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12/14/2016 09:12:27 PM · #1
well Ihave just popped back after being away for some time and am absolutely amazed by the low level of participation in the current challenges.

I Have been having a complete break from photography but now feel a stirring to resume a hobby I have always enjoyed, Is this still the site to return to?. Challenges in the past were always well supported with high entry numbers.
12/14/2016 10:25:35 PM · #2
Well, it's slowed down quite a bit, that's for sure. We're sort of trending back upwards now, but slowly. DPC is still a good place to receive and submit to challenges, same as always. But it needs more people to be active participants again, in the forums as well as in challenges, to recapture some of the old zest-for-life we used to exhibit :-) How about hanging around and helping us do that, ol' pal?
12/15/2016 12:00:50 AM · #3
Originally posted by kiwinick:

I Have been having a complete break from photography but now feel a stirring to resume a hobby I have always enjoyed, Is this still the site to return to?


Yes, come on back. I've fairly recently returned, in a situation similar to yours, having been away from photography for four or so years previously - and I was a bit horrified to see how quiet this place has become. But it still has continuous activity from the hard core of regulars, and there's still some good feedback to be had.
12/15/2016 01:06:50 AM · #4
Hi Nick, welcome back fellow kiwi. Participation may have slowed a bit but now we have a little bit longer to come up with an idea get it photographed. I am sure everything will pick up again once everyone gets through Christmas
12/15/2016 02:31:54 AM · #5
Welcome back, Nick. Don't be scared off by the current intimacy of the site. All the good stuff is still here :)
12/15/2016 09:01:06 AM · #6
Nice to meet you Nick and welcome back. We're having fun and with one more back in the fold we'll have that much more.
-Susie-
12/15/2016 01:06:09 PM · #7
I just stepped back in after a very long hiatus also and was noticing the same thing. There have been a lot of changes here. It seems that there are a lot of challenges going on and the participation between them is pretty thin. Back when I was active there was only one challenge per week and there was a members challenge once a week also. I guess the demand for challenge eventually increased the number of challenges but the membership eventually died off and lost interest?
12/15/2016 01:29:21 PM · #8
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I just stepped back in after a very long hiatus also and was noticing the same thing. There have been a lot of changes here. It seems that there are a lot of challenges going on and the participation between them is pretty thin. Back when I was active there was only one challenge per week and there was a members challenge once a week also. I guess the demand for challenge eventually increased the number of challenges but the membership eventually died off and lost interest?


Sums it up pretty well... membership is *low* compared to the heyday, but it is still just as tight and helpful a community as it ever has been.
12/15/2016 02:23:25 PM · #9
Welcome back, Nick!

It's still DPC.....ya get out of it what ya put into it.

There are still plenty of folks putting good stuff forth, and you can utilize the place to push yourself as hard as you need/want to at will.

The thing I love most about it is that it gives you exposure to the entire world. No narrow POV on photography relative to any "right" way.

And there's always someone around to help you go down a different path, just ask.

I came back at the tail end of the summer after a short (7 month) hiatus and I was pleased to see that I had a renewed outlook.

I hope you do, too!

Message edited by author 2016-12-15 14:24:06.
12/15/2016 10:26:09 PM · #10
Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I just stepped back in after a very long hiatus also and was noticing the same thing. There have been a lot of changes here. It seems that there are a lot of challenges going on and the participation between them is pretty thin. Back when I was active there was only one challenge per week and there was a members challenge once a week also. I guess the demand for challenge eventually increased the number of challenges but the membership eventually died off and lost interest?


Sums it up pretty well... membership is *low* compared to the heyday, but it is still just as tight and helpful a community as it ever has been.


Any thoughts on why? I would have thought this site would have grown exponentially rather than shrivel up.
12/15/2016 10:36:33 PM · #11
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I just stepped back in after a very long hiatus also and was noticing the same thing. There have been a lot of changes here. It seems that there are a lot of challenges going on and the participation between them is pretty thin. Back when I was active there was only one challenge per week and there was a members challenge once a week also. I guess the demand for challenge eventually increased the number of challenges but the membership eventually died off and lost interest?


