The photography forum is becoming full of some lovely photos but it has been pointed out to me that these should be in a 'photo sharing' forum and not in 'Photography' because photography is really a technical forum. Is it possible for there to be a new forum for sharing our happy snaps so we don't invade an area reserved for the more serious aspects of the subject?

This has been something I've been thinking a bit about recently as well (and have been contacted about). We need a place for people to share their photos, but I'd also like to encourage the technical discussions that the Photography forum was originally intended for.

My initial thought was, as Lola has suggested, to split the Photography forum into "Photo Sharing" and "Photography Techniques" (to make it really clear what the intention of the forum is).

It's also been suggested to me that the photography section may benefit from a mod or two to keep it on track (and ensure that photos off the Internet are not posted, as this has happened a few times recently where I've seen people post photos without even providing a link or commenting that they weren't their own until questions were asked about them). I don't mind photos from the Internet being posted if (1) they are properly cited and (2) if the member is asking for advice on how to take a similar photo, etc. but just copying them from other sites is not on (both from an ethics/copyright violation perspective and it also is not the purpose for this site or the photography forum).

As Dave and Jon are quite busy of late, I would like to go to them with a clear plan and perhaps some potential volunteers for mods for the photography forum(s).

So to all those members who would like to see individual forums for the technical discussion and photo sharing, please add your voices to this thread.

I should also add that if anyone wishes to put up their hand as a possible mod (if these changes go ahead, I'd like to see several mods to share across the two forums), please treemail me and give me a brief rundown on why you think you'd be a good mod. I don't want people to get offended if they are/aren't chosen, so I think keeping it to private correspondence is the best way.

Perhaps this thread can also be posted on the photography forum for wider exposure to those it will have an impact on?

I also think Photography should be technical talk only. Garden photos, Share your photos is already a place to post pictures in general.

The thread "Share Your Photos" in Garden Photos forum

Joshua - help us all out here. There does not seem to be a moderator for the Photography section. Can you step in and/or get help? Many threads need to be moved.

@gasrocks - Hi Gene, you're right that there isn't a mod for the Photography section. I am hoping that this will change in the near future.

The Garden Photos forum isn't quite suitable for all the recent photo threads - many of them are not gardens.

Perhaps the Garden Photos forum should be expanded slightly to include the landscape and other photo threads (any suggestions for a better name?) and then the technical threads can remain in the "Photography Techniques" forum.

Thoughts?

You are correct we have to many threads of share your pix that are not related to gardens. I wonder how Dave feels about that. My guess is that he might be against it. I say that Garden Photos should stick to gardens and such. If we are to have a just share your pix of anything section, I think a separate forum might be best. It does seem that people are looking for a place to show off their pix. Gene

Agreed. I am now mulling over the idea of three forums in their own Photography section (if you look under the Community Menu -> Forums, you'll see they're grouped into sections):

- Garden Photos (the existing one)
- Non-Garden Photos (new forum for sharing photos other than gardening; i.e. landscapes)
- Photography Techniques (the technical discussions from the existing Photography forum)

This would also allow for an overhaul and fresh set of instructions for each of the forums explaining what they are for, with links to each of the other forums to help members select the right one.

Ideally there would be several mods who are on all three forums and so can move threads around as needed.

I have yet to raise this with Dave and Jon, so I don't know what they think about the non-garden photos. I'm still of the opinion that having a dedicated place for them would be a good idea (even if only to avoid filling up the forum that was supposed to be for technical discussion), as members clearly want to share photos they've taken of landscapes, etc.

Remind me again, what's wrong with using the Sandbox Forum? It already exists and accommodates any and every thread that doesn't fit elsewhere. I started one just to share some pics that were not gardening related. It seemed to work just fine.

One factor might be not just providing a place for people to post pix but also one that other people will find. Sandbox might not work in that respect.

The other advantage to have a dedicated forum for non-garden photos is having a mod or moderators shared across the photography forums that could shuffle threads around as needed. The Sandbox is a different kettle of fish in that respect.

Agreed.

When I have mentioned the idea of staying on topic in a particular forum to other members, I am usually met with: If you don't like it just ignore it. Clutter is not a good thing.

gasrocks said:I also think Photography should be technical talk only. Garden photos, Share your photos is already a place to post pictures in general.

The thread "Share Your Photos" in Garden Photos forum

You've been quite vocal about that, Gasrocks. I understand that, as a photographer, you'd like to keep the photography forum as it was intended. However, it's been pretty obvious that people want a forum to share and talk about all kinds of photos they love and are proud of which are not "garden photos" so the "Garden photos, Share your photos" you keep suggesting is definitely not the right place for that. How does a photo of a waterfall in Russia fit in a "garden photo" forum? You tell me.

A Photography Techincal Talk forum and a General Photography forum is what I think would keep everybody happy.

Gene- we are not ready at this time to move threads, or take any action.

Thank you.

Australis said:- Non-Garden Photos (new forum for sharing photos other than gardening; i.e. landscapes)

Please consider "General Photography" instead of Non-Garden Photos as the latter is rather non-inclusive. We need a forum where people can post photos of any subject, including the ones that currently land on the "Landscape photo" section, which may be garden related but do not meet the landscape photo section criteria.

"General Photography" is a universally understood term, I would think.

Thank you.

_Bleu_ said:

Please consider "General Photography" instead of Non-Garden Photos as the latter is rather non-inclusive. We need a forum where people can post photos of any subject, including the ones that currently land on the "Landscape photo" section, which may be garden related but do not meet the landscape photo section criteria.

"General Photography" is a universally understood term, I would think.

Thank you.

This is a gardening website- focused on gardening.
There are other forums and places on the internet for non-gardening photos

Trish has a good point. Some advice on how to take better pix of gardens, what camera to buy and such is a good idea though. I will be quiet now. Gene

Seems like a problem that's already been solved:

"This forum is dedicated to the technical discussion of photography as it relates to gardening. It is not a gallery of photos but rather a place for helping each other become better photographers."

In other words, if I go over to a friend's house and he asks me not to kick his dog, I don't reply with, "but I NEED a place to go and kick dogs"...and then proceed to kick his dog.

We're guests here. Let's do as our hosts ask.