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"What makes a great photograph?" asks the Wee Scottish Bimbo. "Prompted by another thread, I'd like to ask what do you think makes a great photograph? Perhaps volunteers might nominate a photograph and say why it is, to them, a great image?"
The RFF gallery at the GASbag Institute of Photography has some great photographs. Check out Backdoor Alley's grainy B&W perv pics of children and toilets, Jorge Terrible's female (and male transsexual) butt shots, Herr Vulgar Hett's photos of his "cheaper than cheese" Cuban sex partners, and Gassy Gandy's camera portraits. And don't forget to check out Staphonie B. Rim's photos of the garbage in her back yard. Thread.
 Trevor Hare, a tiny troll, did write this not too long ago: "I have had a Bessa R3A with Summicron 50/2 and a Leica CM with 40mm f/2.4 Summarit and an M6 TTL with Elmar-M 50mm and Nokton 40mm f/1.4. Total time with rangefinders about 18 months. Conclusion? Don't like 'em. I sold the M6 (my last film camera) a couple of months ago. Got a brand new Ricoh GR Digital creative set (and a pile of cash) and never looked back." No wonder he got booted from the Pnut and he now posts here with the other trolls.
Backdoor alley has a new RFF avatar of a mail box with his fake business name photo-shopped on the side. http://www3.flickr.com/photos/back_alley/338165355/ Here are a few of backdooralley’s street shooting tips from three years ago. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-98.html
 Moe's 2007 New Year's resolutions: "concentrate on improving my photos more and my kit less. to process my film before it gets out of hand. initiate some photo projects and follow through. joe" It's highly unlikely that any of those things will be accomplished. Everyone knows that Back door alley's lard ass is glued to a chair in front of his computer. I think his real mission is to hit 30,000 posts before his donut and coffee creamer clogged arteries finally give out. He's definitely a role model for the no-talent, gear obsessed, virtual 'photographers' who congregate on these online camera forums. "To process my film before it gets out of hand" sounds like a hidden message to the flock that backdooralley wants an M8.
 Joe Ruzuto writes, "some tips- the invisible method- my belief is that if you stay in one place long enough, you become invisible. i used to stand at busy bus stops and shoot people looking at store windows, people walking by and of course people waiting in line. i never did get on a bus. in shopping areas, inside & outside, there are often benches to sit on. sit on one and shoot people walking by. you get a different perspective shooting at their waist level. a great place is any kind of festival or outdoor event. everyone has a camera and you rarely are noticed. 2 other things. i had a hat made up with a logo and the words 'back alley photo' printed on it. no one notices enough for it to interfere with my shooting but if they look upset, i point to the hat. i also printed some cards with my logo and ' back alley photo' on them. i hand them out if someone questions me. i always remain calm and friendly and tell them i'm just an amateur doing my hobby for myself and that they are welcome to free prints of anything that turns out well. i have yet to have any trouble. (knock on wood)"
 Hey, Frank! Stephanie 'Rim of Iowa finally posted a pic of her camera and her boobs on RFF. She got some free and cheap gear last year then disappeared. Then she came back and asked if people would buy nude photos of her. Then she left. Now she’s back and wants to show Joe her navel and says she needs a car, hoping she'll get a steal of a deal...if you know what I mean. LOL. Stephanie Brim is a moderator at apug.org, and she is Joe Rizzuto's little puppet---one yank she dances. Her 3 specialized websites are: Mental Experimental, Glass Wings and Black Dreams. Stephanie writes, "I'm just tired of the internet politics...it makes me sick, which doesn't help my mood...I'm tired of people getting shit on. It's none of my concern. I just ponder opening an invitation only forum and populating it with people I know won't be total asses. I'm still thinking of doing that. A place to share work in an invironment with other mature adults...sounds like a good plan to me." Welcome to photopoo, loser! Now say, Moe, and receive the secret handshake. 
  News flash! I found a new sink plunger beside the garbage bin out back. It's black and it's rubber; and I believe it will make a good lens hood but I haven't yet decided which cam to stick it to. It's too bad I don't own my Leica CL any more because she would have made the perfect mate---she was black and she was pristine and she was trash. I will post a pic when I shaved 'er down and slid 'er onto a Teutonic barrel. (KY Jelly will be the catalyst coupled with a firm push and a grunt.) I may have to shove some Viagra up the cam's rear since all my professional cams are old (but pristine). Of course I'll hand over the handle so Moe can ram it up Curly's ass. Thank you.
