The Image Maker
for Ontario Leaders in Photography Education
Volume 2023-4: April 6, 2023
R.I.P. DPReview
A Big Loss to the Photographic Community!
By Bharat Mistry, O3C Past President
The photographic community is built with many components that have become valuable resources as we develop our Art. Unfortunately, one of the cornerstones that many of us have come to rely on for reliable information will no longer exist.
DPreview.com was one of the most respected and well-known websites in the photography industry, offering in-depth reviews, news, and analysis for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Unfortunately, its run came to an abrupt end in late 2022 when Amazon, the website's owner since 2007, decided to shut it down by April 10, 2023. This decision by Amazon has sent shockwaves through the photography community. DPreview has been a go-to source for photography news, reviews, and discussion for over two decades, and its closure will leave a significant void in the industry.
The decision to cancel DPreview.com was met with shock and disappointment from its loyal readership, who had come to rely on the site for unbiased and thorough coverage of the latest cameras, lenses, and photography accessories. Many wondered why Amazon would take such a drastic step, particularly given the site's popularity and reputation.
According to reports, Amazon's decision was driven by a shift in the company's strategic priorities. With the rapid growth of its e-commerce business and the ongoing expansion of its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division, the company apparently decided that DPreview.com no longer aligned with its long-term goals.
While this decision may have made sense from a business perspective, it was a major blow to the photography community, which had come to view DPreview.com as an essential resource. The site's team of experienced editors and reviewers had built a reputation for producing insightful and objective content that was trusted by photographers around the world. Its closure left a void in the industry that has yet to be filled.
In the wake of DPreview.com's demise, some have speculated that a new site may emerge to take its place. Others have pointed to the importance of supporting independent media outlets that prioritize editorial integrity and objectivity, rather than being beholden to corporate interests.
One of the most immediate effects of the closure will be the loss of a trusted source for camera and lens reviews. DPreview's team of expert reviewers have a reputation for providing thorough, unbiased, and honest assessments of the latest gear. Many photographers have relied on DPreview's reviews to make informed purchasing decisions, and the closure of the site will leave them without a reliable alternative.
The closure of DPreview will also have an impact on the broader photography community. The site has long been a hub for discussion and debate among photographers, with its forums attracting a wide range of participants, from amateurs to professionals. The loss of this platform for discussion and community-building will be keenly felt by many.
In addition to the impact on individual photographers, the closure of DPreview will also have wider implications for the industry as a whole. The site has played a significant role in shaping the photography landscape, with its reviews and editorial content often influencing the direction of product development. The absence of this influential voice may lead to a less diverse and innovative industry in the future.
Overall, the decision by Amazon to shut down DPreview.com is a blow to the photography community. Its loss will be felt not only by those who relied on it for reviews and discussion but also by those who recognize its broader impact on the industry. The future of photography remains uncertain in the wake of this news, but one thing is clear: the void left by DPreview will be difficult to fill.
Whatever the future holds for photography media, it is clear that DPreview.com will be sorely missed. Its legacy as a trusted and authoritative source of information for photographers will endure, even as the industry continues to evolve and change.
The Toronto Focal Forum
by Leif Petersen
Let's have a show of hands. How many of you have heard of, or know anything about,
the Toronto Focal Forum (TFF)? Not many! I am a relatively new member of the TFF, having joined in 2016, but it is a membership that I thoroughly enjoy and I’m glad to share some of its history and present day with you.
The Forum began in 1939, the year that WW2 started. The original members were
involved in printing as a profession: trade journals, newspapers, magazines, etc. They
got together as a discussion group to share their photography. The TFF’s current longest standing continuous member, Laurence Sitwell, has been a member since 1975. You will be interested to know that another of our longest standing continuous members, Tom Yates, joined in 1977 and was also one of the founding members of the O3C’s predecessor, the Greater Toronto Council of Camera Clubs. Tom recently wrote a ‘history’ about the Forum and I’ve referred to that to prepare this article.
