APUG ?

[Sean]

As discussed in the previous migration threads. it wasn't an easy decision, and the reality was no decision would please everyone. The final decision came down to my best possible prediction of future outcomes, based on the data I had available over the last decade of site stats and subscription levels. My fear was a niche site entering into a continuous downward trend and a userbase that dwindled to a very small handful AND no funding model. Regarding funding, had only 10-15% of active APUG members contributed the $2 a month subscription fees, I doubt we would have needed to alter things. Keep in mind, many small forums are struggling, trying to compete with social media platforms (social, chat, image) is challenging if not depressing. Has our pivot to a more encompassing venue been a success? We may not know for a few years. From a systems admin standpoint definitely, financially we're the same or just slightly better, however, the real work on building the new areas hasn't begun yet. This was initially about survival and getting a framework in place to carry the community into the future. Ideally, I would hire some staff, throw 250k at marketing and we'd be on our way, but keeping the lights on is hard enough. I am caught up in moving house right now but have plans after this (mid-Dec.) to begin more work on growing the site. For example, I know some other owners running managed social media giveaways that have a reach of 25-50k photographers per contest. Instead of letting social media kill us, we can leverage it to boost our visibility and draw in new members. Ideas for giveaways include fine prints, unique analog equipment or materials, digital equipment and materials, etc. I'd like to run two promotions per month, 1 analog focused and one digital-focused. I'm already reaching out to several manufacturers and will think about contacting some photographers as well.

Sean

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... the pure analog way is seen by quite some other members as a niche here, even in an analog thread. But as others have pointed at here, that is the way things evolve and I have to accept this.

Don't feel bad: making a photograph today with any "real" camera, digital or analog, is a niche. The dominant image-making device today is the cellphone camera.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... Regarding funding, had only 10-15% of active APUG members contributed the $2 a month subscription fees, I doubt we would have needed to alter things. ...

Astonishing.

 

[Truzi]

Many of us were probably more attached to the APUG moniker than against allowing different things in designated sections.
In the past Sean stated he wants to increase the digital crowd, especially for the survival of the site. Having the ability to focus on areas of interest will be useful if that comes to fruition.

I think it is nice that Sean has allowed people to pick what they are interested in viewing. Actually, this ability might be considered a competitive advantage.
I do not think it is nice that some people feel the need to belittle others' choice to view only things they are interested in.

It's doubtful that potential members in general will avoid this place because of the backbiting. It's more likely the "new blood" who enjoy that kind of drama will not be deterred, while those who seek a peaceful co-existence will remain in the shadows.

 

[Eric Rose]

Eric, people are not attacked for sharing digital knowledge and techniques, rather for pontificating that film is dead and anti-analog blather.

I have NEVER said film is dead nor have said anything anti-analog. These days I shoot way more film than digital. So I don't understand where you are coming from.

 

[NedL]

OK well anyway, Kevin ( OP ), I hope you stick around. Lots of us would like to know what interesting things you are working on, would enjoy discussing it, and you've worked on neat things in the past. Cheers!

 

[MattKing]

I, for one, would be happier if this site's history as APUG was more celebrated.
I like the expanded scope - particularly with respect to those who mix analogue and digital techniques to create traditional results.
I think people who wish to remain totally within an analogue environment should be enabled.
Just as I think people who want to expand their horizons should be enabled.
If a thread is clearly purely "analogue" and is started in an "analogue" part of the site, people should both respect that and feel welcome to start their own thread in another sub-forum.
And if a thread isn't so easy to classify as purely "analogue", people shouldn't complain if it wanders.

 

[AgX]

Analog is a niche in photography, but is anything but a niche here. The overwhelming number of threads are analog. Each day there are 60-80 threads with new posts, and only a couple are hybrid or digital.

I realize that as well,
But I was talking about the fact that in some analog threads, for instance on reversal films, meanwhile the complete analogue way is depicted as a niche or even obsolete.

