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Hi Tom,
I really do appreciate all the work you've done
with setting up F 295 but as you write, it is very much organised and
categorised which undoubtedly is "efficient" but which , in the same time, has
taken away a lot of the fluidity, spontaneity, friensdship, humour we had
developed for many years before on the classic e-mail traditional "pinhole
discussion list". I can tell you that I am far less involved in pinhole
exchanges since pinhole discussion list has vanished. F 295, which you manage
very well lacks this "community/family" feeling we had before. It is not only my
opinion but the opinion of a lot of pinholists with whom I keep in touch or meet
in Europe when they come. Of course we are all members of F295 but it does
not feel the same at all. And , I may ensure you that the WPPD (Worldwide
Pinhole Photography Day) would have never existed if we had not been
having this easy spontaneous communication and freedom through the
discussion list (I am one of the founders of the event and all the initial
founders share this point of view!)
in the same way, I would never have been so
interested by the alt-proc list if it had been too much structured : what I like
there is the way nothing is regular : various
personalities expressing various opinions,
no competition, just people experimenting and sharing successes as well as
failures. On alt photo list I feel exactly like spending good time with friends
in a "café", being sometimes more interested, sometimes less interested by what
they say but feeling always curious to see and listen to other people
experiments and sometimes more personal feelings...
it's why I'm really wishing that our group may
still go on in this "light" informal way; I would not like us to become too much
"didactic"; the alt process world is by essence an universe for sensitivity,
expressivity, freedom; it's why we practice in that field; so, let's take care
not to transform that in a too much "computerised organisation!
just my 2 cents (of Euro !!!)
Alternative cheers from France
Jean
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: New home for list needed.
First let me offer Gordon thanks for hosting the list for so
many years! What a gift he helped give the world. And also say that I'm sorry
to hear about his job loss. Sadly the economy is still shedding jobs at an
alarming rate.....
While I understand that this list was/is delivered
directly to email inboxes which some find more conducive to dialogue, just a
reminder that F295.org has a vibrant and robust online forum system (with
image support) already in place with categories for many of the processes and
topics discussed here - all are welcome. F295, like alternativephotography.com
is a labor of love. While we have occasional member drives to raise money to
help defray cost all proceeds go directly back into funding the website,
events, supplies etc.
Best,
Tom
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