Besides Tom, there are a few other members’ names that you might recognize from
camera clubs: Carm and Judy Griffin, Vince Sheridan, David Kennedy, Nick
Janushewski and others. Most of you will also recognize the name Kas Stone, who has
been a member of the Forum for many years, as was her father. During COVID, she was an inspirational member joining us online, from Nova Scotia, where she now lives.
From the beginning, the Forum’s ethos was, “We Are All Equals” and that is what we
follow today. We are all experienced photographers who share a passion for the printed
photograph, our “chosen form of artistic expression”. We are also a social group in that our bi-weekly meetings, at a Toronto restaurant, begin with drinks, dinner, and conversation before the print review process begins. The reviews result in lively, candid, honest and constructive discussions and we come away from the meetings feeling inspired, with a different way of looking at our own, and others, art. Everyone is expected to participate in the critiquing, which can be a daunting challenge for a newbie; it can take a while to get comfortable with it, but a lot is learned in the process.
Like all other photography groups of an age, the Forum has progressed through the darkroom to Lightroom, from B&W to colour, from film to digital. Tom noted in his piece: “My memory tells me that the first digital print at the Forum was made by Carm Griffin. Carm said he left the computer processing the file to the printer, went to bed and saw his print the next morning.”
We don’t think of the Forum as a typical ‘camera club’. Besides our meeting format, one thing that stands out for new members, particularly those who were, or are, camera club members, is that we don’t have competitions and don’t expect anyone to follow the usual rules. We look at photography as art, and art has no rules. We embrace all genres and styles of work and welcome those who may be looking for an environment where we are all pursuing the same objective.
Like every other photographic group, the Forum turned to Zoom for meetings through the COVID period. That certainly kept us going, but obviously prevented us from viewing prints. We were very happy to return to live meetings on February 16, 2023. Everyone who joined us for our first live meeting in almost 3 years came away very happy. It was a wonderful evening of camaraderie, enjoying the dinner and table conversation, but mostly for the chance to share and view actual prints again. It was overdue!
The Forum is a small, supportive group of photographic artists and membership is by invitation to those who have completed a portfolio review and attended as a guest, to become familiar with our format. If you are interested in learning more about the Toronto Focal Forum or pursuing membership, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
Your club can be featured in a future issue of our newsletter. Send your Club Profile or Highlight to education@o3c.ca
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O3C Upcoming Events
O3C Travel Day
Visit https://o3c.ca/tds2023/ for the schedule and to register.
Saturday, Apr 22, 2023, 09:30 AM
Edithvale Community Centre, Finch Avenue West, North York, ON, Canada
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What's Up in Other Clubs?
Capture Oakville Photography Competition and Gala
With over 80 stunning photographs to view, come and enjoy the opportunity to meet members of the community and see what the Oakville Camera Club is all about. Entry is free.
Assorted finger food will be served. Refreshments - wine and beer will be sold. Cash only bar.
Friday, Apr 21, 2023, 07:00 PM
Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, Bridge Road, Oakville, ON, Canada
GRIPS Creative Photography Workshop taught by Jason Panda.
Photoshop software. In this workshop, we'll step through a series of short exercises that
will unlock Photoshop and open the door to new possibilities. Armed with your collection of images, we'll combine ideas, enhance colours, overlay textures and reflect on powerful visuals. By the end of the workshop, we'll have explored layers, adjustment layers, blending modes, layer masks, and a variety of manipulation and transformation tools.
Please bring a few photos, your imagination, and a willingness to
explore and discover new possibilities.
The fee for non-members is $30.00.
For more information about this workshop and to sign-up, please follow this link: https://www.gripskw.ca/.../creative-photography-jason-panda/
Saturday, Apr 22, 2023, 09:30 AM
Kitchener East Presbyterian Church, Zeller Drive, Kitchener, ON, Canada
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About Us
Email: education@o3c.ca
Website: o3c.ca
Phone: 6133894162
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/o3cfbgroup/