ethics, philosophy, rules here

[Ray Heath]

g'day all

wow, new site, new forums, new expectations

so tell me -
what are the ethics that will drive this site?

what is the philosophy that will/may give this site meaning?

what are the rules that are to control what transpires here?

[wclavey]

I think this is a good question. I have been looking at the Gallery for a few days to see if I can deduce what the answers might be. From my own point of view, I see what I do as hybrid - - I make my initial image on film, generally B&W, but I have cases & cases of e-6 and color, that I ultimately intend now to produce images from electronically. I scan and post-process the negs - - or, at least, that is what I am learning to do. I may never be as good producing a digital image as I was producing an analog image.

But if all I ever do is create negative scans that I process to look like the analog prints I would have otherwise produced, is it a hybrid process? I sure hope so! I did not feel comfortable over on APUG doing anything other than scanning the negatives, adjusting the levels to keep from blowing out the highlights, and posting them. I truly enjoy the community, but once I had to abandon my darkrrom, I consider myself a "fringe" member, at best. I hope here to explore other digital post-processes, like split (duo, tri & quad) toning. But I need to learn how to do it well, first.

So to return to Ray's question, what are the rules, or as I would describe it, the expectations. I hope I am right in my assumptions above, otherwise, I continue to cast about with a home. The digital darkroom is the only one, in my future.

[Sean]

The site will soon contain a firm mission statement on the home page similar to APUG's. This site is a bit more flexible in scope to APUG and as far as I'm concerned most anything goes as long as the workflow is not 100% digital. There must always be a traditional & digital component throughout the workflow. So John Doe who only shoots a dslr and printing inkjet is definitely on the wrong site. If John Doe shoots the ocassional image on film and outputs on digital he can talk about that here, if he also wants to discuss his full digital workflow here he should take that off-site.. We'll post a mission statement soon.

[Nathan Jones]

Sean, I think what you and your associates are doing in terms of parameters and guidelines here is right on. Further, I think this site will greatly expand and benefit the strictly traditional (and highly meritous) parameters of the APUG community. My tremendous thanks and appreciation. (I will certainly be renewing my membership to APUG in support of this wing.)

[Jim Chinn]

Even though it is not implicit in the mission statement of APUG, I feel that site is as much about making sure that traditional photographic processes continue to be practiced and appreciated as it is about technique and craft. I think APUG has played a major role in keeping some materials alive and providing incentive for new ones to come to market

There is a growing number of photographers who continue to use traditional materials as part of a combined analogue/digital workflow. As long as there is a demand for traditional materials somewhere in the workflow to complete the print then this site serves a purpose as part of the APUG "family" in supporting traditional processes and practices.

[Gordon Coale]

I'm glad to see a hybrid forum. I thought briefly about doing something like this but Sean is the man. I shoot film and do scanning and digital post processing although digital negatives printed on traditional paper does sound interesting! Let's use the best of both worlds. It's just too much fun.