Sums it up pretty well... membership is *low* compared to the heyday, but it is still just as tight and helpful a community as it ever has been.


Any thoughts on why? I would have thought this site would have grown exponentially rather than shrivel up.

As you might guess, there are a gazillion threads discussing why, but it mostly comes down to a few points, here are some:

-a plethora of photo-sharing sites where you are more likely to get empty praise than constructive criticism

-a general increase in the nastiness in the forums, and less-than-thankful replies to comments, which has led to less commenting and corresponding decrease in both social and learning value of the challenges

-people taking pictures with phones, not cameras

-perhaps some "challenge fatigue" -- it's harder to come up with interesting and attractive topics after running 2500 or so challenges
12/15/2016 10:54:00 PM · #12
Thats too bad. Maybe someone can put this train back on the tracks again some day. I dont think it would take that much effort for itvto happen.
12/16/2016 07:11:08 AM · #13
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Thats too bad. Maybe someone can put this train back on the tracks again some day. I dont think it would take that much effort for itvto happen.

Put me down as also happy to see your presence here again John. :-)

So ... notice the "Provide Feedback" section on the left side of DPChallenge? It links you to this. When it first went up, there was some interaction by the user community. Lack of response via administrators of DPChallenge pretty much stifled any thoughtful suggestions / ideas.

The Website Suggestions forum here on DPChallenge was locked down with a link to the above mentioned 'satisfaction' site. That was back in 2011 - over 5 years ago.
12/16/2016 10:03:58 AM · #14
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I just stepped back in after a very long hiatus also and was noticing the same thing. There have been a lot of changes here. It seems that there are a lot of challenges going on and the participation between them is pretty thin. Back when I was active there was only one challenge per week and there was a members challenge once a week also. I guess the demand for challenge eventually increased the number of challenges but the membership eventually died off and lost interest?


Sums it up pretty well... membership is *low* compared to the heyday, but it is still just as tight and helpful a community as it ever has been.


Any thoughts on why? I would have thought this site would have grown exponentially rather than shrivel up.

As you might guess, there are a gazillion threads discussing why, but it mostly comes down to a few points, here are some:

-a plethora of photo-sharing sites where you are more likely to get empty praise than constructive criticism

-a general increase in the nastiness in the forums, and less-than-thankful replies to comments, which has led to less commenting and corresponding decrease in both social and learning value of the challenges

-people taking pictures with phones, not cameras

-perhaps some "challenge fatigue" -- it's harder to come up with interesting and attractive topics after running 2500 or so challenges


short version: Facebook
12/16/2016 11:57:35 AM · #15
Originally posted by posthumous:


short version: Facebook


I guess that makes sense.

When I was active here people came here for the feedback and accolades. I guess they can get that instantly now on Facebook from a broader audience. Someone mentioned earlier about constructive criticism... most people don't really want that :) This is a reasonable place to get it and the criticism that comes from here is not great in all cases either. I got tired of it myself which is one of the reasons I lost interest here a long time ago. It gets like a broke record. Rule of thirds... out of focus... soft focus.. This site and the feedback you get from it only allows you to grow to a certain point. Getting beyond that point means getting away from here. You can't have your own vision here and get support for it unless it fits a cookie cutter mold of what the collective walmart shopper thinks belongs on a post card :)

I always said that the best critique you could get on your photos would come from someone who is not a photographer and who is not a friend.

Another photographer can't see your photo. What they see is a photo that they would have done differently. There is an automatic implied bias. A friend is going to be a friend and be nice to you and try to make you feel good when they tell you how great your photo is. If you want a critique on artistic value of your photograph, show it to a painter or sculptor... one you don't know. There you will find true critique and honest feedback.

