Lula has always been my main source for printing info. I owe Michael and Jeff for their wonderful camera to print videos.
The art info here- not so much. There are other sources that are more relevant for that conversation.
And there the rub.
Tech goes so far, but doesn't feed the hungry soul.
For myself, I have all the tech
I need today - precious little - and my interest in photography is 100% the images. Yesterday I did something I'd never done before: I joined a picture website (free) that I had wanted to join for some time, but had refused so to do because of its insistence on asking my age on the application chit. Finally, I did inject a number, but told a huge fib! I expect that means I'll be offered all sorts of age-specific advertising material I don't need, but hey, the access to pictures has already proved amazing!
Of course, the pictures I now see on the new (to me) site are not by the membership of said site, but are the work of many stars of the photographic firmament. Suits me perfectly.
And that's where LuLa falls down: perhaps not the fault of the ownership at all, but of some of the members who have done anything but encourage some of the really good professionals who once were prolific posters here. What became of some of the architectural shooters, of the car maestro and of our long tall Texan himself? I used to love seeing their work on the monitor, but instead, we have actually drifted into having a dedicated thread for bloody cats! I never believed it could happen here.
In the end, I think a site for photography depends on the photographs. It's what drew most of us into photography, and when that fails to be on offer, interest withers. That was one of our late founder's gifts: he was not only very good at landscape, not everybody's cuppa, but no mean hand at reportage, either; he had a wonderful visual eye now absent. It's silly (and pointless) to blame anyone else for not being Michael, but in any final analysis, the departure of one CEO leads to inevitable change, which is what every organization both fears and uses - depending on its circumstances.
Having said all of which, it's just one opinion that finds itself aligned with a couple more that gave rise to this particular, and awkward, thread. One has to realise that the world is not filled with a zillion kindred spirits, and the new direction may well suit more punters than it alienates. It all comes down to the same common factor facing all business: the bottom line has to rule unless we are talking about a labour-of-love venture. For that to work, one needs freedom from having to earn a living.
I only have it now, late in retirement and with a lot of unpleasant truths accepted, large amongst them the voice and a single proclamation of a certain Andy Warhol.
Rob