a great place to be involved with, outstanding photogs, who sadly have now moved on partly due to this site being unable or unwilling to grow.
The drive and ambition that was shown in the early days is no longer and apathy has spread throughout the site, which reflects in the forums and the low amount of entries we see in the challenges these days.
The site seems to be in terminal decline and it seems it will be left to die a long, slow and painful death.
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09/17/2013 04:26:55 AM · #69 |
| It's all really up to how much you want to put into it. Everyone seems to forget that there was a lot less of the internet available in the golden days. Now it's a nebular burst of competing interests, so of course membership will dwindle, how much more time do you spend on the internet compared to 2 years ago. Given that DPC is a creaky old site, it still works, and I haven't notice people with obvious talent or those with less experience being held back. If it is so bad here, then why do the dissenters bother coming back? |
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09/17/2013 07:01:32 AM · #70 |
Originally posted by Simms:
I guess I just remember the best days of the site - Heida, Saberi, DrAchoo, JSetzler and all the others - the golden age of DPC.. a fading memory now sadly.. I guess thats where my bitterness comes from - Langdon made this site great and now he is running it into the ground.. It's his prerogative I know, but it still leaves a slight bitter taste in ones mouth.
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and some people live in the past and some move on! There is no need to drop in here with all your negativity and attitude. If you want to contribute then enter challenges, comment on photos, help people in the forums or just go away and stay away. |
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09/17/2013 07:02:49 AM · #71 |
Originally posted by daisydavid:
.... then why do the dissenters bother coming back? |
I don't think it is a matter of all or nothing. I've been here since Jan 2005 and I can say that my participation as well as level of enjoyment in this site has changed over that time. Doesn't mean I want to take my ball and go home. I also grumble about how the summers were better & life was simpler way back when..... so maybe it is just a part of getting older that we tend to remember earlier experiences with greater fondness.
Actually I think it is a mixture of both, for example after 7 years of enjoyment I finally turned off 'rant' as I now found it was detracting from my experience here. |
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09/17/2013 09:04:33 AM · #72 |
Originally posted by Simms:
I guess I just remember the best days of the site - Heida, Saberi, DrAchoo, JSetzler and all the others - the golden age of DPC.. a fading memory now sadly.. I guess thats where my bitterness comes from - Langdon made this site great and now he is running it into the ground.. It's his prerogative I know, but it still leaves a slight bitter taste in ones mouth.
Actually Simms, you here refer to what was already the downturn of the golden era, that is the beginning of the end. Those guys walked in footsteps bigger than they could fill.
For me, my life is precious, I want to get out of DPC what I put in. I do not want someone else to make me happy. As for the family, where in your life will you find a group of strangers in cyber space that will rally as one around the one that hurts? DPC gives me what I want, what I give. The family I cherish. This fight, let it be known, is dedicated to my DPC family. You, like Tiberius who calls when I am out, Gregg Braggs, calling from Aussie land..... DPC, I love you.
And I will tell you when Langdon or Drew call me, okay? |
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09/17/2013 09:36:45 AM · #73 |
| Let us not over-romanticize the past. Perhaps the best is yet come, its all we have, really. |
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09/17/2013 10:25:29 AM · #74 |
I joined dpc in april, 2002.
My take? It has been a constant ebb and flow. Many of the complaints today are very similar to complaints a decade ago. Likewise with many of the praises.
It's the Internet, if everyone camped out here like I have, I would be really worried. Heck, even in real world situations, I find it unusual when anyone is part of an organization/club for more than a year or two. the population is dynamic and it changes.
Why was there more participation "back then" than now? I don't know. I suspect it might have something to do with in the beginning, digital photography was a bit more of a novelty and websites dealing with dp were a bit more of a draw. As it becomes more mainstream, the ability to "share" also becomes more mainstream.
Do I shoot for dpc anymore? Actually, no I don't, and I would imagine my situation is very similar to others. It used to be that the challenge(s) were announced and I would plan for several days and then either set up or find my shot, shoot, edit and enter. These days, I enter if one of the couple of thousand shots I took during the course of the week fit (and sometimes when they don't, hahahah). So, I don't shoot *for* dpc, BUT it is because of dpc that I have gained what skills I have that have enabled people to actually pay me for pictures so that I don't have time to shoot for dpc. |
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09/17/2013 11:28:45 AM · #75 |
I've been here for a solid decade.
As to why "The DPC Greats" leave, they do so for any number of reasons. For some, photography is no longer a hobby. Remember Jacko? He sold his DSLR's and started playing guitar.
Others move on to a professional level, making photographs for a living. Like Joey Lawrence or  Anastasia or grigrigirl.
Fortunately there are new "Greats" to take their place. Of course to those stuck in the memories of "how it used to be" none of those n00bs with ever be anything like the greats of old.
Pining for "the good old days" of DPC is like going back to your hometown for your 20 year high school reunion and talking about how awesome everything was back then, when it really wasn't. For some reason, memory is selective and emphasizes the enjoyable parts of your past while glossing over the parts that suck. |
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