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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
07-27-2022, 04:04 AM
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Hi all, I'm a big MAYBE for August. Plenty going on for me at the moment and don't want to commit if I don't think I can do the commitment justice. I'm due to join in again though so.... ummmm maybe.
In the meantime, this may be old news around here, however just in case not: I found this video entertaining and thought others would as well:
You Tube
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LnhZOrwMHmY?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
06-29-2022, 10:17 PM
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Woohoo! Well done and congratulations. This is quite epic.
I knew you were talking about doing a film SIC recently, however did not realise that it was happening. I kind of follow along when I'm not actively involved, although in a 'now and then' relaxed way and obviously missed this essential event.
I apologize that I haven't been cheering for you throughout the month. I look at the shots all together now and there are some really lovely images. Even more so, the whole album ties together and connects wonderfully well as a series, and presents as one of the most cohesive month of shots that I recall seeing.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
06-28-2022, 12:42 AM
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An interestingly diverse clutch of lenses. Nice one!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
06-27-2022, 04:44 AM
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Ooohhh Ahhhh... My ears have lifted. I just received a copy of the 105/2.4 too. My plan is to shift stitch it mostly, 4 frames, so as to gather the full 6 x 7 offering. Would be great to single that lens together, however I'm restricted to freelensing it at this stage as I don't yet have a mount for it! Don't let my lens buddy dreams deter you jumping straight in with it though, it might take me a while to get my shift stitching setup sorted for that much shift.
Eager to hear what else was in your windfall.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
06-23-2022, 03:28 AM
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Nice Tsuken!!! I really do love these.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-31-2022, 12:09 AM
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Yes definitely. Apologies if I came across as disparaging towards images that remain on the screen. That was not my intent. There are many individuals here, and just as many paths to walk, I can only speak for myself of course.
Yes, it costs money for sure. I bought the monitor calibrator shortly after the printer, and will likey at some stage upgrade to an external monitor that is more accurate. My needs here are less immediate than many others as I'm printing almost exclusively in monochrome.
Good tip about the city waste management, there must be something similar in Hobart. I'll follow that up, thanks.
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---------- Post added 05-31-22 at 12:47 AM ----------
End of the Month Wrap Up.
It was, as always, a grand pleasure to be along for the ride with you all. The lens is a winner, nothing has changed since mid month. I'd say this is the lens that will see the most use for me over the coming months and (hopefully) years. It's my home focal length, it does everything I need, it's not too big, it's a pleasure to use, I can service it myself. What more could I ask for?
The daily requirement to produce an image has me, of course, presenting some images that would otherwise never see the light of day. At the same time, each month that I join in with you guys, I end up with two or three images that I really like, one's that I probably would not have come up with otherwise. This is a great thing.
By month's end, each month I have done this, I do get a bit ready to stop the daily routine. This is nothing to do with the lens, or the daily shooting - this is just about turning the computer on each day. I very much enjoy the give and take that we all share, however computers give me a foggy head and I generally like to go a couple or a few days between computer sessions. As such I'm going to skip June, and likely July as well and rejoin sometime after that.
I am also looking forward to pulling out the wide options and putting them through their paces over the next little while - it's as much about solving the puzzle of my ideal minimal lens kit as anything else.
I've also signed up for a 3 day (nights actually) workshop on 'Low Light Photography' during June and am looking forward to that. The only downside is that I tend to come in to the warmth when the sun goes down rather than head out into the dark and cold. (Not cold like most of you guys experience, but cold enough) and dark here is dark . Walking on a dark night without a torch is to walk by sound and feel alone. So it will be interesting to see what we come up with in our low/no light photography adventures.
Turns out that 5 'rolls of film' was a touch on the generous side for the month, I only used 4. I'm happy about that.
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My favourite image for the month?...
My favourite imagine I took this month did not even get chosen on the 16th when it was taken. Go figure.
 2022-05-16-003 by Michael Floyd, on Flickr
Edited to add: Is that really my favourite image for the month? I thought so but now I see it here in the thread I'm not so sure. Maybe I'm just indecisive Lol.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-29-2022, 01:48 AM
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So spot on.