 

[faberryman]

I realize that as well,
But I was talking about the fact that in some analog threads, for instance on reversal films, meanwhile the complete analogue way is depicted as a niche or even obsolete.

Film is a niche. It is a fact. I have been around here for a couple of years and no one has said film is obsolete. You are being overly sensitive.

 

[AgX]

Please read what I said. I did not say that at Photrio film is depicted as obsolete, but that at some analogue threads doing the complete analogue cycle, thus from talking to showing, is depicted as obsolete and instead film is seen as first stage only in a hybrid process.

 

[removed account4]

it is unfortunate that the harshness we all thought passed like a kidney stone a few years ago has come back ...
since we are all homesick for ye olden days maybe we can send an "eBlast" to some of trolles who used to rattle cages
sean can you re-install the soda slugging, popcorn munchin' emoji ?!

 

[AgX]

This is not about harshness. Or Apug police. I always found it weird in the past that there was upheaval at the pure using of the word "digital". And these days I even adviced us analog-only users to enable at the preference settings "analog" threads in order not to miss something.
My point however is the change of attitude. With hybrid gaining more ground to an extent that sometimes all-analog is in the minority.
But as I also said, that is how things develop and I am not intending to stop that. But it is irritating.

 

[faberryman]

My point however is the change of attitude. With hybrid gaining more ground to an extent that sometimes all-analog is in the minority.

How can analog be in the minority when 98% of the threads around here are analog?

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Just read what you are interested in.

And don't think that because you do something in a certain way, yours is the only way.

Pretty simple.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Just read what you are interested in.

And don't think that because you do something in a certain way, yours is the only way.

Pretty simple.

I think this sums up Photography in General, we all have our ways of doing things and appreciating.

 

[macfred]

Just read what you are interested in...

Exactly what I'm doing - I don't care about 'pure' analog, analog or hybrid as long as it is film-based photography.

 

[AgX]

Just read what you are interested in.

And don't think that because you do something in a certain way, yours is the only way.

Pretty simple.

I only read what I am interested in. But as I stated repeatedly others think their way is the only way.

 

[Bob Carnie]

I only read what I am interested in. But as I stated repeatedly others think their way is the only way.

then that would be their limitations and not ours??

 

[faberryman]

I only read what I am interested in. But as I stated repeatedly others think their way is the only way.

I haven't seen much of it around here. Or are you just complaining in general?

 

[removed account4]

Pretty simple.

it is !
but sometimes the simplest things are the most difficult

 

[Tom Duffy]

As someone who has come back after a long absence, I was really glad to find that APUG still exists. I had a blast going back to the old gallery pictures and remembering some of the original posts from the formative years. My thanks to Sean for keeping the "historical record" of the endeavor intact and accessible.

 

[kwmullet]

I just returned after a looooong hiatus, and welcome the unified structure. Anything reasonable that helps make it a more easily sustainable project for Sean is ok by me.

My one disappointment is that I used to order to read apug in the Tapatalk app. Is there an app interface to read PhotoTrio in on mobile platforms?

 

[Drew B.]

Of course the whining by film users continues unabated, so that aspect of the site hasn't changed either. Same old, same old.

Let the battle begin...

 

[kwmullet]

I just returned after a looooong hiatus, and welcome the unified structure. Anything reasonable that helps make it a more easily sustainable project for Sean is ok by me.

My one disappointment is that I used to order to read apug in the Tapatalk app. Is there an app interface to read PhotoTrio in on mobile platforms?

Shortly after I posted, I found another thread to the effect that (a) Tapatalk had gotten a rep for harvesting user data and using it for nefarious purposes (so I deleted it) and (b) there was an effort to develop a dedicated app, but it seems to have gotten stalled.

So yeah, all questions answered. I'm just posting this here for any other expatriot apuggers who might find themselves at the end of this thread.

-KwM-

 

[CropDusterMan]

I see little if any difference. I select all three options of Analog, digital and both...pick and choose what you want to read or comment on.
Did someone above mention "rumors of a Kodachrome revival" ? That was funny.