Classes?

Agreed, competition judges can set their own parameters, so many of the things asked for are already possible within the existing structure.

However, do remember that the more difficult the task set the lower the response will be and that does reduce the enjoyment of probably quite a few people. We may not all have the time to go and follow a too onerous set subject.

We can see from the various competition subjects which ones get the best response, and it is intended to be something for as many people as possible to join in.

From my point of view it is a superb idea. Having said that I could be someone who would benefit greatly from the knowledge of the person running the "class".

I can also see the logistical problems of making such a thing work well on a forum.

Of course the beauty of a forum like this is you have the opportunity to try and make this work. Tough task but I would support it.

I'd encourage everyone to explore the growing list of Articles and Reviews on Pentax User, which cover quite a lot of areas that have been enquired about over the past few weeks.

There's a wealth of information there and the forum is then ideal for more specific queries and discussions.

So is a tutorial section on the forum a no-no?

For now, but it may come around in due course.

Very informative Don. I don't have a big softbox, but we do have picture windows east and west. Also got side tracked to your cheapo softbox which I reckon I could easily make (it's where to store it away from swmbo)

regards
Bernard

Don't we even get to vote on a subject like this ?..Seems to me alot of membership are in favour...

glad you like it, I'm being mindful of all feedback as I intend to release (eventually) more and more how to videos... on a variety of subjects....
so thanx!

I think we are over thinking it.

First off all the lessons should stand on their own, so some basis is needed to follow the lesson. I'm thinking that if you know what shutterspeed, aperture, ISO, focal length is that you should get a long way.

The lessons can be run as the fortynight competition on the forum.
One thread with the lesson, photos and the feedback on the photos and another thread for any discussion.

The idea is to give full support for a lesson for a month and after that the lesson should still be open though but we can't argue that the "teacher" still needs to react on the comments after that i think.

Like has being said it can roughly be run like the competition the difference is that a technique will be thoroughly explained and that you get feedback of your work from the teacher and fellow members. So hopefully if you submit work you will get all kind of feedbacks where to improve and such so you can really master the technique.

Lessons to think off are the basics things like portrait, macro, landscape to name a few but it can and should also be more detailed like how to make panoramas, HDR, fill in flash, interior photos of your room and things like that.

Maybe we can just make a new section on the form for this and we can just submit your work there like a comment so that more courses can be run at the same time maybe?

OK quick solution, could a lessons tab button be added next to community? Perhaps pentax plus mebers only? Just an idea.

Indeed the information is out there but not the support which something like this might give you. That's the whole goal of this.

Have specific subjects where you can upload your photos to be "judged" by the content of that subject and helping you and others to improve.
Hopefully this also make it easier for someone to ask for advice and show them their photos so we can help.

If the articles/lessons are made by the members than it shouldn't be pentax plus only, they should be for everyone on the forum!

there is a problem.
on the one hand, sure people love free stuff. on the other hand.... it costs money to make the site, and therefore the forum.... how would people suggest that a balance be struck to ensure the long term viability of the whole site?

This needs more thought, so just hang fire for now please.

I'm not sure about the need to wait for the moderators 'permission'. It might be best to obligate them to oversee - and intervene in - this stuff as little as possible! So... If we want to do this why not just do it within the existing forum structures, for now at least. For challenges and participatory stuff, we could use Your Photos.