---------- Post added 05-29-22 at 01:50 AM ----------
Excellent!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-28-2022, 03:28 AM
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There's even a special theme day aimed squarely at one of your favoured subjects.
I will skip June, and enjoy a month or two of turning the computer on a whole lot less. But I will be back!!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-27-2022, 04:17 AM
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Yes, I agree. It feels very much to me about getting better photographs, rather than just more photographs - I'm about to push the shutter... 'Would I print it?' is my silent question to myself.. I also agree that if you have a printing lab near enough to outsource the printing that could certainly be an option, or at least a way to begin to see how it all feels for you. For me everything has to come by post and for some reason the photo labs charge a crazy amount for the postage, it was just getting too expensive.
The general consensus seems to be that Canon and Epson are the only real players for enthusiastic amateurs. Prices for the printer and the inks are variable by region, so you'd have to see what the situation is in your part of the world.
Big thing is that it is an ongoing expense. You have to keep using these machines otherwise they clog up, at least once a fortnight. It is the ink that is the real cost, and the less often you print the greater percentage of your ink gets used by the machine to keep the jets clean. So the equation to work out a costing is a bit hazy.
I've resolved to print the equivalent of 3 or 4 A4 sized prints each week and have costed that out over a three year period. Sometimes that might be half a dozen smaller A5 prints to tack up on the the wall where I can see them throughout the day, let them settle in my mind and thoughts, appraise them over a longer period of time. Other weeks I might make one A3 print and one A4 one, ones that I previously printed smaller and have decided they are worthy. I'm not thinking that if I make a print it has to be framed behind glass and placed somewhere special, maybe one or two a year for this. Mostly up on the wall like a poster, on the fridge, leaning up on the window, anywhere - to be replaced at some stage with a different print when I feel I've looked at it enough. I've started a folder of the ones that have seen their time on the wall.
There's also a bit of a learning curve, monitor calibration and such things so that your screen reasonably represents the print, not necessarily a given.
Definitely worth spending a good while researching the whole process before leaping in. This is a fabulous source of information: https://www.northlight-images.co.uk/ |
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-27-2022, 01:51 AM
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My prescription is to get yourself a dedicated Image Printer. For me, an image on the screen is no longer the final result, just a stage on the way. A print is a photograph. Something to savour, something to allow to settle into your conciousness over a period of time and to grow in it's offering to you - either as a great thing to be proud of, or as something that didn't quite hit the mark but that shows clearly where and how the mark was missed.
I'm a bit 'Born Again" about this I admit. (no offence intended to any people of faith) However, printing regularly and at home is really focussing my intent, while at the same time cutting a whole load of chaff from the equation of what's actually important.
One other thing I'm discovering: Friends love being randomly handed a print as a gift, they end up on fridges and walls for many eyes to see.
---------- Post added 05-27-22 at 02:29 AM ----------
May '22 must be World Navel Gazing Month or some such thing as I have been considering long and hard since my 'lens list' post from a few days ago.
I've decided to stop procrastinating, to stop twiddling my thumbs with a lack of conviction about getting my gear reduced.
I've flipped the whole thing on it's head - rather than: what can I do without from this list of gear that I own? I've turned the question into: if I was buying again from scratch with what I now know, in what order would I buy things? and at what point would I stop buying?
The new list looks like this: General item first, specific to me item in brackets.
Stuff by order of aquisition.
- Camera, plus spare battery. (GFX50R)
- Normal prime lens. 40-60mm. (P645-A 75/2.8, on helicoid adaptor for semi-macro)
- Camera bag. (Tenba BYOB10)
- Computer. (Dell laptop)
- Raw editing software. (Capture One)
- Image Printer with ink and paper. (Canon Pro-300)
- Tripod, ballhead and L-Bracket. (Leofoto LS-254C)
I could actually stop there and be happy. That's what I've been using this month. I've rarely been feeling the need for a different focal length, sure it would open possibilities and creative outlets but need? Nah.
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What would I add next?