"Can I take a Leica sky-diving?" (Another great thread from RFF!) "This might be a (really) stupid question, but has anyone ever taken their Leica skydiving?...what would break first, the strap, strap ring, or body lug?...Thanks, Ron."
Well, Ron, if your Leica is your main sex toy, why take a chance? On the other hand, when your camera is descending at that speed, the semen will surely blow free thus bringing back the pristine finish and freshness.
Do you fondle your favourite camera while dumping? If you’re like backdoor and the gang, you do it all of the time. Yes, you hang out in washrooms and fondle away---along with a coffee, a dirty mag for peeka-boo, a weenie yank and a click or two for self-portrait memorabilia. No? Then you are missing out and you will be prohibited a full-fledged RFF membership. So keep in mind that fondling is best done during dump time; and look no further than Moe's toilet pic avatars for inspiration.
Latest RFF thread: Tom writes, "How to prevent closed threads and win friends...." Nick R.: "so basically, what you're saying is that on this forum the only person we're allowed to insult, berate, belittle, mock, and generally have disdain for is Erwin Puts? Got it."
"the zeiss ikon rangefinder, by Richard Francisco. ...i'm wondering if any here owns this camera and what are their opinions on it. is it a very good camera?...." Karl Graf: "...no problems." Bill Blackwell: "it's a redesigned, retagged VC Bessa." Moe (Joe Rizzuto) AKA backdoor alley: "clearly a man who has never held a zi in his hands. this statement is 100% inaccurate." Harry: "...it's a retagged Bessa at twice the price!" backdoor: "stuff happens..glued not screwed."
It seems that the Big Cheeseball, Moe and their cronny crew's typical outing consists of spamming the Pnut with lots of crap and RFF poo links.
The sharpest 35mm "normal" in the whole wide world! Yes, for $749 USD you will get the sharpest 50mm lens ever made, and the bonus is a pristine camera body to go along with it. But hurry! There are only a few left here. And...(drumroll)...the new mechanical shuttered 250th Voigtlander Anniversary Bessa R2M / R3M with the fantastic new 50mm/F2 Heliar is just $1,050 USD! You can buy it here. Hey! Check this out!
Read the Bessa R3A review: "...Results? Exactly as expected. This camera accepts many of the finest lenses in the world, not just from Voigtländer but also from Leica and Zeiss. We found no difference in resolution between the R3A and an MP when using a Leica Summicron 75mm f/2: both delivered an amazing 125 lp/mm on the film with Ilford Pan F and Delta 100. At this point, you are not so much measuring lens/film resolution as the ability of the camera to hold the film repeatably in the same place; this is why 125 lp/mm is rarely seen consistently, even with the very best lenses." More reviews here.
  Dear Zeiss, "these Teutonic beauts really look pretty in your pictures. I am interested in the 50mm F2, but I have questions. What is the metal used in the lens barrel? Is the finish chrome for the silver and enamel for the black? Thanks." Zeiss answers: "thank you for your email. The metal in the lens barrel is made of aluminum. Both silver and black are coated, silver is silver coated and the black is black coated. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us again."
Official Leica statement: "There are men and women whose cultivated tastes admit of no pretence or insincerity, whose trained minds judge values fairly, who demand simply, decisively, the best. They may be few but it is for them that the Leica is made."
 "Must I shoot artsy photos to be a good photographer?" asks Raid Amin of Florida. The answer of course is, no. A pretentiously artistic photo is just that. Be true to thyself. Shoot naturally and from the heart of subjects which interest you, unless you are shooting for hire. Simple is best. If you are stumped with improving your photography, get a copy of 'How To Make Good pictures by Eastman Kodak,' and let the force guide you.
