Photography-on-the-net Forums to close at the end of 2023

[Canon Rumors Guy]

One of the largest and longest running photography forum communities is shutting down by the end of 2023. Photography-on-the-net has decided to shut down by the end of 2023. The industry has definitely changed, and every time we see one of these long-running web sites ceasing operations it’s sad, but outside factors have definitely made

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[TonyNorthrup]

The POTN admin's story makes it sound like photography has died, which couldn't be further from the truth. Photography is more alive than it's ever been. People take more pictures than ever. They do more with those pictures, and they want to take better pictures.

For sure there is less interest in interchangeable lens cameras, but ILC != photography. Many brilliant photographers, including photojournalists as the admin mentioned, are using smartphones and drones, because those are often the right imaging tool for the scenario.

And the photography community is bigger than ever, but they're choosing different social media than forums, which feel a bit slow-paced and low-tech compared to, say, TikTok. Still, change is painful.

 

[Fischer]

Had some threads running there for a while - but moved on as numbers started to dwindle. So part of the problem myself, as these trends are mutually reinforcing. The almost-closure of dpreview being another example.

 

[JohnC]

The POTN admin's story makes it sound like photography has died, which couldn't be further from the truth. Photography is more alive than it's ever been. People take more pictures than ever. They do more with those pictures, and they want to take better pictures.

For sure there is less interest in interchangeable lens cameras, but ILC != photography. Many brilliant photographers, including photojournalists as the admin mentioned, are using smartphones and drones, because those are often the right imaging tool for the scenario.

And the photography community is bigger than ever, but they're choosing different social media than forums, which feel a bit slow-paced and low-tech compared to, say, TikTok. Still, change is painful.

I agree on the way it sounds. I don't have personal knowledge, but the impression I get from some other posts is there might be more going with Pekka than his concern over the implied "decline" of the industry. It doesn't change your point of course.

 

[JohnC]

I've been a relatively active member on POTN since 2008. Like most I have really active periods and then quiet periods. It's a huge site with a lot of members, still a lot of activity, and a tremendous amount of history. I hate to see it go. I've mentioned this site a few times over there in the hopes that some may join here, and I think a couple may have so far.

Frankly I'd love to see more activity here, outside of the rumors/equipment discussions where there seems to be plenty. It's a good opportunity to increase the traffic with POTN closing down. That is...as long as we don't bring back the "trolls"

 

[neuroanatomist]

That is...as long as we don't bring back the "trolls"

You mean they left at some point?

 

[tpatana]

That's unfortunate. Usually when I'm considering certain lens, I go to POTN to check example pictures in the lens-specific thread.

 

[LensSodomist]

POTN will be gone and good riddance. It was a place for the very old who long ago stopped keeping up with the progress of photography. These old geezers (I'm 64) made film a religion, and their closed views and inability to embrace the future finally did them in, but to be truthful, POTN died long, long ago.

 

[funkboy]

\"writing was much faster and easier - now tapping seems to be the main communication method\"
so much truth in that.
for most people these days, \"writing\" means \"work email\"...

 

[Marximusprime]

That's unfortunate. Usually when I'm considering certain lens, I go to POTN to check example pictures in the lens-specific thread.

Flickr's respective lens groups have lots of images available.

 

[Psychic1]

POTN will be gone and good riddance. It was a place for the very old who long ago stopped keeping up with the progress of photography. These old geezers (I'm 64) made film a religion, and their closed views and inability to embrace the future finally did them in, but to be truthful, POTN died long, long ago.

 

[Psychic1]

POTN and DPReview were my first experiences with forums in 2006 until I discovered FM, which provides greater visual appeal, navigation and style.

 

[koenkooi]

POTN and DPReview were my first experiences with forums in 2006 until I discovered FM, which provides greater visual appeal, navigation and style.

FM also seemed to have more people that took actual pictures, DPReview was, and is, the realm of arm chair gear owners and Sony trolls.

 

[JohnC]

POTN will be gone and good riddance. It was a place for the very old who long ago stopped keeping up with the progress of photography. These old geezers (I'm 64) made film a religion, and their closed views and inability to embrace the future finally did them in, but to be truthful, POTN died long, long ago.

Not clear where this belief comes from. I was a member at POTN for 16 years, and film photography was a very small section of that forum. I mean it was called Canon Digital Photography Forum, then Digital Photography Forum (as there were other brands represented there as well). Quite a few gear heads, and a lot of picture sharing, particularly in the last decade. At no point do I recall the site being stuck in film photography and old tech.