- Tele prime 100-135mm. (P645-A 150/3.5)
- Wide prime 28-35mm. (I own a few possibilities, none are perfect. I have a great 28equiv, but much prefer 35.)
This is where I reckon I stop aquiring and sort out the wide prime thing.
So, that makes my task a whole lot easier. Tomorrow I'm going to put everything away, well packed away, a bit difficult to get at - except the above and the options for the wide prime. I'll solve the wide prime uncertainty, add the winner to the keepers and deep freeze the losers.
Then I'll just get on with shooting and printing with that kit. If I feel a real need or desire for something else, chances are that I've got something that will fit the need - out it comes, welcome to the kit.
After a year or so, I'm reckoning if I haven't pulled it out of storage I'm probably just as happy without it, whatever it is.
I like this plan.
So I guess at the end of this month I'll turn to bouncing between the wide options, and the next SIC I do will be with whichever lens gets the nod.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-26-2022, 12:50 AM
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I can relate to that.
Not such a crazy list. And SO eclectic! Some smokers in there.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-25-2022, 04:39 AM
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This talk about how many lenses we own has me thinking through mine, wondering where I could cut a few out. I admit to feeling kind of ridiculous owning this many and take great inspiration from people like Jersey who are happy with just 4. If I could reduce to just one camera I could do 5 lenses pretty easily.
I listed them, at least I know them well enough to do this entirely from memory, and looking at the list I know all except two of them very well, and those two are in the 'Don't use' category because I never took to them, both are heavier zooms, just not my thing. Then I went through each category, which is by camera, and starred the ones that I'd cut down to if pushed. I guess the ones left without stars are the ones that I should put on the list to Single so that I can free myself from them forever, or know that I should keep them.
Of note and definitely a consideration on keepers is that many lenses play well on more than one camera - of course all the PK lenses work on Fuji-X, although some better than others. That said I think other than the F*300, and maybe the A-50/2.8 Macro, I'm pretty much done adapting PK lenses to FX. A few of the PK lenses also do amazingly on GFX and they are a lightweight dream being used as such, the A-50/2.8 and the A-100/2.8 make a smashing lightweight pair giving me 40 and 80mm equiv as well as decent semi macro. In theory I could use the P645 lenses on anything, in practice though the adaptors are so massive it's kind of comical and I just would not bother, there's no gain, except maybe for tilt/shifting but I'm not that into it.
The reality at the moment is that I walk out the door with the GFX and between 1 and 3 lenses, almost exclusively P645 lenses, occasionally a pair of PK lenses although the lighter setup seems to be more of a percieved advantage than an actual one as I never find what I carry too heavy. The liitle pro-3 gets grabbed for the tele zoom if I see a nice view in the distance at home, but I'm not heading out the door with it in a bag. The K1000 is sitting idle with a half shot film in it. Many of the PK lenses are being kept for some future time when I might be adapting to 36 x 24, but are in deep freeze for now.
The list:
GFX
P645-A 35/3.5 *
P645-A 45/2.8 (the weakest 645 lens, such a shame as I really like 35 equiv as my wide, which remains an unsolved issue.)
P645-A 55/2.8 *
P645-A 75/2.8 *
P645-A 120/4M *
P645-A 150/3.5 *
PK
K 28/3.5 (Just keeping for the day in the future when I decide that I'm ready to start to love something wider than 35 Lol. )
K 35/3.5 * (My favourite K-mount 35)
M 40/2.8 (It's just so small, and actually really really good. But not needed as such.)
A 50/2.8M * (love this lens)
K 55/1.8 * (I kept this one over all the other non macro 50's, the 1.4's the 1.7. I like it being slightly longer, I think it overall makes subjectively slightly nicer images. It's usable on GFX as long as one is not too fussy about the very corners.)
M 85/2 (As much as it is awesome, the A100/2.8 is a scratch better and more my focal length, so if pushed to choose it would go.)
A 100/2.8 * (Just a fabulous lens, long MFD is the only slight downside)
A 100/4M (relatively new to me, doesn't really excite me, actually prefer shorter focal lengths for close ups.)
A 135/2.8 (Like the A100/2.8 - just great.)
