Hi Everybody, HAPPY JUNE!!
June first today , and all is well..... I was concerned with the Forum in May, everything seemed a bit sluggish, but after reviewing the stats, we chalked up another SUPER RECORD MONTH!! ONE OF OUR BEST!!
Average Posts per Day---------- UP!!!
In our 13 Month History since forming, This Past MAY was our BEST Month Yet for Posts!!!! 9434 New Posts!!!! and our Third Best for NEW TOPICS !!!
***************** CONGRATS TO ALL, and I THANK ALL *********************
We also turned in a Tie, for our Second Best Month for New Members 75 !!! April our First Month 08"--> 75 Jan. 09"-->81 MAY--> 75 !!
Just Super Everyone....!!
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Now Speaking of NEW MEMBERS....
I'm Speechless on this one... Although we have Great Numbers on New Members, How many of those are Participating
Yep, you guessed it, just a Handful ....
I just can't understand why People take the time to look around, like what they see enough to join, but only a handful will Participate...
PLEASE Don't just sit back and Lurk, jump in, Post your Work , and also Comment on other Members Work... I think this Forum is one of the Finest for Constructive Feedback you will find.. We are Not a Candy Land, and not all Reviews will reflect Positives, but All reviews are honest Opinions, and presented in a Respectful Manor.... We believe Honest Feedback helps each of us as a Photographer to Grow in our Hobby, or Craft... YOU WON'T RECEIVE the constant Atta Boys/ Atta Girls Here, that you can find on Most Forums that allow Photo Posts, that is just PLAINSVILLE, and does Nothing for you to Improve, it just leaves you in a possible false Comfort Zone.... We Will, and Do Acknowledge nice work, and are not afraid to pass along the Positives, its not all about negative...
If you are going to take the Time to look around and Join, PLEASE PARTICIPATE.....
If anyone has ideas on How to get these NEW MEMBERS Involved, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT..
and if you are a Guest, or New Member Reading this, perhaps you could Enlighten me??? What is SPOOKING YOU
JUST JUMP IN AND GIVE IT A TRY.... and I PROMISE , THAT YOU WILL SEE IMPROVEMENT WITH EACH PHOTO POST
Don't be Timid, Don't be Intimidated, BE A PLAYER, PERFORM, and get some reviews!!!!!
or Question yourself, WHY DID I BOTHER TO SIGN UP ??------->
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HOUSE CLEANING.......
You may have noticed some subtle changes here and there in the Forum, nothing we consider Drastic.... The Moderators, and myself have been banging heads the last several weeks, trying to organize, and add input to our goals , and direction of the forum...
We have added to the descriptions in some of the rooms, hoping to give further possible ideas for shots to think about,,, Example Architecture, we included or suggested, Urban Design , or Decay..... Construction.... Industrial Facilities .... Show us something going up, Something coming down, Factories etc.... We don't always need a complete Building, show us some Design, some Decay, Windows , Pillars, Arches, Interiors....... Get Creative!
We added, FASHION and GLAMOUR to Portraits.... A very Popular Genre, and we hope to attract some of these Shooters in the Future, and stir an interest with our members.... Joe our Moderator , has Roots in this Style , and will be happy to pass along Lighting Suggestions and Critique... Check out a few of the Fashion type shots that have been posted recently...
DUSK TO DAWN , that many of you expressed you would like to see , can be Found in our Landscape Room.... and already seeing a lot of Sunrise/Sunset/ and Evening Photography going Up !!!! Jackel has joined with Rick in this Room to help out on these Evening Shots, lets keep them busy!!!
A Re Birth of Transportation.... some of you through PMs ask for this, and since we did our House Cleaning, we had Room on the Menu, so Why Not?? This will be a great place to share those Summer Car and Bike Show Shots!! and in the Description, we suggested other themes ..
Transportation / Mechanical and Machinery Photography.
Trains / Boats / Planes / Automobiles / Construction Equip. / Engines and Mechanical Apparatus.
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Just a Thought... PHOTOJOURNALISM is not Dead here at NEMs.... With News and Video on the Tube 24/7 PJ has taken a bit of a Backseat for the photog.... I can't say it enough, Photojournalism, is not all about Sorrow,Grief, War, Tragedy, and Woe.... A Parade, a Festival, ect...
Photojournalism, combined with some creative writing id BEAUTIFUL!! Rod Steward lol, says Every Picture tells a story... NOT always so...
Everyone, ( I know I do ) enjoys a storyline on Photos....
To be successful in Publishing , you need to learn some Writing Skills.... Manuscripts along with Photos ARE STILL A BIG DRAW FOR A PUBLISHER!! I notice a lot of Shots that I consider PJ being posted, but without a storyline, they loose an edge... Tell the Story!!! Don't make a viewer a Mind Reader... EXPRESS YOURSELF... WORDS!!
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Two of our Newest Rooms are Doing Well...
Members Monthly Theme Room..
Nostalgia Closet...
I think the Theme Darkside is Fun, and like where it is Going... EASYPICKINGS is doing a great job sparking interest, with some fun challenges, lot of great shots showing up there in the room... Also keep your ideas on themes coming to her, I'm sure the ones that show the most concern and interest , will be the one's popping up, along with whatever Easy has in mind!!
Nostalgia Closet... I enjoy these old photos, and LOVE the Stories that go With Them!! Lablover is a Great supplier of these, and she has a Fantastic collection of the SOLID GOLD!! Kate is doing a great job keeping this room humming, so lets help her out here, show her what you got in those Closet Shoe Boxes.... Dig up the Gold and Post Them.... Kevgermany is also there to help out with any of your scanning Questions!!
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We have some Voting Polls going on in the Contest Thread, so if you haven't selected a favorite yet, get over there and Vote!!
POTM voting will also be taking place shortly, Support someones work, put them in our HALL OF FAME...
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Ok, this wraps it up for me folks, great Month, and again , I THANK ALL OF YOU for this..
The NEWS as you see has been added to Chit Chat / Suggestions / NEM's Forum News . We didn't feel the NEWS coming out Monthly deserved a room totally dedicated for that... so watch for it here...
Also your SUGGESTIONS can be placed in a thread in this room also... WE WILL see them, and review them... We want you Happy here at NEMS, and we WANT to hear what makes you happy, or WOULD make you happy!! lol... I think in our 13 months , we have heard your suggestions, worked with the majority of them, and came through for you.... SO KEEP THEM COMING!!
Thanks Everybody!!