 What is it with these camera shows and swap meets? They are simply a gathering of camera dealers, collectors and fondlers who want to get rid of their junk and you are their sucker. You will never see any good stuff for sale at the tables but if you do it will be touched-up, broken and most likely over-priced. Forget 'em. Taking your chances at 2nd hand shops? Well, some camera collector will have all ready snatched the good stuff because these shops have arrangements with collectors. When anything new comes in the collector sees it first. How about camera shops for used stuff? Camera shops also let collectors have first dips, so the consumer is shit out of luck. Good luck. By the way, most camera forums are nothing more than Internet swap meets where the core gets first pickins (and the rest jerk off while posting their corn-holing stories).
 Did you know that Bill Mattocks is offering photography classes on CameraMentor.com? He writes, "Not more guts, more broke, need cash. I am coming to the conclusion that all my photography sucks big time. Time to start over. I don't know where to begin. Maybe song writing." Six weeks later Wiggy Bill Buttocks is now ready to teach photography: "okay, we've put things back together. We have a content management system (you're looking at it now) which features a built-in discussion forum, RSS newsfeeds, links to other sites, and so on. It is also integrating an external blog, a gallery for photos, and a learning tool with which I hope to create online courses that people can take to learn about any given photography-related subject. Examples might be a course on how to process B&W film or how to use camera movements on a large-format camera."
 June 29, 2006. The dweeb Richard Silfverberg did write, "It was my fault. I was given a link to the home site of a former member of this site. That member was quite the abusive troll and eventually got banned from RFF - and he set up his own site that focuses on slandering RFF, photo.net and the members (by name) in those forums. My name was all over the place, so was Jorge's, Joe's, Pherdinand's, FrankS', etc. I agree with Kim to delete my thread where I mention the link to his site - and I would encourage Kim to delete this thread as well so that no more attention is given to that poor, demented soul who apparently is in need of some serious help. If I was more religious I'd pray for him - but for now I'll just send him my best wishes on a well needed recovery. My favorite rangefinder cameras right now are: Leica III (F), Leica M3, Contax IIIa and Contessa 35 (still on the fence about that one)." Thanks, Richard! I understand your family ran away from the recent outbreak of bubonic plague somewhere behind the former Iron Curtain. Are you certain you weren't touched? I'm asking because you are small and play with dinky toys. Furthermore, Frank S says who'd be welcome in his Grade 4 class, as long as you do not bring your dinky toys nor your wench. 
Backdoor alley did write, "I'm not going anywhere - what will I bring? On my Friday office team building away from work day...I won 2 nights accomodation at a nice hotel in Jasper, Alberta in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. but I can't use it 'til November; and for now, I'm not going anywhere but I do carry a camera every day to work & back. I don't like to take the ZI because it seems like too nice (read expensive) of a camera to just haul arond in my day pack. The M3 is a truly great camera and I love the collapsible Elmar but then I really should carry the metre with me too and the CL/ZI have been spoiling me with the built-ins. The cl is a great little camera and in truth likely all the camera I need. With a 40mm/90mm combo, it probably handles about 85% of my normal shooting. Add a 28mm and that goes up to about 95%. (Nothing compares to the ZM 25.) However, I often think I should feel badly liking such a cheap and under rated camera so much. There really is no winning...maybe I should just carry the Canon Digital G2?" Moe, please take your medication and buy yourself a Polaroid Sun 660 Autofocus. Thanks.
 Leica à la mode. June 1, 2006. Tony Rose wrote, "price increase for Leica USA and M8 Delivery! Yep, it is official. There will be a 4 to 5% increase on Leica M lenses and Leica Sport Optics. The M and R cameras along with the à la carte program will not go up until the first of January 2007. Also the Leica Digital M is now offically called the M8 for $4995.00 Black body only at this time. We are told that we will be receiving our first shipment by the second week in October. If you are interested, we are now taking deposits for our first delivery. At this time there are now seven firm slots in the Que. Have a great Summer!" Alkis: "isn't anyone going to say something? How odd to greet the arrival of the M8 with silence...It's coming." Joe (moderator): "makes the RD1 look like a bargain now." Jorge Torralba (Admin and Big Cheese): "deposit check is in the mail tomorrow." George Masters: "crop factor is it for me. I'll never buy any camera with a crop factor---ever. Perhaps by the time the full frame digital Leica camera comes out, I'll have enough cash to get one." Jorge Torralba: "too bad its not chrome I guess this would be a good excuse to get the 75 or 28." How odd to greet the arrival of the M8 with silence...It's coming." JLW: "Tony, Any specs? e.g. framelines, power supply, interface, final crop factor, ISO range, etc.? $5000 seems stiff-ish for a pig in a poke, even if the poke does say Leica on it." Jorge: "with more and more talk of the upcoming Leica digital rangefinder M8 I thought it would be a good idea to have a forum just for it. Now both Epson and Leica fall under a parant forum of Digital Rangefinder cameras. With help from everyone, I hope to make this the number 1 resource for the M8. As soon as I have my M8 I will review it as well." That's just peachy! Well will you look at the time---time to go for a beer.