F*300/4.5 * (use on FX with the 1.4 TC - actually I personally don't ever use this lens, I hand it off to my girlfriend and she kindly takes photo's of me surfing. Special use scenario. )
A 35-70/4 (really like the close up ability, kind of fun to have a zoom once in a while. Surprisingly does just fine on GFX from 40-70)
FX
VE 21/3.5 *
VX 35/1.2 *
Loxia 50/2 *
XF 55-200 *
Own but never use.
P645-A 45-85/4.5
A 35-105/3.5
XF 18-55
M 400/5.6
p.s. Thanks for indulging me. It's useful for me to have written the list out and considered which lenses do and don't get used and for what.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-25-2022, 03:02 AM
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You are indeed hard core Dave, and I mean that in the most complimentary way.
One thing that is certain is that you have carved out a recognisable style, and that is such a admirable thing. When I scroll down the Flickr SIC group image feed, I know which ones are yours, almost without exception.
---------- Post added 05-25-22 at 03:07 AM ----------
It's a great lens, one of my keepers. Mine has a pretty decent chip in the front element which bothered me at first. Now I know that I've never seen any ill effect from it and remember that I got the lens for very very little money indeed because of it, (and the fact that it needed to be opened up for a clean and lube.) Interestingly, it covers the GFX sensor with only the very slightest hint of something not quite right in the very corners, totally not noticable in most images. What that means in practice is that on 36x24 you need not worry about those corners at all.
---------- Post added 05-25-22 at 03:19 AM ----------
I would suggest to go with the month delay as you say but simply post in the current month image threads. Gentleman's honesty around shooting days and such (which is all there ever really is anyhow.) Or for anyone with a shorter turn around time just go a 7 day (or whatever) delay.
Unfortunately although I did suggest a film SIC to Peter, I can't at this stage join in myself. I have all the developing gear and the scanning at home is no problems - what I'm short of at the moment is a tap! Well, I have a hose, but no sink or waste water management arrangement, and I'm not inclined to dump nasty chemicals on my land which leads a couple of hundred meters down the creek into the bay. The local lab that will hand process for me charges too much for me to use them more than once in a blue moon (and they do a not great job). So at the moment I've put film on the backburner, which is a shame as it is what I enjoy the most. Sorry Peter to get the excitement rising and not be able to join in.
---------- Post added 05-25-22 at 03:22 AM ----------
I agree with this completely Ismo - Photography can be a bit expensive but compared to a lot of other pursuits is is very cheap indeed!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-23-2022, 03:01 AM
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I think it's great that you've turned your focus to film Peter. Did I read in one of your comments that you are doing your own processing and scanning? Perhaps you might consider doing a film SIC?
---------- Post added 05-23-22 at 03:15 AM ----------
Ditto for me. I thought it might verge on heresy around these discussions to express a desire for less, rather than more, lenses. I sometimes feel like I'm getting on top of it, as I keep reducing and am no longer adding to the list. Then I put them all out together and realise that I'm kidding myself. One camera and half a dozen lenses would be ideal for me. I'm actually almost doing the half dozen lenses thing, if you count that half dozen for each of my three cameras.
Even sillier is that I'm really not using two of the cameras and their attendant lenses at the moment. But I can't not own a film camera, that would confuse me. And I thought the X-pro3 was a keeper until it dropped.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-19-2022, 02:09 AM
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I've just hopped over to your site while I have a quick moment on my phone - First impressions are that you have quite an impressive body of work there! I see a lot that appeals to me. I'm going to make some time to have a proper look in the next few days when I can give your images the time they obviously deserve.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-18-2022, 12:34 AM
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To AggieDad, I wanted to comment on your photo for the 17th.
You didn't exactly talk it up in the daily image thread, however I really like it - a lot. The lines, shapes and textures. The slightly grungy feel, the toppled witches hat. If you hadn't mentioned what the scene was, I would not have guessed. Your image poses questions. I think it's great.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-17-2022, 02:47 AM
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Awesome, a beast of a board! I've only ridden one once but thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-16-2022, 01:39 AM
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The A 645 75/2.8 is a ripper of a lens. 240 grams of sharp to the edges goodness, I haven't seen the remotest hint of anything unpleasant from this lens at all. And if we're looking for excitement, I absolutely relish the natural output that I feel that I'm getting, no need to touch the 'sharpening' - ever. No need to push and pull and massage the files. (Note: On the adaptor, the lens is twice the length and twice the weight, so no longer small at all.)
