Although this group has a thriving membership it is obvious that only a few contribute and visit often. The goal of the group has always been to create a community where we all inspire and help each other and where all are respected, no matter where they stand in their journey or skill level.
I would love to understand how people use the group and how we might become more engaging. For those that do not contribute I'd love to know what value you find in the group (inspiration, understanding what others are doing). If reluctant to respond to the group please feel free to DM me.
For those that do contribute (and perhaps may have scaled back) I'd like suggestions on how we can make the group better for all - how can we make it more engaging, encourage a greater sense of belonging and involvement.
Suggestions don't have to be restricted to photo uploads, they can be suggestions on any related topic that may be of interest to the group, discussions on other artists, news of exhibitions etc - you get the point.
So get your thinking caps on and let's get re-engaged.
BTW - banner Friday is tomorrow, so I'll be looking for your offerings.
Sorry I haven't been posting or engaging much these days; the past few months have been overwhelmingly difficult. New roof, multiple house floods, personal injury/recovery; minimal photography to say the least. I'm just now starting to get back out for Mushroom season and my new 105 z Macro. I also just ordered a bunch of stuff to try Cyanotype for the first time using my photography. Should be interesting and help me rengage.
Sorry to hear of your problems Joe - even with the lack of time it's great to see you are able to give your 'thumbs up' on comments.
Can't wait to see you Cyanotypes.
Just did my first one this morning; it's pig-ugly, but it is the very first one; got to start somewhere. :)
Looking very 19th century, Joe. Feel like getting out my top hat!
Haha yeah it def sets the mood; it is fun as well :)
I've gotten back into sports season , so very little of my photography falls into the framework of the community as of late. I do still come to look at what others are posting.
Wow! A big THANK YOU for the invitation to engage. I've just become involved in groups like this. Can you explain how to engage or share a link to where you have this posted. Looking forward to learning from everyone!
H Jennifer - great to see that you're onboard. You can comment on any discussion, and of course we encourage all to start their own. We are a group of like-minded enthusiasts and treat all with respect - ego is not a word we relate to here...
On Friday's I try to update the banner with an appropriate image that fits the (restrictive) format and theme for the month - see the pinned post for details.
Let me know if you have any questions, we look forward tp you engaging with the group.
Hello all. I’m new to Fstoppers and first time posting a comment. Apart from commercial work, all my personal work (examples at the bottom of my Fstoppers profile portfolio which are fitting for this group) is largely based on compositions just waiting for me to discover, be it abstract, minimalism or even complex scenes.
What I’m looking for is to connect with others who photograph intuitively. It’s far easier to capture beautiful images and much harder to capture interesting images, especially without post process.
I would enjoy the opportunities to share and connect with others on how we experiment, chance, and overcome all that nonsense the industry compels us to follow and inhabit. Great work comes from taking uncharted routes with your camera and this group is a good example of that.
Hi Kelly, thanks for posting and welcome to the group. I think you’ll find members very like-minded and accepting.
The goal of the group is to help each other through our explorations and create a safe environment where can all grow.
I’m looking forward to seeing your work and engagement in discussions.
Your question takes me back to the origins of this Group, Alan. It struck me that the site as a whole echoes commercial photography and things like Instagram, with bright or saturated colours, "awesome" scenery, exotic locations (Iceland, anyone? So last-week now...) - basically instant appeal, wow-factor, images that "pop". Which is what balloons do, before they flop.
How many great photographs of enduring appeal from all the years of this medium meet the above criteria? Very few. Ernst Haas could make a great image out of a squashed drink can on the ground - a bit like Andrew Williams here, or our new friend Kelly McKeon. David Huguet posted unusual images on FS, often with minimal, off-centre content that interested me. Ruth Carll made paintings purely to make photographs out of them, and made beautiful abstract images using ink dropped into water. This all appealed to me and was much more interesting than epic Patagonia yet again. After a few exchanges, Ruth bit the bullet, launched the Group and became the moderator initially for those who don't know. Alan has kept that flame alive more than anyone, for which I am very grateful.
I'm not so great an innovator myself, but I find the creative process interesting as a phenomenon - how the hell do we do this? So I find others stretching themselves, especially if they have the nerve to post their experiments here, and explain what they were thinking, fascinating and inspiring.
I'm still not interested in doing ICM myself, but I find Alan's and others' experiments with this and other unusual techniques inspiring. Creativity begets creativity. I can be inspired by paintings to make better photographs - which look nothing like the paintings. I came home from a Santana concert in their heyday, and composed a new melody at midnight - nothing like Santana.
I am enthused by others' enthusiasm, like the initially newbies who I then see getting better and better - Bobby Wood, Chloe Kramer, Skyler Ewing come to mind.
More musings than suggestions, I'm sorry, Alan.
That's great feedback Chris, and as always I appreciate your voice.
It is wonderful to hear how members use the community.
Your point is well-taken a post may inspire others even in the absence of feedback. This was I believe one of Ruth's founding goals, that we all inspire and help one another.
While I don't agree with Chris Jablonski's analogy for FStoppers or lumping Skyler with other photogs involuntarily, I do appreciate his comments about your ICM and exploration.
I think that if you are to grow this group, you will have to look beyond the current community. However, doing so, essentially does the founders' work for them which is not fair to you. The question comes down to working with what you have or finding a new channel through which to expand your vision.
Hey Robert, I am surmising Chris's expression of Skyler being a 'newbie' refers to her as being a more recent member of the community and not in reference to her newness to the art.
I'm just starting to be active here at fstoppers as I contemplate a gear upgrade. I haven't really considered what minimalism might mean in photographic context, and am interested in learning more.
I do have some ideas involving differently colored gelled strobes from different angles on reflective subjects. Would this count as experimental?
Surely! Let's see what you come up with. Sounds interesting, Mark.
As a group we are pretty flexible about terminology - what may be experimental to you may be mainstream to another, and of course there's always the gray area around minimalism.
The goal of the group is to encourage each other to grow, to inspire, and not be afraid of the inevitable failures (this is how we learn...).
Looking forward to seeing your creations Mark!