 One more reason to go with a Cosina manufactured rangefinder! Jorge Torralba did write, "with the Leica Digital M8 moving forward, all new lenses starting in Germany next month will have an electronic contact which tells the camera which frame lines to use. Existing lenses can have the contacts added for 125.00 per lens. New non-gray market lenses purchased since January of this 2006 will be upgraded for free in NJ. NJ has more electronic contacts on order than the entire world due to expected demand for the product." Peanut gallery member: "so we can declare the obsolescence of all M7s, MPs, MP 3s, and maybe several soon to be 'last generation' ASPH lenses?...that's fantastic! Cosina/Epson's RD-1 is looking a tad more interesting at the moment." John Camp (grade school teacher and professional writer): "I've been waiting breathlessly for the new M8 and in preparing for it, I've spent, mmmm ~ $14,000-$16,000 on lenses in the last 6-8 months, which I'm now happily using on an R-D1. If there is not a mechanical link to bring up framelines on the new M8, I'm going to be massively pissed off. But even as I write this, it occurs to me that it wouldn't make sense not to have at least that much backward compatibility---it would mean that everybody with a full M system would be looking at a bunch of useless glass without paying $125 each to have them fixed...or in my case, almost $900 USD. So the more faithful a user you were, the more heavily you'd be screwed." George Masters: "maybe all the gearheads will start dumping their M7s and MPs and I can pick one up for a decent price."
 "Time for a look in the mirror? This has been going on for a while and I'm thinking now is as good a time as any to talk about it...maybe it's time we all look in the mirror. There seems to be a fair bit of thread hijacking going on. Start a thread about beer and optics get pushed down our throat. Start a thread about the philosophy of street shooting and some fool wants to talk about camera bags; and then there are the threads that people love to hate, wrist straps, what colour should my re-skin be, how many 50's should I have, how do I spell opening and will that camera back stay closed with that cheap piece of plastic as a latch!!? And lately, we have fallen into the ever stagnant debate, my camera is bigger/better/smaller, more German, Japanese than your tiny little.... We have nurtured quite a few editorial writers here also. Those who feel it is their moral obligation to tell me how stupid I am for caring about cameras, bags, straps, film, lenses, import or domestic!! Well folks, maybe it's time to look in the mirror. Joe."
 "Try to quick start that tiny shred of insight you might have left and realize that maybe, just maybe, someone out there/here is fed up with you too! fed up with with your moralizing, fed up with the rudeness, the pomposity, the arrogance, etc! Like momma used to say, 'if ya gots nothin good to say, keep it shut boy!' I would like to return to the gentler days but that may not happen. what will be happening is that I'm going to start editing/deleting posts---and please don't start on the freedom of speech thing 'cause we ain't got no constitution or bill of rights here, just 3 moderators and our owner. This is directed at no one in particular, so for those morally superior types out there all ready to condemn someone, well, this just might be about you too! and so i think i will close this thread. it's all been said. and in the end all i really want is for folks to treat each other well. and to those who are feverishly emailing each other, looking for support and conspiring against me...have a lovely evening. Oh, and which metal hood for the 40mm/F2? Cameraquest advertises their 39mm metal hood fits the Leica Summicron 40/2...does anyone here use one on that lens on a CL? Does it interfere with the viewfinder? I'm a fan of the hoods as used on the Canon lenses I had. Joe."
Back alley is Joe Rizzuto. He is a social worker for a non profit organization. Here's his blog, his blogger profile, more: camerareview, toilet poet's society, and airgun chat.
