Is this forum dying?

[plugsnpixels]

In any field there will eventually be repetition on the related forums (photo forums, guitar forums, whatever), and eventually newbies will become experienced users who don't need the old info any more, and fresh newbies will always come on board (which is encouraging)..

Out of all the forums I gathered as links for my own convenience, I tend to gravitate to this one 90% of the time. I've seen a few of our folks elsewhere, which is probably normal.

[bpurvis]

I hope the forum isn't dying. This is the first time I've been on in about a year though. I was on all the time for quite a while before that but just haven't been doing much photo editing lately. I've been putting my free time into gardening but now that it's getting so dang hot, I'm about ready to load the software I purchased and never installed and get back into the game. This is a great resource and there were some very nice people hanging around when I dropped off the radar. Hope they're still around.

[plugsnpixels]

The OP's question reminded me of a news or magazine article teaser, where the answer could well be "No" but the question makes people worry and read the story. Like, "Is this forum Communist" or whatever can get people going in the wrong direction. Right comrades?

[fenix]

But seriously, the question is not bad or wrong. I really doubt that the majority of people coming here has a need for help or even a question to ask, so what´s then left for them to enjoy? One contest a month or some photo to art section that seem to have become all about turning photos in to a painting.. (wrong hobby maybe?) and seriously, most Photoshoppers out there would find that too lame for to even bother with.

So..apart from this "amusement".. then what?

It is a page with a lot of very talented members and it has potential, but sure ..it seem to be dying alright.

[RobertAsh]

Originally Posted by plugsnpixels

Maybe RTP needs a Facebook version!

That would be a great idea! I'd certainly join.

Lyle might not like Facebook but many of the rest of us have already moved into the 21st century

Seriously, though, Facebook can be very useful if you take reasonable care. And even if there are people who don't like Facebook, Twitter, etc. there are many others who do. Reaching them would be an additional touch point for the social media aficionados. It would take some additional work for the moderators, however......

I hope the forum's not dying. I personally don't think it is. Lately there have been times where few new posts or comments on older posts happen, but other days there have been quite a few new ones. This 'is the forum dying' question has been raised in the NAPP forums as well, more than once in the past year or so. And on PBase.com for the past couple of years.... So it's not just RTP where people are asking.

For me, I visit the site almost daily though I don't post as much lately due to increased workload. But RetouchPro is the single most valuable retouching resource for me personally.

Maybe a new look would be cool, as suggested above.

[lkroll]

Your vision of the 21st century Robert; not mine.

[plugsnpixels]

It's already here in full force Lyle but one can choose not to participate, that's about it ;-).

[Doug Nelson]

Registration is holding at a steady monthly average, as are unregistered visitors. But new threads are down, so naturally posts are too. So the same number of people as always are joining and visiting, but fewer are actually participating.

My take is we've developed a reputation as more a problem-solving destination than an interesting/entertaining one.

So if you want something to do, start some threads and get visitors engaged again, check out the Challenges, or write a tutorial. Post a Doodle project, or a retouching detective puzzler.

Everyone wants more to do, but not many contribute things to do.

[CJ Swartz]

There are some retouching group pages on Facebook, but they are small. People can comment back and forth about a retouching job or question, but FB isn't really set up IMO for lengthy threads. Those interested strictly in photography have lots of places to participate including FBook, Google+, 500pix etc. etc. I'm a member of a Facebook Nature Photography group that includes members from around the world who can upload large versions of their images for people to truly enjoy - something that isn't available on a forum.

FBook is definitely the place for anyone who is running a photography or photo retouching business to have a presence - it is hard to imagine a serious business NOT having a FB account and page.

It seems to me that there are always a lot of new folks coming to this forum seeking ideas, tips, training resources, and help with specific problems. I don't know whether forums will evolve into something else, but Doug's suggestion about adding something to involve the new folks is worth considering. Tastes have also changed during the life of this forum, I believe, and perhaps some of the younger senior members can think of things that might appeal to the young newbies.

[LauraF8]

I just found you, signed up, looking for some work. I would have to say that the front end of the site is not conducive to communication. All the print is small and it just is not very inviting. Don't meant to step on anyone's toes.