Is this a good idea?

Let me know what you think

Tim Elder

Hey, friends, just a short note today. I want to hear your opinion.

Kristen and I spent the morning discussing social media, its obvious problems, and its limitations for community connection. For many years, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Bluesky, Threads, and Substack have provided meaningful opportunities for me to connect with photo folks around the world. But things are changing.

Since I don’t live in one of the world’s photography centers, social media is a significant community hub that connects me with my people — I know many of you can relate. These social platforms still provide some value, yet they worsen every year: clogged with video ads, less focused on photography than ever, and increasingly driven by corporate algorithms with interests of their own.

It’s a bummer, and I’m trying to find alternatives to so much scrolling that might offer the nourishing community connections I used to find on these platforms.

Lately, I’ve been revisiting the idea of organizing a virtual photography event series that brings small groups together to hear artists present their work in an online forum. During the pandemic, virtual events were abundant, but I appreciate that most of us are trying to spend less time on screens, not more.

I can’t tell: has the virtual event ship sailed?

Hosting a curated talk series would be fun for me, and I imagine photographers would appreciate the opportunity to share their work with a new audience. What do you think?

Thanks in advance for sharing your opinion with me. This poll isn’t a perfect science, but it will give me some sense of your enthusiasm for this idea. If you prefer, you can leave me a comment or email me directly with your feedback.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Cheers!

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