This may be a totally lame question, but now what? Do we PM our mentor or will we do forum posts or is this being thought out and I'm jumping the gun?
apologies in advance if I've jumped the gun or asked a dumb question
Cheers
Tis a good question, actually. I think it might be a good idea to let the entire thing rest until sometime tomorrow. The mentors will need some time to get their thoughts together, and I fully expect a few people to tell me they would rather be in a different group. I'm thinking it would just be good sense to let the whole thing sink in a little bit, let the dust settle, and after that, we'll post some "starter posts" to get things rolling. I'm planning on keeping links to each group's post with the master list so people can easily find them without searching.
As a practical suggestion, once you have your group defined, close this thread and start one in the Out and About section, as if this were a "virtual" GTG outside of DPC, and then keep everything else there.
As a practical suggestion, once you have your group defined, close this thread and start one in the Out and About section, as if this were a "virtual" GTG outside of DPC, and then keep everything else there.
It's pretty close to what I'm planning. I was thinking of using "Tips & Tricks" instead of "Out and About", as the concept of the original idea has evolved into more specific topical training.
I'd suggest firing this up by having the mentors start group threads in the agreed-upon location on, say, Tuesday or Wednesday. I'd think, off the top of my head, that the interactions should take palce within the threads, rather than in e-mail, so the entire community may benefit. All canw atch the threads, of course, but it possibly would be a good idea to restrict the commenting within the threads to group members, lest they get unweildy.
I doubt there's coding in place to do that, so it would have to be an honor system.
I'd suggest firing this up by having the mentors start group threads in the agreed-upon location on, say, Tuesday or Wednesday. I'd think, off the top of my head, that the interactions should take palce within the threads, rather than in e-mail, so the entire community may benefit. All canw atch the threads, of course, but it possibly would be a good idea to restrict the commenting within the threads to group members, lest they get unweildy.
I doubt there's coding in place to do that, so it would have to be an honor system.
Robt.
I agree that communication should happen within the thread. This mentorship concept shouldn't be exclusionary. Others can "lurk" and benefit.
Maybe, but it's really more a closed-group "meeting" you're trying to mimic. If you put it in Tips&Tricks you'll have everybody participating all at once.
Why don't you consider this like a seminar or master class, and when it's over(?) one or two of you write up a summary, and post that n the Tips area ...
Maybe, but it's really more a closed-group "meeting" you're trying to mimic. If you put it in Tips&Tricks you'll have everybody participating all at once.
Why don't you consider this like a seminar or master class, and when it's over(?) one or two of you write up a summary, and post that n the Tips area ...
One problem with that is that in the beginning at least we ALL of us may be able to pick up tips on how to DO somethign like this by watching the other groups interact. And I suspect that the entire process will not be linear enough to really make a reasonable summary for later posting. I donno.
Ideally we'd have a new section of the site with the groups password-restricted (for posting purposes) to members of the group, but that obviously would have to come later. It seems tome sensible that we conduct our business as if that were the case, and just politely discourage others from posting if they stumble in unawares? A gentleman's agreement might work here?
By putting it in the GTG section, you at least create the impression of having a specified affinity group, but still have a thread which is readable by the entire membership.
If you put it in Tips immediately, it invites (and should by rights welcome) contributions from outside the original group.
I'll probably check out these threads, but I wouldn't post something in them unless I saw something really wrong or that might cost someone a DQ or something. I think most people checking out a GTG thread would do the same.
Have someone write an introductory post outlining the goals and ground rules for the thread and it should work fine.
By putting it in the GTG section, you at least create the impression of having a specified affinity group, but still have a thread which is readable by the entire membership.
If you put it in Tips immediately, it invites (and should by rights welcome) contributions from outside the original group.
I'll probably check out these threads, but I wouldn't post something in them unless I saw something really wrong or that might cost someone a DQ or something. I think most people checking out a GTG thread would do the same.
Have someone write an introductory post outlining the goals and ground rules for the thread and it should work fine.
Sounds pretty smart, GeneralE. I'll gen up some starter rules, and post the initial post in GTG for each group (with a set of the rules) by tomorrow.
I'm dropping out. I feel recent threads have severely degraded my reputation as someone who could be thought of as a 'mentor.' Sorry for wasting your time.
I'm dropping out. I feel recent threads have severely degraded my reputation as someone who could be thought of as a 'mentor.' Sorry for wasting your time.
Really sorry to hear that, and I've no idea about your "reputation", only your skill as a photographer. If you reconsider, please let me know! In the meantime, is someone else willing to take deapee's spot as "basics/theory" mentor?
Deapee, your posts in political threads have no bearing on your skills as a photographer and should not be a reason for you to drop out. Your portfolio makes it clear you have much to offer.
I'm probably WAY too late to join in but if your groups are still not fixed and Sher happens to be moved over to mentor a black and white group I'd be keen (actually, desperate) to join.
I started off in black and white when I first got into photography when I was 11 or 12 - a bunch of us set up a darkroom at school, making it up as we went along. I still love it though I don't do enough of it.
I have been hesitating about stepping forward as I'm not good at responding in short time scales (such as the one week challenges integral to DPC) but I figured that I couldn't lose anything by trying it.
I don't have any skills at all to share as a mentor, as my DPC scores will show.
I'm enthusiastic about wildlife and travel images, they tend to get taken only on holiday, hence stepping forward as a student for black and white, my next interest after wildlife and photography.
As 1/6 of the student population of the Basics / Theory group, I would humbly beg our mentor to come back so we can get started! Deapee, I don't know you at all except for through your portfolio. I'm honored to be in a Basics / Theory group mentored by you and Olyuzzi. We'll have a kick-ass group with not one, but two mentors. I know you have a lot to teach. So get back in the game! (pretty please)
puzzled, I second your opinion! Deapee is an awesome photographer, and I doubt anyone seriously interested in learning is going to let a difference in opinion let it hinder their learning.
Kavey, take a look at my profile to find out who is teaching what, and then feel free to PM me when you decide what you'd like to do.
Guys, I'm really sorry, but the more I think about it, the more I think I was never really qualified in the first place. I appreciate the fact that you think I'm good, but in reality, like I said, I don't think I'm qualified.
Since this is new for all of us, none of us knows how it will go, or whether it will work for each individual, so, I hope it's OK if I reserve the right to pull out if I'm unable to make it work for me but I'll do my best and I'm enthusiastic!
Here are the basic rules I’m thinking about posting. They would appear as the first post in the thread as guidelines for readers/responders.
Threads will go in “Out and About”, as suggested by GeneralE, and will probably be named something like "DPC Mentorship - B&W Photography", etc.
DPC Mentorship – Rules of the Road
Group: Mentor:
Students:
NON-MEMBERS PLEASE READ, TOO:
1. If you are not an active member of this mentorship group, please feel free to follow this thread. It is not intended to be exclusionary - we hope everyone can learn from it.
2. If you are not an active member of this mentorship group, please DO NOT post to this thread. If you feel you MUST say something, please PM the mentor or start your own thread.
3. Mentors are volunteers with jobs and/or families. They're human too, and may make mistakes on occasion. If you feel the burning need to criticize them, point out a mistake, or point out your own infinately greater knowledge in they subject they are teaching, please do so in a PM to the mentor, not in this thread.
