Separate Forum For B/W?

[arg245]

I've not been around the POTN forums since before mid-2006, and I was wondering if there was ever any inquiry as to whether POTN should have a separate forum for Black and White. I did a search but couldn't come up with anything.

Seems there's is a growing interest in B/W, now that digital has made it fairly easy to convert original color images.

So, I'll take the chance that this has not been asked before and start a poll........

[arg245]

Judging from the limited number of views and even less participation in the poll, it seems that there's not much interest in having a separate forum for B/W.

I did notice that due to a large number of posts after this one, this post got moved to the second and third pages rather quickly, so I'm hoping this bump gives it a bit more exposure.

Hope it doesn't upset too many people.......

[SoaringUSAEagle]

I'd also like to comment on this... B&W IMO is a whole field all in its own, so yes I think a separate board for that would be appropriate. Although I dont mind it being mixed in too much, I just think still life and experimental work does not go with b&w very well.

[calicokat]

Yes I would

[Cerbera]

Yup :)

[Jason-H]

Yes

[cgratti]

its a landslide......

[StealthLude]

I voted yes, only because B&W photography in itself is an art.

I feel the forum would benifit from it only because all the posts would be geared towards B&W photography and post processing for B&W.

[tlc]

count me in

[kevin_c]

Another Yes (please :-))

[Athena]

yes from me too. B&W is so in depth - a complete realm of it's own.

[sblais]

That would be great! I do some B&W conversions, but like TByrne says

it is overdone and too often cliché driven. Moreover most monochrome prints today are simply pretentious efforts to make ordinary shots special by removing 90% of the color information.

Mine would probably fall into this category... But I'd like to learn more about it from an artistic perspective... Tutorials, explanations, discussions, all about B&W conversion: that would be just great!

[ghosh]

I am in.

[stanley_pope]

Yes, Seperate forum for B/W would be great, When I look in this forum I search out the B/W posts. I hope Sepia would be included.

Stan

[CyberDyneSystems]

Don't take my input as any form of decision on this, anything can happen, but I'd like to point out why we don't have a B&W only forum yet right now.

Take a look at the Share forum.. 14 forums already.
Take galleries and Competitions out and that leaves a whopping 12.

Notice though how these forums are broken up.

By subject matter.

Not by shooting style, camera type, film type, methods used, etc.

Now lets imagine that we start adding Methods used..
IS a black and white portrait going in People, or B&W,.. what about the G&N B&W work..
If we separate B&W as it's own thing, then within days we will get requests for other forums based on specific shooting/Post processing styles.
We get polls for HDR/Tine mapping forums, and IR every so often.

It just never really seems to end.

At least now the categories are broken up pretty consistently into subject matter ( with the exception of this forum.. )
Introducing another method for categorizing the forums will inherently introduce demand for more options in this new category type.

Again, I'm not saying it won't happen, only offering part of why it is the way it is now.

[sblais]

Good insight, thanks! I guess it's just up to us to start threads on B&W conversion! Or could we have separate sub-forums like the Rumor Section?

[arg245]

CDS,

Thanks for the clear explanation of why the forums are set up by subject. While I can agree, and completely understand the reasoning behind not having a separate B/W forum, I believe B/W can also be considered a "subject" and not just a "style". In looking at the Sharing section, I also see Glamour and Macro having been broken into their own forums. Clearly, these can be considered "styles" as well, yet they are apparently considered subjects, in that they have their own forums.

I am definitely not trying to be argumentative, I'm just pointing out that the difference between a style and subject can change, depending on one's perspective.

Incidently, what is the process for formally requesting a separate forum for B/W. I looked throughout the site, and couldn't find anything. As one of the mods, I'd hoped we could approach you individually to request this.

Thanks in advance,

[CyberDyneSystems]

The poll is a good start,. as it shows if there is a desire/need.

I'd let it get some more votes in it,. and then bring it to our attention again via PM or a post in the "forum talk" section.. where you can put firth your argument.

In the end, any decisions that effect/require forum wide changes need to be made by Pekka, the owner. In fact he is the only one with the ability to make such changes.

Get a convincing argument and he may well go for it.

[Athena]

Maybe it could be a child board in the post processing forum...

[SWPhotoImaging]

Only if they can also break the "People" forum into "Interesting People" and "People's Kids".
:)

[queenbee288]

Yes for me.

[habakuk]

Oh yes. One more vote ... :)

cheers
®

[arg245]

Yup, I'm seeing a ton of interest in B/W in this forum, and the poll numbers look like they represent that. So I want to give this one more bump before I approach the powers that be. Thanks for all the participation.

[SWPhotoImaging]

I think we need some clarification as to what aspect of "B&W" it is being suggested needs it's own forum?

As CDS pointed out, if it was to be so general as to be a main "sharing" forum heading of "B&W", then it creates a bit of confusion around where to post something that fits under an existing "subject" category, but happens to be finished/PP'd in B&W.

If it was meant to be a place to delve into B&W technique, then it belongs over in "Sharing Knowhow" section anyway, and could be a sub-topic of the "RAW, post-processing and printing" area.

Just my $.012 (was $.02 before the AMT)

[habakuk]

As CDS pointed out, if it was to be so general as to be a main "sharing" forum heading of "B&W", then it creates a bit of confusion around where to post something that fits under an existing "subject" category


Now... what difference is that to the status we have now? Do I post a B/W portrait under "People" or under "Still Life, B/W & Experimental"?

The only way to get rid of that problem is to get rid of the B/W label, and post the shots in their respective matching forums.

I for my part would actually prefer to see the categories

- "Still life & Abstract" and
- "Experimental"

and incorporate B/W shots in all forums.

I feel that the "Still Life, B/W & Experimental" forum is currently sort of a "Miscellaneous" forum, which isn't really fair to the "Still Life & Abstract" category... these imho deserve to be separated from the many technical experiments like lens sharpness test shots, light box demo shots, heavy experimental postprocessing etc.

And if I am honest, my vote to separate B/W was more to emphasize the content on "Still life & Abstract" than to give B/W a separate forum. :)

cheers
®

[arg245]

One final bump, before I formally request this. For those of us that are interested in a separate B/W forum, please get the word out to vote.

Thanks,
Andy

[Shutter22]

Only if they can also break the "People" forum into "Interesting People" and "People's Kids".
:)
Amen.