Jim will probably be in the minority there, but interesting point. So should we get rid of avatars for the same reason Jim
Can I ask what resolution you are using if the thumbnails are too small Pete ??? Are you using a laptop or large desktop monitor. Mines at 1280 x 800 and they look fine at that size. If you had a larger monitor or high res, then I guess they could be small. I need glasses now anyway.
Danny.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on April 10, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Pete, it's already on the wish list!
I would also like a toggle function between a new "Gallery View" and "IC View" for the thumbnails pages; IC View would be what it is now and Gallery View would be just the thumbnails without the info that is currently displayed. We would go 4 thumbnails across in Gallery View, and both views would lead to the same main view page we're using now.
Yes, I think from what I can remember, NPN started with a phpBB board or was it bbs and there were no thumbs. Then when it swapped over there were not any for a while as well.
I see your point though Jim, curiosity and the cat philosophy M8t. I must admit that some thumbs just jump out and you HAVE to open them. Having said that though, from the "All Photos" mode and the thumbs, I find I end up looking at all sorts of images I would never look at otherwise. That then makes me open them up and I find myself commenting on (gulp!!) landscapes, birds, man and nature, flora, etc, where I normally wouldn't even go to Jim. So for that, I think the thumbs are a blessing. Interesting thoughts for sure. Double edge sword maybe.
All the best Jim.
Danny.
PS: Looking around, NPN might still be based on bbs deep down somewhere.
Jim Jirka - Thank you for explaining what you were thinking. That is a different approach to the problem I see - things that deserve attention don't get it. Some things can be remarkably invisible in small thumbnails. I viewed a photograph today and was very surprised by the hidden treasure I found. My thought was that things may slip through the cracks because they don't look good at super-low resolution. Eliminating thumbs would eliminate looking good at super-low resolution as a criterion, but it might shift the click choice to something else. Just now, as I type my thoughts, I wonder what would happen it it truly were an even clicking field and we never knew what might pop up....well, you know why I'm not in sales. It would probably drive away the bird guys faster than a propane cannon on a corn field.
I'm also not a fan of the thumbnails--for the reason Jim mentioned--and I also remember the pre-thumb era on NPN. I only use the thumbnails to identify the last image in a forum that I viewed...from there I use the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons, never looking at the thumbnails. That way, there's no concern about missing good images because the thumbnails aren't impressive (which, from I can tell, is often the case).
I concede that I've come to accept the fact that the thumbnails are widely used by most NPNers and therefore aren't going to be eliminated, which is fair enough.
Posted by Kah Kit Yoong on April 11, 2008 at 2:26 AM
I don't think getting rid of the thumbnails is a good idea. Main reason is that there's a lot of web traffic not from members. Without thumbs to look at, the website becomes much less interesting to browse.
Posted by Paul Inglis on April 11, 2008 at 6:57 AM
I prefer the thumbnails and still try to look at all the images (and what a task that is!)
Posted by Mel Ladewig on April 11, 2008 at 3:09 PM
I remember when we had no thumbnails. I believe it made people actually click the post to look, as opposed to the scan and eliminate mode now.
Then its scan over the title or author and skip mode. Look at Fred Miranda's landscape forum to see how this impacts commenting and viewing. The thumbnail system is much better in my opinion.
Mel-
Posted by Dave Flaig on April 13, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Just a thought from an engineering point of view...
"Form follows Function". That said, what NPN has right now is absolutely GREAT!!! From my perspective, (one of learning the craft...) The basic model would be very hard to improve... on the other hand, like our friend from the East Island (Danny in NZ), It never hurts to bend the light and get a different look at what we have.
I agree that great photos can and will be overlooked by the Thumbnail view. The comments by certain people (the moderators and widely recognized contributors) are as much a draw as the thumbs, for me.
I look at as many photos here as I can (in the all forums), in search of the information contained in the critiques and the also the perspective of the photographer. Maybe that's why I don't comment as much as I should... I'm working on finding the time to do that.
I'm on a mission..., to be the best I can be. Just like the rest of you are..
Dave
Dave Flaig
Green Bay Wisconsin
www.flaigphoto.com
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Discussion
12 repliesPete D. I still have two wishes left, right?
Can I ask what resolution you are using if the thumbnails are too small Pete ??? Are you using a laptop or large desktop monitor. Mines at 1280 x 800 and they look fine at that size. If you had a larger monitor or high res, then I guess they could be small. I need glasses now anyway.
Danny.
I would also like a toggle function between a new "Gallery View" and "IC View" for the thumbnails pages; IC View would be what it is now and Gallery View would be just the thumbnails without the info that is currently displayed. We would go 4 thumbnails across in Gallery View, and both views would lead to the same main view page we're using now.
I remember when we had no thumbnails. I believe it made people actually click the post to look, as opposed to the scan and eliminate mode now.
It wasn't for the issue of bandwidth.
Thanks, Jim
I see your point though Jim, curiosity and the cat philosophy M8t. I must admit that some thumbs just jump out and you HAVE to open them. Having said that though, from the "All Photos" mode and the thumbs, I find I end up looking at all sorts of images I would never look at otherwise. That then makes me open them up and I find myself commenting on (gulp!!) landscapes, birds, man and nature, flora, etc, where I normally wouldn't even go to Jim. So for that, I think the thumbs are a blessing. Interesting thoughts for sure. Double edge sword maybe.
All the best Jim.
Danny.
PS: Looking around, NPN might still be based on bbs deep down somewhere.
Pete D.
I concede that I've come to accept the fact that the thumbnails are widely used by most NPNers and therefore aren't going to be eliminated, which is fair enough.
Then its scan over the title or author and skip mode. Look at Fred Miranda's landscape forum to see how this impacts commenting and viewing. The thumbnail system is much better in my opinion.
Mel-
"Form follows Function". That said, what NPN has right now is absolutely GREAT!!! From my perspective, (one of learning the craft...) The basic model would be very hard to improve... on the other hand, like our friend from the East Island (Danny in NZ), It never hurts to bend the light and get a different look at what we have.
I agree that great photos can and will be overlooked by the Thumbnail view. The comments by certain people (the moderators and widely recognized contributors) are as much a draw as the thumbs, for me.
I look at as many photos here as I can (in the all forums), in search of the information contained in the critiques and the also the perspective of the photographer. Maybe that's why I don't comment as much as I should... I'm working on finding the time to do that.
I'm on a mission..., to be the best I can be. Just like the rest of you are..
Dave
Dave Flaig
Green Bay Wisconsin
www.flaigphoto.com
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.