May 24, 2006 John Graham did direct this poo at RFF's backdoor-alley on the Pnut. "A half-case would not keep your bare fingers off the metal advance lever, the metal shutter release, or the metal focus and aperture rings of the lens. For that you would need gloves, and even the thinnest ones would also isolate your right pinkie from touching the base plate---the only part of your anatomy which in shooting would come into contact with a part of the camera not already covered by vulcanite (or leatherette on the M6 and beyond). I do feel a little foolish though. For wasting breath trying to have a sensible discussion with someone who has to reach to great lengths trying to convince himself he's got a legit reason for putting a leather bustier on his Leica." Back-alley Joe did get very mad: "Okay, you win. You have the bigget penis!" But as Joe got to thinking, he did get even more mad and posted these fighting words: "confusing me with facts? Time for your meds pal. You had an argument with yourself about a problem that exists in your mind only. I bought a half case to do a job and that is it. I asked about a price. All the drivel and the dribble is yours."
  "Dear Friends, I do not know how to better express it, but after a clash yesterday with comrade Greyhoundman, I find myself in a kind of situation I do not like. It was my guilt. That was not the first time I behave harsh and even insultive. Fortunately for me I have been never misunderstood. Whenever I felt hurt and upon it delivered my childish counter-blow, no target missed it. Whatever those comrades have felt, it was my purposedly intention they feel it that way. For good as for bad. But after giving a long thought since yesterday, I find that those comrades insinuating me I am over-reacting, are right. This is to be unilateraly changed by me, no matter of circumstances. I find this childish behaviour is not taking me anywhere and therefore a different attitude is requested by me, from myself. I definitely can and will do better. I do not expect anybody to change his attitude accordingly, but I do expect it from myself, in spite of any further unproper way I may find myself victym of. The reason I have for it is not only our loved RFF. But whatever I am, whatever I may be, this is the real stuff I will be passing to my family, my friends, my acquitances, my comrades. Therefore I publicly address any comrade that has been unproperly treated by me, and first of all comrade Greyhoundman, and I do apologize in the most serious manner. Cheers, Ruben Bittermann."
"Public Apology. This is directed at all the members who purchased items from me. I have not taken an extended trip to the south seas or moved to the FSU. I had a rather unpleasent domestic problem. As a result I lost access to my stuff it took me the better part of last week to get things back together and get the stuff shipped (all items were shipped as of last week and some may have arrived already). I have several pages of mail and a full pm box to deal with. I will be contacting all the menbers with shipping info and providing tracking and or copies of the shipping info. It was not my intent to cause anyone undo stress and anyone who simply wants to return any item will be offered a full refund no question. Once again let me offer this apology for the problems caused. John K. (flashover)."
"John, I don't know you, and I have no pending business dealings with you. I am not party to this situation, but due to the circumstances, I think most of us here on RFF have read this or that about it. I have no doubt many have drawn their own conclusions about the situation and about your actions or lack of same. I cannot speak for others, but I feel I have to say this, and I mean it in all honesty and without rancor - this public wearing of the hair shirt strikes me as a unnecessary, unusual, uncomfortable for me to read, and just a tad on the creepy side. If you are experiencing family problems of the sort we are all most likely imagining, then I have full sympathy for you. On the other hand, if you are indeed intending to continue a dishonest enterprise, then I would not be surprised to find lie piled on top of lie, each intended to arouse maximum public sympathy. I have dealt with too many pathological liars in my lifetime, including those in *my* own family, to just instantly accept whatever explanation is given. My potential sympathy is tempered by my personal history. However, neither I nor anyone else here who has not had dealings with you is due any explanation or apology - you have not harmed us in any way. If your reputation has suffered due to forces beyond your control, I feel a better way to restore that reputation would be to engage in dialogue and reparations with those who have pending deals with you, in private. If I know the members of RFF at all well, they'll report positive results as quickly as they reported potential shady dealings. This would mean far more to me than any apology by you. Public apologies are appropriate when a person's actions have wronged or offended a large segment of the public readership of RFF. These seem to be a series of private deals that have experienced, for whatever reason, various problems. I believe your dealings should more properly be with them, not with the rest of us with regard to this issue. These are just my feelings on the matter, please do not interpret this as an attack on your character or my lack of belief in the veracity of your explanations. Best Regards, Bill Buttocks." And do take note that Bill's a guru, and when he's not in church or not fondling cameras, you can find him at RFF anytime of day or night; and please you must visit his not 1 not 2 but 3 websites!
