Well, ten years ago today, July 1, 2002, I pulled up my chair ‘round the NPN campfire! I must say that it’s been quite a journey.
I found NPN quite by accident; I ran a search for some tips on fill flash and found a nice article at NPN. I perused the site and noticed that NPN was much more than just ‘another’ photography site: It was about Nature Photography, and people could post images and get feedback. Wow! I joined the very next day.
I well remember my first image post in the Landscape Gallery (it was Earth, Sea, and Sky back then). It was a medium format shot of some rocks in Mirror Lake. Boy, did it get hammered in the critiques! While it was a little bit of a shock, I took the comments to heart. I remember thinking, ‘This is what I need to in order to make high-quality photographs!
I am happy to say that Jim’s original vision of NPN as an educational resource has not changed. Yes, there is more here in terms of marketing, e.g. PhotoPortfolios.net, the various categories in the NPN Shop and very small number of advertisers, but the basic premise has remained unchanged. That’s a good thing!
What would I like to see? Here’s my short list…
**Since NPN’s galleries are critique galleries, I would like to see more critiques per image, and those critiques should be more detailed so that the photographer can realize an easier journey to making high-quality photographs.
**This suggestion may rankle some, but I am going to say it anyway: Eliminate the advertisements for workshops, tours, etc. from image posts in the critique galleries. Yes, I understand the need for marketing, but I believe there are places on NPN and other means to do that.
**Modernize the site. This has been brought up before, so I won’t belabor it.
**Update PhotoPortfolios.net. Again, this has been discussed recently, so I won’t go into detail.
**Rename the Landscape Gallery back to its original name, “Earth, Sea, and Sky”. I happen to like the old name, and I believe it’s a better fit for the types of images posted there.
**I would like to see NPN continue to be the best Nature Photography site on the Web.
I owe many folks here my thanks for their help over the years. The list would indeed be long, so I will just say, ‘Thank you for helping me along my road to photographic excellence!’ I still have a journey to make, and NPN is a big part of it!
NPN has come a long way since I came here and I believe it has a very bright future!
Preston, my sincere thanks for your participation over the last 10 years! Thanks as well for your help moderating CANP and Hot Topics, and for being such a great spokesman for NPN.
FWIW, I concur with your comment above nearly 100%. Times are changing, the Internet is changing, but NPN's original mission will remain ongoing - and we'll do the best we can in these challenging economic times to make the neccessary changes/updates.
Like so many other small organizations, NPN's revenue (membership level) has taken a major hit over the last fews years due to the fact people just don't have the disposable income they once had, and what they do have left they are being much more frugal with. This does not leave as much room to work and make the updates we'd all like to see. That said, I believe NPN will always remain a valuable resource to nature photographers, thanks in no small measure to the participation of members like you.
Thanks again for being part of the NPN community for the last 10 years!
TEN YEARS?? Wasn't that back before the Internet? Sorry my friend, you KNOW I couldn't resist this one. At least I didn't reference the horse and buggy.. oh wait...
Seriously Preston, congrats on your tenure and more importantly to your contributions to NPN and the help you've provided so many members.
Congrats Preston! Ten years. You are a pillar here with thoughtful words and insights.
A quick comment on trends and economy. I am amazed at the amount of print dedicated for advertisements of high-end Nikon, Sony, and Canon cameras. And I am blown away by the growing number of high end (by my std) cameras that are in the hands of so many novices...people who know very little about shooting. They are prolific at parks, trails, and public gardens. There is money being spent!
I predict these folks will be here at NPN ...they are the folks looking for creative outlets, eager to sign up for workshops...and want a place to express their art and interact with others.
I don't think the target audience is the semi-pro or pro- who need to market their products. That is legit need and some have left here to post on more "attractive" sites. Whereas, I think of NPN as a place to learn, experiment, refine, and interact with others...more aligning with an art trade-school approach rather than a museum of art. I do think something could be done for the attractive displays...as inspiration is presentation as well as content. My 2 bits.
A big congrats, Preston! With all the internet changes lately, social media etc, im not sure NPN will ever be the powerhouse it was a few years back, but ill stick around to find out.
With all the internet changes lately, social media etc, im not sure NPN will ever be the powerhouse it was a few years back, but ill stick around to find out.
Stan, my thoughts exactly. To get back to that point would require the participation of money people (550.px.com, for example, started off with $550,000 in VC) and that would most certainly change the "atmosphere" here.
NPN will continue to cater to those serious about improving their nature photography skills.
Congratulations on your long term commitment to NPN, Preston. Your strong support to the entire NPN community is to be commended, especially your moderation help to the Hot Topics, and CANP forums.
We kind of have two threads rolled in to one, and both are important.
First, congratulations, Preston! Not just on ten years of membership, but on ten years of excellent contributions to NPN. It's an immense investment of your time and energy and I am deeply grateful.
Second, to Preston's comments and Jim E's responses. Yes, NPN is a bit long in the tooth and could probably stand a make-over. There are probably exciting ways to link NPN to Twitter and other social media. But I value the virtual atmosphere we've got here. Yes, it could improve, but I've visited the competition and while they more have more traffic the comments there are sometimes brutal and dismissive.
And, related to all of that, nature photography seems to me to increasingly be a hobby or a second career. The magazines are dying, and with it a primary market for nature photography. Heck, even Natural History magazine is on the ropes. Photo sales are extremely tough in the current economy. Digital sales have reached the point where you are expected to pay them for the privilege of having your photos used.