The challenge concept here is fairly addictive. I can see how addictive it is after coming back here this week.. there are a few folks who have been participating here for a VERY long time :)

DPChallenge made me into a decent photographer. I played the game and learned from it. I hate to see that it doesn't seem to be fostering that same level of enthusiasm that I had in the beginning with future great photographers.
12/16/2016 12:10:45 PM · #16
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Someone mentioned earlier about constructive criticism... most people don't really want that :)

12/17/2016 02:58:03 PM · #17
Originally posted by posthumous:

short version: Facebook


Longer version:

Facebook, Instagram Pixoto. GuruShot. 500px, etc. All places with lots of eyeballs on the photo, all which don't require "fresh" images. AND... rarely mentioned here... all with more contemporary web design and mobile interface. But, what they're all missing is the long term intimate sense of community here.

I've been registered since March 2010 and a member since May 2013. I didn't even visit the forums until after becoming a member. I was completely focused on challenges and delighted with comments - especially when I started seeing names I recognized. Comments and starting to discern personalities pushed me to membership. I've since tried lots of other sites and keep coming back here. I have an intense day job, which leads to inconsistent attention to DPC as work ebbs and flows. But I keep coming back. And when the retirement light at the end of my career tunnel arrives, I expect to become more active, if DPC can survive until then.

And... at 61, I'm also among the youngest of the baby boomers. I grew up on a manual film camera and transitioned successfully from analog to digital, not only in photography but in all aspects of technology.

So what? Well, from my perspective, what's wrong here is not much - other than fewer active community members than in the past. And an interface, and community that isn't really very attractive to new and/or younger members. It takes time to understand and become part of the DPC community. The payoff of that time is being part... belonging. But dedicated time in any one place online is a problem in our 140-character, short-attention span contemporary culture. I hope we can turn the declining participation around, but I'm not particularly optimistic - although I plan to stick around as long a possible.
12/17/2016 06:12:32 PM · #18
Originally posted by wbanning:

...
And... at 61, I'm also among the youngest of the baby boomers. ...

Fact check. :-)

At 61 you're actually smack dab in the middle of the baby boomer generation.
12/17/2016 08:25:17 PM · #19
Originally posted by glad2badad:

At 61 you're actually smack dab in the middle of the baby boomer generation.


Damn. That will require me to completely redefine the context of my boomer-ness. Instead of being at the tail of my generation, I'm at the apex. A new lease on life!

Nevertheless, my perspectives about the decline of DPC remain unchanged. :-)
12/17/2016 08:26:33 PM · #20
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by wbanning:

...
And... at 61, I'm also among the youngest of the baby boomers. ...

Fact check. :-)

At 61 you're actually smack dab in the middle of the baby boomer generation.

Always a trendsetter, I helped lead the baby boomers into the world in the first wave of 1946 :-)
12/17/2016 08:31:16 PM · #21
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Always a trendsetter, I helped lead the baby boomers into the world in the first wave of 1946 :-)

Thank you, Bear. Someone had to do it... kinda like the guy in this video
12/17/2016 08:46:45 PM · #22
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Someone mentioned earlier about constructive criticism... most people don't really want that :)



General E was doing memes before it was Facebook cool... :)
12/17/2016 09:21:04 PM · #23
Originally posted by wbanning:

Originally posted by glad2badad:

At 61 you're actually smack dab in the middle of the baby boomer generation.


Damn. That will require me to completely redefine the context of my boomer-ness. Instead of being at the tail of my generation, I'm at the apex. A new lease on life!

Nevertheless, my perspectives about the decline of DPC remain unchanged. :-)

Maybe Generation X will step up and keep this boat afloat. ???
12/18/2016 07:39:06 AM · #24
WARNING!!! Another NikonJeb DPC Cheerleader Litany!