 "An apology to RFF. It just occured to me, in rather vivid form, that I have spent a good deal of time whining on RFF about my own failures and being generally unsatisfied with pretty much everything I buy. It's not right, and I feel an apology is in order. Not to anyone in particular, or even to any group of people, but more to RFF as a body. No more whining from me. No more complaining about workflow or gear. This is a place to practice love of the craft from now on." George Masters (Shutterflower).
 Afzal Ansary did write on the pnut: "is there anything like one too many Leicas? I remember a photojournalist friend of mine saying, 'You do not carry a Leica, you wear one.' As if it is jewellery? Last week I sold my M7, M6 Classic, M1 and two M2s. So what am I left with. Bodies: Leica 111, Leica 111f, M2 with MR-3 meter , M3 with MR-4 meter and M6 TTL. Lenses: CV 4/21mm, 3.5/28mm PasOptik, 2/35mm Summicron, 2.8/35mm with goggles for my M3, 2/50mm Summicron, 2/50mm DR Summicron, 2.8/50mm Elmar, 2.8/90mm Tele- Elmarit, 2.8/90mm Elmarite chrome, 2.8/135mm goggled, 4.5/135mm Hecktor. Have I got one too many bodies or lenses?? Need to off load some equipment. Question: which one & why?" You Fool! Sell all your fake Teutonic crap and buy yourself a Voigtlander Bessa R3A coupled with Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 lens; and stop reading the Putsizms! He's a fucking Leica shill, fool!
"So, I am laying in bed watching Married with Children tonight episode: I who have nothing. Al bundy walks through the front door shooting with what appears to be a black M6 with a 75mm. Episode aired last night and I paused it with my DVR. It had a very evident red dot on the front Not bad for a shoe sales man" (Jorge did write). Too bad you ain't him---an actor, who makes a heap of cash to buy anything he wants, including pookey! You should buy a Bessa. It's much better than a Portuguese red-dotted German Leica. I did, and I'm glad I did! Hey---! Did your wife find out about you using her credit card yet?
 Richard Silfverberg of San Francisco did write, "what was or is your worst rangefinder camera? Worst can be defined in a number of ways, for instance:horrible operation, terrible performance (if fixed lens RF camera for instance), simply never got into it, and/or low reliability (broke a lot, etc)." That would my only Leica, a black professional Leica CL. Even my $10 rangefinders work better than that pricey crap. Thanks. George Masters: "I've noticed an imbalance on RFF We have a huge number of gear threads, people always growing their collections, shifting things around, GAS'ing, etc. Maybe this is normal. Maybe that is nature, that there will be more talk about gear than about the art since gear is more easily discussed and mutually admired than something as abstract and ethereal as the meaning behind a photograph or a technique. We have not as much substance flowing into the galleries as one might expect given the vastness of our gear lust. Sometimes I see very powerful threads slip down the list in relative unimportance beside the superficial topics bustling activity. I'm saying that RFF is full of artless gear-heads." Back-alley Joe: "with a 40/1.4 do I need a 50/1.2? Too much free time breeds questions like this. Just thinking that with a 40/1.4 on hand (soon) will I need that much bigger and heavier 50/1.2 lens? I like having the 50/1.2 for low light shooting, like in the bar---but would a 40/1.4 do as well? It's smaller, lighter and might be easier to get a sharp image with. Serious opinions---smart ass remarks and personal judgements regarding my character as a human being welcome. Doh! Could the obvious elude me more? Just reading the everyday camera thread and it looks like quite a few folk carry an M3 daily. Got me thinking that I don't use the Leica M3 enough despite it being a great camera and one I enjoy using. Then I had this brain fart! If I shot more often I could actually use all my gear and not fret so much about the gear not being used. Time to devise a new time management plan."