I suspect there are more of us doing it because we love it and not because we expect to make significant money at it. Which reminds me of the joke I may have heard here first:
Q: What's the difference between a nature photographer and a 16 inch pizza?
A: A 16 inch pizza can feed a family of four.
Ain't it amazing how fast time can fly!!! Congrats on your long tenure and thanks for all the effort and input to others over those years. I know I value your feedback on my work!
Discussion
10 repliesI found NPN quite by accident; I ran a search for some tips on fill flash and found a nice article at NPN. I perused the site and noticed that NPN was much more than just ‘another’ photography site: It was about Nature Photography, and people could post images and get feedback. Wow! I joined the very next day.
I well remember my first image post in the Landscape Gallery (it was Earth, Sea, and Sky back then). It was a medium format shot of some rocks in Mirror Lake. Boy, did it get hammered in the critiques! While it was a little bit of a shock, I took the comments to heart. I remember thinking, ‘This is what I need to in order to make high-quality photographs!
I am happy to say that Jim’s original vision of NPN as an educational resource has not changed. Yes, there is more here in terms of marketing, e.g. PhotoPortfolios.net, the various categories in the NPN Shop and very small number of advertisers, but the basic premise has remained unchanged. That’s a good thing!
What would I like to see? Here’s my short list…
**Since NPN’s galleries are critique galleries, I would like to see more critiques per image, and those critiques should be more detailed so that the photographer can realize an easier journey to making high-quality photographs.
**This suggestion may rankle some, but I am going to say it anyway: Eliminate the advertisements for workshops, tours, etc. from image posts in the critique galleries. Yes, I understand the need for marketing, but I believe there are places on NPN and other means to do that.
**Modernize the site. This has been brought up before, so I won’t belabor it.
**Update PhotoPortfolios.net. Again, this has been discussed recently, so I won’t go into detail.
**Rename the Landscape Gallery back to its original name, “Earth, Sea, and Sky”. I happen to like the old name, and I believe it’s a better fit for the types of images posted there.
**I would like to see NPN continue to be the best Nature Photography site on the Web.
I owe many folks here my thanks for their help over the years. The list would indeed be long, so I will just say, ‘Thank you for helping me along my road to photographic excellence!’ I still have a journey to make, and NPN is a big part of it!
NPN has come a long way since I came here and I believe it has a very bright future!
--P
FWIW, I concur with your comment above nearly 100%. Times are changing, the Internet is changing, but NPN's original mission will remain ongoing - and we'll do the best we can in these challenging economic times to make the neccessary changes/updates.
Like so many other small organizations, NPN's revenue (membership level) has taken a major hit over the last fews years due to the fact people just don't have the disposable income they once had, and what they do have left they are being much more frugal with. This does not leave as much room to work and make the updates we'd all like to see. That said, I believe NPN will always remain a valuable resource to nature photographers, thanks in no small measure to the participation of members like you.
Thanks again for being part of the NPN community for the last 10 years!
TEN YEARS?? Wasn't that back before the Internet?
Seriously Preston, congrats on your tenure and more importantly to your contributions to NPN and the help you've provided so many members.
Lon
A quick comment on trends and economy. I am amazed at the amount of print dedicated for advertisements of high-end Nikon, Sony, and Canon cameras. And I am blown away by the growing number of high end (by my std) cameras that are in the hands of so many novices...people who know very little about shooting. They are prolific at parks, trails, and public gardens. There is money being spent!
I predict these folks will be here at NPN ...they are the folks looking for creative outlets, eager to sign up for workshops...and want a place to express their art and interact with others.
I don't think the target audience is the semi-pro or pro- who need to market their products. That is legit need and some have left here to post on more "attractive" sites. Whereas, I think of NPN as a place to learn, experiment, refine, and interact with others...more aligning with an art trade-school approach rather than a museum of art. I do think something could be done for the attractive displays...as inspiration is presentation as well as content. My 2 bits.
NPN will continue to cater to those serious about improving their nature photography skills.
First, congratulations, Preston! Not just on ten years of membership, but on ten years of excellent contributions to NPN. It's an immense investment of your time and energy and I am deeply grateful.
Second, to Preston's comments and Jim E's responses. Yes, NPN is a bit long in the tooth and could probably stand a make-over. There are probably exciting ways to link NPN to Twitter and other social media. But I value the virtual atmosphere we've got here. Yes, it could improve, but I've visited the competition and while they more have more traffic the comments there are sometimes brutal and dismissive.
And, related to all of that, nature photography seems to me to increasingly be a hobby or a second career. The magazines are dying, and with it a primary market for nature photography. Heck, even Natural History magazine is on the ropes. Photo sales are extremely tough in the current economy. Digital sales have reached the point where you are expected to pay them for the privilege of having your photos used.
I suspect there are more of us doing it because we love it and not because we expect to make significant money at it. Which reminds me of the joke I may have heard here first:
Q: What's the difference between a nature photographer and a 16 inch pizza?
A: A 16 inch pizza can feed a family of four.
I have enjoyed your participation here, and learned from you both here, and on a more direct personal level, that I also appreciate very much.
I have to disagree with Jim though, I can eat a 16 inch pizza all by myself, easy!
Chris