To hit what I feel is the essence of the point more directly on - If we compare this lens to the K mount lenses on the same sensor, (ie looking at an image enlarged from an equal sensor area) then this 75 is about equal to the better K mount lenses, I don't feel that it would be a standout on aps-c at all. However putting it on a larger sensor really takes the pressure off lens performance in my experience. Not only is the enlargement ratio from sensor size to final image just half of what it would be from aps-c, also the required aperture for an equivalent depth of field is a whole 2 stops narrower, which even further takes the pressure off the lens. (There are notable downsides to this as well, sometimes slooooow shutter speeds and/or high ISO's.) So if I'm shooting my 75 at f/2.8, to be equivalent on aps-c you'd need to be shooting a 35mm at f/1.4 - It's just a whole lot easier to make a lens do 75/2.8 nicely than 35/1.4.
The last thing I'm intending to do by saying this is to brag about how big mine is (my er.... sensor) Just saying it how I see it over and over, old lenses do far better on bigger sensors. There are exceptions of course, ones with mushy edges, but the general trend is undeniable.
So how's my lens? My lens is just fine thanks. But it is my lens/camera combination that really lets the lens shine.
Note for those that haven't read enough already, Lol: You might notice my conversions are a bit creative - how does 75mm on 33 x 44 equal 35mm on aps-c? I know, I know... I've gone around and around this so many times in my notebook. My only answer is that it is not the exact science that the maths would imply. When the native aspect ratio changes from 3:2 to 4:3 things just feel a bit longer or shorter or somehow just different. I played with doing the conversion on long side, on short side, on diagonal and on area, and none of them feel exactly equivalent. Now I just accept that it's a slightly mushy conversion.
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A lot of what I enjoy about this Single Challenge is the restriction to a single focal length, rather than details about the lens' performance as such. In this respect, 60mm equiv is very comfortable for me. I think in the previous challenges I've done, I've felt a bit of focal length frustration - you know, not being able to frame up a shot for want of something longer or shorter. I'm not feeling that this month.
One challenge for myself for the future will be to do a SIC with something wide - Not my comfort zone at all! I'll do it, I just haven't decided yet whether I should work my way down the focal lengths, or just smash in with a wide and fumble and blunder my way through.
My other pending mission is to drill down a favourite pair of focal lengths. I don't really like carrying three lenses, two is much nicer. Of course this doesn't fit with the SIC theme, however what I learn here definitely plays into the thought process. In my months off from SIC I'm often working on the two lens thing.
---------- Post added 05-16-22 at 01:48 AM ----------
I can understand that one! I have a long history with windsurfing, most recently on a Lechner D2, which is such a different experience to a flat bottomed board. Here's a video from a few years ago if you're interested:
You Tube
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNBLI0pGM70?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-12-2022, 11:28 PM
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For Womble:
Beautiful shot for the 12th, (Knebworth Churchyard). I love the mood, the gentle lighting and the framed and obscured OOF background.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-10-2022, 01:51 AM
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Thanks Ismo, for some reason 'comments on photo's you've commented on' had been unchecked. Fixed.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-10-2022, 12:30 AM
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Can anyone help me with Flickr notifications?
I used to get notified when more or less anything happened connected with anything I've uploaded or commented on. Now I only seem to get notifications for comments or likes on my images, I don't get any heads up if there is a reply to a comment of mine on someone else's image. I don't really mind terribly except that if I comment and that person replies I'd like to follow through rather than just comment and move on in a throw away manner.
Have those next level notifications been moved? gone altogether? Or am I maybe having a brain fade and the answer is staring me in the face?
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-02-2022, 01:07 AM
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Definitely well deserved!!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-29-2022, 12:42 AM
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You've got a few books if I remember correctly....?
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