Status of this Web site

[Sal Santamaura]

A bit more than three years ago, in a thread on the US large format photography forum, I defended this site against criticism that it was, essentially, "dead." At that time, while activity here was low, there was still ongoing posting of both new threads and responses to existing ones.

Within the last year, things seem to have actually "died" here. I'm most curious about that. Have members ceased to engage in large format photography and migrated to digital? Have they moved to other Internet forums? A combination of the two? Or have they given up photography completely?

An additional question relates to the continued existence of this Web site. Who has been funding it? And, given the almost total lack of participation, why are they funding it?

I encourage everyone involved to post in this thread, sharing their perspectives on how things declined as well as what future direction the UKLFPG ought take. Thanks in advance for your responses.

[BarryWilkinson]

Hi Sal,

It is sad that this site seems to have 'died'. I am an Administrator on another analogue forum but I regularly look in here in the hope of finding something interesting to read. I have always considered there was enough interest to maintain many forums due to the varied interests in photography. Unfortunately the occasional 'spats' that occur on forums drive people away. Marc seems to be maintaining the domain so I hope the forum can pick itself up and forget past issues.

A lot of people now post on Facebook which is OK for instant viewing but to my mind does not have the ease of a traditional forum to maintain a useful technical reference.

What do others think? In the meantime please come back and post.

Barry

[Sal Santamaura]

...Marc seems to be maintaining the domain...

Thanks for replying, Barry. If you're referring to "masch," I hope he'll provide an explanatory post in this thread. It would be nice to know why things have gone the way they did as well as how he might be able to revitalize the forum.

[BarryWilkinson]

... If you're referring to "masch," ...

You are correct, I think I met him once in Scarborough? Perhaps it may be worth sending him a PM?

Barry

[Sal Santamaura]

...Perhaps it may be worth sending him a PM?...

Thanks, Barry. As they say in the For Sale category in the US LFF, PM sent.

[Matt_Bigwood]

I keep checking on the site from time to time, but very little activity now.

I still have a 5x4 camera, but decreasing amount of free time and increasing cost of film and chemicals means I haven't used it in over a year.

[BarryWilkinson]

I keep checking on the site from time to time, but very little activity now.

I still have a 5x4 camera, but decreasing amount of free time and increasing cost of film and chemicals means I haven't used it in over a year.

Hi Matt,

I hope your enthusiasm returns when you have more time. I have just built a new darkroom and I'm looking forward to getting back in there

Regards

Barry

[Sal Santamaura]

...Perhaps it may be worth sending him a PM?...

Thanks, Barry. As they say in the For Sale category in the US LFF, PM sent.

Perhaps my post was premature. Two days later, the PM to "masch" still hasn't moved from "Outbox" to "Sent."

[BarryWilkinson]

Hi Sal,

PM's on this site sit there until the recipient logs on. Maybe Masch is only an occasional visitor

[Emmanuel Bigler]

Hello from France!

A (tentative) new member from the UK wishes to register here, and has been waiting for approval by moderators for 14 days.

How can he contact the UK LF forums moderators?

He has posted a message on the US LF forum here
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/ ... till-Alive

[BarryWilkinson]

It may be worth a PM to all moderators as some are no longer active/interested in this site?

memberlist.php?mode=leaders

[DJ]

Sal,

In response to your enquires, yes, the forum does seem to have somewhat "died", and the cause was largely one rotten apple spoiling the barrel.

A certain member who was openly and relentlessly critical of everything about this forum, (one might say suspicously so), including repeated personal attacks on one of the admins, more or less ruined it for everyone who was contributing the effort to keep things running. Ultimately I suspect they all reached the point of "why am I bothering", and so if that individual's intent was to sabotage this forum, he succeeded admirably.

DJ

[BarryWilkinson]

Thanks for your reply DJ, I would post more regularly but I am concerned that the forum and domain will be maintained. Can you advise here?

Thanks

Barry

[DJ]

Barry,

Marc is still renewing the domain name, and I'm still hosting the site...

I've recently moved it to a newer and faster server. I'm happy to continue hosting it for a while. Feel free to post, and if we can find some suitable people to do "maintenance" then that might help.

DJ

[BarryWilkinson]

Thanks for the update DJ, that is great news. I hope you find the necessary expertise to help maintain the site and register new members.

Regards

Barry