Site News

[Siegfried]

Hello Folks

Yes its time again to sit back and look at our meeting place. Before continuing...please be assured I have no plans to close the site or to change it into something radically different.

Guys I like to gradually grow the site again. The look and feel will evolve and I already have a sort of template ready. The template is completely empty and now needs to be filled. For example a well known member will start his own column plus a few other interesting changes will be included to the new look.

What I like from you guys are ideas please. What would you like to see, what do you like and what not. How can we better the forum, should the forum structure be more basic?

Please take a bit of time to discuss, think and explore new ideas. If anybody is interested in re-designing the forum structure then please let me know. If you like to work with me in a team on the new site, then please let me know and I will create regular net meetings so we can talk about it....

Please log in....raise your hand and lets discuss.

I also like to make a special invitation to old friends like Herman and Pius to join us again and to discuss.

Best

Siegfried

[Siegfried]

Thinking back to the days when the site started with the G7 I cannot help thinking how well that worked in terms of getting visitors. I do not want to do only one product again but do want to use that principle to re-build the site to a larger audience again.

One of the thoughts I entertained a lot recently was to address the more senior photographer. This is a interesting group of photographers and often left out by the younger generation.....you either get flamed by a youngster in a forum or the advice given does not meet your expectation. Here one can build that special welcome that will attracted the right audience....

I think its a good idea to have a mix of cameras on the site. Personally I cannot talk about them all....its just too much. Not to offend people I then also do not talk about my E3 much for example. I like to do that more in the future....

Then finally, I like to continue talking about Photoshop on the site, I find that of real value to the target group. Recently I have been toying with a few simple techniques to better and shorter plus more open and friendly show and discuss techniques or the why of doing things a specific way....

Any feedback or ideas?

Siegfried

[Siegfried]

For those of you who like to contact me, you welcome to send me a mail at

photographyisfun@bluewin.ch

I have been discovering some really interesting things. For example, Adobe has a free service that enables up to three people to do a conference with various services included. That will be a interesting tool we can use when discussing or when giving comment on the new beta site.....

To get access to the "non public" beta site when it goes live you will have to register with me, Send me a mail to the above address and I will add you to the list.

I have been putting a lot of thought into what the target group for the site will be in the future. The site will target the +40 part of the photographic community. The site will be of value to both the starter plus the experience photographers. As said before, the site will not be a one camera or brand site. It will be similar than today in terms of product with a few special aspects included.....

The above is a very brought statement and will have to be refined....

Another interesting aspect I am working on is the the colors the new site will have. The changes will not be drastic but will have a more "web tested" color pallet.

Then last for today....I discovered a different forum service with really interesting elements. That I will discuss and test with a beta group of members while developing the new site.

Guys I look forward to the new site....

Siegfried







Best

Siegfried

[vonaves]

Siegfried!
I'm looking forward to the "new" site and I think that the discuss about PS and Elements could be interesting.I'm going to buy elements 8 when it is out in november here and then one could use some help...
Erik

[swandy]

Siegfried - while we all I am sure enjoy our time visiting with each other here, there is always room for improvement in content - especially if it will attract other like-minded photogs.
While not as into "photoshopping" as I was when I first became facinated with the program (back around PS2 or so), and I ended up taking a few courses to learn more, I still find discussions about the program interesting. (Probably because I never had any extended dark room experience.)
Steve

[Siegfried]

Hello Erik, Steve.

Thanks for your feedback. Erik I tried PSE 8 and were really impressed by it. Version 7 took up a lot of resources. Version 8 seems to be less aggresive on memory and system resources.

Version 8 also hase a number of improvements or refinements on the workflow when compared to Version 7. Will I upgrade? Not now, I will wait for V9 most probably. Somebody with PSE6 will see a number of benefits in 8.

Steve the photoshop discussions I like to develop is more day to day stuf with a easy to discuss format. LR2 will also form part of that.

It will take a while to get the first beta out and on the air. For the time being, please tell me when you see a great format or a photo site you think I should have a look at....

Best

Siegfried

[Tom]

Waiting to see your new site. You always comes up with something good.

I have also built some sites last time. The last one was for our camera shop online. Built in php and mysql.

Please if you want any advice on the new site. Send me a message.

[Siegfried]

Hello Guys

Tom, thanks for your post and your offer to help. I use NetObjects 11 from Fusion to do the site. Its a CSS based package. It supports many different formats plus the user can go deep if needed. Great package for somebody who wants a easy or good start plus who wants to go a few steps deeper than the typical template web packages....

I have a number of what I think unique ideas plus I cannot wait to get it going asap. The existing sitecame to its end and its not possible to update it further. I therefore most probably will have a change over site for a while which will grow into the real thing over a period of one month....

I was hold up for nearly three weeks fighting a trojan and a virus or two in my home network plus pc's. I am on the green side again and look forward starting working on the new stuff....

I also changed all my mail addresses in a attempt to completely stop the regular stream of stam.... I will make a mail known soon people can use to discuss the new site....

Those of you who recently mailed me pictures or just a mail. Pls accept my apologies for not getting back to you. I lost a lot of data in the process....

All the best

Siegfried

[vonaves]

Hello everyone!
Maybe this is not the forum for this mail but anyway.I found this site on the net and I found it quite interesting so I will send it to you even if you all know it since long ago..
Erik
http://www.zone-10.com

[Siegfried]

Hello Erik

Really interesting site, thanks.

Siegfried

[P-J]

Best birthday wishes to Simon and JiiHaa. Congratulations!

Phil

[Siegfried]

Hello Simon, from me too....hope you have a great birthday and many more.

Siegfried

[Simon.fairclough]

Thanks guys feeling older but not wiser.
Had a great day yesterday dinner with friends drinks etc much fun.
Cheers from
Mr 50