B&W, FILM & HDR Tags When Posting Images

[Abel]

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Tagging Threads to Make Searching Easier
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1) The Issue At Hand
A couple of weeks ago we had some members suggest having a dedicated B&W Section as well as a dedicated HDR Section in order for them to be able to just browse those types of photos easily. The moderators and I discussed it at length and decided that since B&W and HDR photography was more of a technique/post processing style and NOT an actual type of subject matter (such as PEOPLE or LANDSCAPES for instance) we decided against having dedicated sections on the forum.

One of the examples was say if there was a B&W portrait shot where best would it be shown? In the People Section, in the B&W Section or both? As you can see this would cause some major confusion and possibly double posts throughout the Showcase Section.


2) The Fix
The forum software currently adds in keyword tags automatically based on the content of the thread itself and I thought this would be a great solution. This will allow us to use specific B&W, FILM and HDR tags in order to let those looking for that style be able to find those style of photographs fairly easily over the entire forum regardless of what section they're in.

The down side of course is that it is up to the members to add those tags into their threads so there will be some that will forget and or just not enter any in BUT every member has the ability to add tags to threads so this is where I will need your help. How to add tags to existing threads that you did not post will be explained in this thread as well.


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How To Tag Your New Threads
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When creating a new thread to showcase photos in ANY of the Showcase Section be sure to add a B&W, FILM or HDR tag into the line marked TAGS as shown below.

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How to Search For Tags - Method #1
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When viewing the forum click the SEARCH pull down menu and click the SEARCH TAGS option.

You will be taken to a SEARCH TAGS page where you simply enter in the tag for which you are searching and click the SEARCH button.

You will then be taken to a results page list all of the threads on the forum which have the tag you searched for applied to it as show below.

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How to Search For Tags - Method #2
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When viewing a thread that contains a tag you want to explore such as B&W, FILM or HDR scroll down to the bottom and just before the QUICK REPLY box you will see a TAGS box.

You will then be taken to a results page list all of the threads on the forum which have the tag you searched for applied to it as show below.

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How to Edit Tags on Existing Threads
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Every member has the ability to edit thread tags so if you come across a thread that should include a B&W, FILM or HDR feel free to add it in order to help our community a bit more organized. Other members looking for these specific kinds of content will greatly appreciate it as would I.

When viewing a thread scroll down to the bottom and just before the QUICK REPLY box you will see a TAGS box. On the right side of this TAGS box you'll notice and EDIT TAGS link, click it.

You will then be show the EDIT TAGS editor and here you can enter in the appropriate keywords for the thread in question and when done click SAVE CHANGES.

Thank you for your help in helping establish an easy method for differentiating specific types of photography processing methods here on the forum.

[groovyone]

FILM would also be a good tag.

[Abel]

i was just adding that! hehe

[Daniel Bates]

Thanks, Abel!

[Abel]

youre welcome!

[KJ Smith]

Abel,

Once again you have gone the extra mile.

Thanks for all you do !!!

[tml]

Abel, I respectfully disagree. I believe film and B+W should have their own fora. After all, that was how photography started.

Tri

[Abel]

Originally Posted by tml

Abel, I respectfully disagree. I believe film and B+W should have their own fora. After all, that was how photography started.

Tri

Yes. That is hhow photography started but having their own dedicated sections is not gonna happen for the reasons stated above. Our sections are based on subject matter and not methods, post processing techinques and/or formats.

This has been debated time and time again and this thread represents my solution to help give users what it is they want which is an easy way to browse B&W, FILM and HDR images..

[Patti Edens]

Awesome! Thanks, Abel.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by tml

Abel, I respectfully disagree. I believe film and B+W should have their own fora. After all, that was how photography started.

Tri

I have to agree with Abel here.

A portrait is a portrait, no matter how it was created.

If you try to change now it would make a huge mess. Portraits could be spread across several fora.

This way everything stays as is and you can use the search tags.

An excellent compromise.


Think about this, how many other forums are you on that have an Admin that is this responsive to the members?















OK, I am done kissin up...

[ronocnikral]

I've noticed a few more people with "purple names" of late, and while tracking one down, I came to the conclusion that an individual choose to dis-associate from the forum over this issue.

But, to be clear (for my own sake), images posted with purpose of showing a process, specific medium or technique and not specific to any one topic go where? For example, the "in relation to what..." thread in the darkroom forum. Does that belong in an actual showcase (many different subjects) or does it remain in the darkroom? Or, the "favorite prime lens" thread in the equipment forum? What if I scan my mediocre slides from the wave and want to talk about how I dislike velvia 50 and like velvia 100?

just trying to get some clarification here...

[groovyone]

If the discussion is over darkroom technique, processing, or I'd say even film type it would still go in the darkroom section because you are discussing methodology and tools. If you are posting photos for the sake of discussing the content of the photos then please use the showroom section.

I for one still have a strong love for film, but little time to work with it. I'd love to see more of it in the showroom sections for discussion of the photos without restriction to which medium was used to capture them.

Hopefully that makes sense.

[Abel]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

I've noticed a few more people with "purple names" of late, and while tracking one down, I came to the conclusion that an individual choose to dis-associate from the forum over this issue.

That's unfortunate but I respect people's decisions if they chose to leave the forum for whatever reason. Would I leave a community because they didn't have a dedicated section for the technique I favor most? Certainly not, but if others feel very strongly about it then that's ok with me... It's their choice.

As a forum admin, I do my best to hear any and all suggestions in regards to added features, sections, tweaks etc and I feel that I do a pretty good job at it. The majority of how the forum is presented today is based off of suggestions from the community as a whole so thats a testament to my track record of having an open mind in regards to adding to the forum.

Whenever a suggestion is made I post about it in our private Moderator's Section in order for us to all input our thoughts an opinions on whether or not the propsed change would be beneficial to the community as a whole or if the suggestion should be handled a different way as in this case with the Tag feature etc. We discuss the pro's and con's of the suggested feature and I make my final decision based on everyone's input. In the case of the dedicated section for these types of photographs it just did not make sense to me as an admin based decision.

Originally Posted by groovyone

If the discussion is over darkroom technique, processing, or I'd say even film type it would still go in the darkroom section because you are discussing methodology and tools. If you are posting photos for the sake of discussing the content of the photos then please use the showroom section.

I for one still have a strong love for film, but little time to work with it. I'd love to see more of it in the showroom sections for discussion of the photos without restriction to which medium was used to capture them.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Exactly. Well said. Thank you.

[studiocygnet]

Great Idea. I just have to remember to do it now.

[rab3rd]

To all those that don't get the content exactly as they wish, be thankful that suggestions are even entertained. I run a forum and it's a thankless job. Mostly a lot of whining. [suck up hat] I think Abel goes above and beyond to create a community that represents the majority[/suck up hat]. he could just tell us all to piss off but he doesn't.

From your super secret mod, that is all. Carry on...