 Forums? Sorry, none here. Pick one from the links page for your forum fun. Before you do, however, let me offer some advice. Get a new e-mail address from hotmail and don't use your real name. There are all sorts of nuts out there who will slam you, spam you and even stalk you. Better safe than sorry. So what, if you get accused of being a troll. It's not your real name anyway and you can always rejoin under a fresh one. Besides, everyone who posts is a troll. Another thing, take no one seriously. Experts are few and far between online and virtually none are gentlemen. Of course there are always exceptions. Finally, do not buy anything from a forum member. There is a good chance of getting scammed. Forums offer no guarantee a purchased item will be in the condition described or that it will even be sent. For the most part, forums provide entertainment and help to brush up your writing skills. I believe the best way to get familiar with your camera is to study the manual and go shooting. Trust yourself but keep in mind that false confidence impedes progress. Instructional books are good and articles are good; but watch out with those on-line articles which are slanted and encircled with buy now ads. More advice from Ken and my photo opinions are here.
 Claudia writes: "Well, tomorrow i am off to Ireland and i am taking some of my exotic cameras in addition to the Leica IIIf. unfortunately I will not be able to post on certain forums because I have been banned due to the petty vendettas of Jeff Spierer and Bob Atkins. Many will not be surprised to learn that yes! hobbit+ is quichelorraine, claudia %. Bobo Atkins and Jeffo Spirer are fotoforumfascists and it will be too bad that i will not be able to post jolly good fotos from Ireland on Street and Doc (censored by Jeff) and any other forum that the Ayatolah Atkins controls (all forums) but i will be lifting a creamy pint to those grannies and will be posting under a James Joycian pseudonym upon my return. film at eleven!" - Claudia is one of the many women who got kicked off Photo.net.
 Bob
Atkins (pnut's $3 bill) writes: "banned users who skulk back under an alias will be banned again (and again and again and again if necessary) and all their contributions under alias IDs will be removed." 
  The sad truth begins as an extension of someone's ego, with family members, friends and ass-kissers to moderate and help. So beneath the shiny shell it's rather roguish, consisting of a club of cronies yanking the reins, posting with an onslaught of bogus names; and yes, official sponsors have moderating powers too to do as they please for monetary gain---promote, sell/repair and above all, nourish the ego. For example, take a look at Nikonians and Photo.net. Both are run by chauvinists from an engineer's fraternity. On the surface, Nikonians wants to sell you stuff like stupid hats and camera straps; Photo.net wants to sell you bridal dresses and T-shirts. For the big money, Nikonians has these expensive trips and both they and Photo.net pressures you to pay membership fees for several years in advance. Sure, they'll let you post for free, but after a while they'll bugger you to pay up or else they'll post insults about you and then give you the boot. Dig deeper and you'll discover the dirt. Nikonians is actually a tool for Nikon (sponsored by Nikon), so besides getting paid by them, they get a lot of freebies. Photo.net on the other hand is a fool's tool and its main business is the Leica forum with Bobo Atkins' online shop found here and here. The rest is window dressing. Here are some of Draconian's rat pack: Tom Hoey George T. Barron and Paul Fisher. Are they good photographers? Payroll trolls, maybe, who also like to send insults via e-mail. Now some of the pnut boys (no girls), starting with the owner, Philip Greenspun. He writes, "my attempts to teach people about photography are available here: photo net." Some of his official and back boy crew are: Brian Motor-head Bob Atkins Tony Rowlet Josh Root Trevor Hare and Terry Pittman However, to be fair, there are also many good people on forums and you can make some new friends. 
Draconians isn't the only place you can buy cool hats! Check this out: Flinor (Gerry) wrote, "Running errands this morning it was cool (for Phoenix) so I left the top down. As the day wore on our May weather asserted itself and since I no longer have a thick growth (or any growth) protecting my head from the sun, I reached into the well behind the seats and grabbed a hat. A few minutes and a glance in the mirror and I realized that I'd grabbed my RFF hat which led to the random thought that I'm coming up on three years on this forum and I've never thanked the guys responsible for it. So Jorge, thanks for creating this wonderful, enriching place. And Joe, thanks for doing the tough job and keeping us from descending into anarchy. RML, Hear, hear!Shutterflower, I want a hat. My head is HUGE though. Or just funny shaped. So hats rarely fit. I'm an XL in the one-size fits all category. According to my Carhartt hat, anyway." Ken F: "I second the motion!"
Disclaimer: non-commercial, photopoo is a satire of online photo forums and is solely for amusement and entertainment purposes. This site is not intended for the physically and/or mentally under-aged, nor for the ironically challenged.
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