Arc, it probably doesn't really matter. What I believe does matter, is that folks read, think and then put out their reactions. It does surprise me that, in a publication such as this, people seem to be quite reluctant to express any view at all. It must be quite depressing to spend time writing, perhaps researching if needed, put stuff out here online, and not very much happens. It's this corrosive silence that, more than money, might see the end of this site. I’m not speaking here on behalf of anyone else, just putting out my thoughts on the matter.
It might make for interesting reading to run a survey of what draws people to this location today; in past decades there was the fact that digital photography was new and there was a brand new world to discover and to grow comfortable negotiating. That’s not really quite the case today because much more is known, even by neophytes, due to prior experience with cellphones and computers. On top of that, cellphones have replaced massive parts of the camera market. Are cellphone users that interested in photography, as against just snapping lunch or the baby? Who knows. I have made more photos with my cellphone in the past year than with a camera; I tend to forget I have one at all, and certainly don’t relish the thought of having to cart one around…
It was my early-days experience that there was a stronger sense of bonding; perhaps it might have been an older crowd - I have no idea of the stats - but I do remember a loose group of members that seemed to take part in almost everything. Some have suffered health issues that removed them from conversation, others may have passed on to that forum in the sky; I went awol two or three times out of frustration and my own slightly fading interest in photography. Well, perhaps not so much fading, but certainly less drivingly obsessive. Was a time I looked at all the various genre slots available here, even if they were not my thing. I no longer do that, so perhaps the interesting conversations actually do continue, but in places I no longer bother visiting.
I am stunned by how difficult it seems to be to find sites that hold attention, allow one to contribute, and from which much can be learned. With the entire English speaking world upon which to call, I haven’t even found a handful I want to spend time reading. One thing’s for sure: social media ain’t the answer for me. As for equipment review sites, those places where every new thing is the best, your old stuff suddenly incapable of letting you make pictures, keep them. Cynical mothers trying to get sponsorship money.