Originally posted by posthumous:

short version: Facebook


Originally posted by wbanning:

Longer version:

Facebook, Instagram Pixoto. GuruShot. 500px, etc. All places with lots of eyeballs on the photo, all which don't require "fresh" images. AND... rarely mentioned here... all with more contemporary web design and mobile interface. But, what they're all missing is the long term intimate sense of community here.

Yes, this is spot-on.

This community affords one with incredible opportunities. Just ask any of us who have been here for a while about personal involvement in a web site. I've met quite a few of the people here, gone on numerous GTGs to [places I would not necessarily gone to shoot specifically], been involved with other members' lives, and they in mine in return.

I have helped people here with their lives and causes, and they mine as well.

There truly is nothing quite like it.
Originally posted by wbanning:

I've been registered since March 2010 and a member since May 2013. I didn't even visit the forums until after becoming a member. I was completely focused on challenges and delighted with comments - especially when I started seeing names I recognized. Comments and starting to discern personalities pushed me to membership. I've since tried lots of other sites and keep coming back here. I have an intense day job, which leads to inconsistent attention to DPC as work ebbs and flows. But I keep coming back. And when the retirement light at the end of my career tunnel arrives, I expect to become more active, if DPC can survive until then.

This site really does foment involvement should you choose to make the commitment to utilizing its resources to their potential. I was fortunate enough to have found a mentor here early on and found that the possibilities were unlimited.

Originally posted by wbanning:

And... at 61, I'm also among the youngest of the baby boomers. I grew up on a manual film camera and transitioned successfully from analog to digital, not only in photography but in all aspects of technology.

As another 61 yo, I found that my transition was made much easier because of my involvement here. I learned that the computer was the tool to enable my photography objective to become a reality. I never really saw it as a thing on its own the way a lot of people do. I feel that was an advantage as to this day, I utilize it as a means to an end rather than the end in itself.

It's interesting because I often find people are surprised at my technical skills which I find simply fundamental in this modern world.

I work on cars, and on a daily basis I use a highly sophisticated automotive diagnostic computer and my laptop. I was away from automotive repair for a decade, and the advances during that time are simply incredible. You can NOT function in an automotive shop without computer diagnostic skills. Learn or die! LOL!!!

I have been able to adapt through what I learned here about the computer as a tool & resource.
Originally posted by wbanning:

So what? Well, from my perspective, what's wrong here is not much - other than fewer active community members than in the past.

I split this off purposely.......there is absolutely nothing WRONG with this site. As in most things in life, you get out of it what you put into it.

This site is a gold mine of resources.

Should you choose to, you can work hard, participate seriously, avail yourself of the people in the community who readily offer their help and guidance, and become a competent, serious photographer. It helps to have a basic "eye" and some natural creative talent, but IMNSHO, if you're here in the first place, you probably have that.
Originally posted by wbanning:

And an interface, and community that isn't really very attractive to new and/or younger members. It takes time to understand and become part of the DPC community. The payoff of that time is being part... belonging. But dedicated time in any one place online is a problem in our 140-character, short-attention span contemporary culture. I hope we can turn the declining participation around, but I'm not particularly optimistic - although I plan to stick around as long a possible.

Honestly? I can't say as I can be terribly concerned about the way people gravitate on to other things. The short attention span folks? They don't bring much to the table, and the way this community functions is through the interaction. I have seen people re-emerging after hiatus for various reasons, and I think it's possible that a core group of people who continue to love and support the site can keep it alive. I know I plan on being here as long as the doors remain open and I will continue to participate in the hopes that perhaps my experiences and work may give a new photog some inspiration.

I can tell you this......I know of VERY few sites where there is an actual core group that is and has remained active for over a decade.

What can I say? I love this place for what it has been to and for me. I believe strongly in the pay it forward concept as well as being good in return to people who have been good to me.

Y'all are stuck with me forever! LOL!!
12/19/2016 03:55:43 PM · #25
I'm back. You will see. Others will too.... the weather is getting cold again....time for some more fun and games.......when the boss isn't looking....right Jeb?
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