DPReview Against Photogs Receiving Credit
I’m unsure why, but DPReview Is Against Photographers Receiving Credit for Their Work. All of this has come to a head with my banishment from DPReview forums due to an obvious feud I have with moderator Mako2011. Yesterday I posted a link to my recent blog post titled, Even Digital Camera World Doesn’t Give Photographers Credit, in the DPReview Open Talk forum. It’s a post highlighting how Digital Camera World regularly leaves the photographer’s credit off photos used by the online magazine. The Blog post goes into detail on why a credit line is so important for photographers who have an interest in building a career. I’ve been writing about this issue for over ten years now. The entire blog post is all about HELPING other photographers. My banishment from DPReview is for “promoting myself.” In a nutshell, if you can’t get publishers to give you fair market value for your images, you certainly better get something in return, and that’s where a credit line comes in. As far as I’m concerned, the Blog post was a community service message. But not according to Mako2011.
I mention in the Blog post that it was 45+ years of a credit line that reads © Daniel J Cox/naturalexposures.com that has allowed me to segue from a career of selling photos to a career of teaching photography.
Apparently, Mako2011, the Open Talk forum moderator on DPReview thinks somehow educating his readers on the issues of making a living at photography is too self-promotional. How, in the name of Benjamin, does educating others about the business side of photography qualify for promoting myself and my website? And that’s apparently what moderator Mako2011 thinks I was doing. How many photographers who’ve actually made their full-time living from photography frequent these forums? Very few. And if Mako2011 would survey his readers, I would bet the vast majority appreciate true professionals joining the conversations and sharing their knowledge.
Below is a screenshot of the first time I was banned and the short note at the top of why I was banned this time. No information on this ban as to why he decided to block me. In my last ban, he mentions, “User was banned in the past for posting numerous threads promoting his commercial website in the body of his posts.” Mako2011 goes on to say that I have been “promoting and pushing folks to his site…offers paid tours, referral links and such”. Part of this is correct, like “Paid Tours” that are virtually all sold out. Nobody can get on our tours by coming through our website. “Referral links?” That’s completely fabricated. I’ve NEVER had advertising on my website, unlike DPReview, which has advertising everywhere. And his most pointed accusation, “and such” WTH is “and such?” Maybe this is the section he throws all other things into, like his jealousy factor.
Maybe this guy should have checked my 1132 Total Messages on DPReview with 70 threads I started that had nothing to do with self-promotion. Most were about settings and camera info that has been helpful to others. Every once in a while, my thread is short and to the point, with a link to my blog with an extended article. Does this guy really think I’m going to rewrite the entire subject for DPReview when it’s already on my blog? That’s what Mako2011 seems to have his underwear in a bundle about.
Anyway, I have no plans to contest my banishment. As far as I’m concerned, it’s good riddance to Mako2011. One guy has the power to be Judge, Jury, and executioner to the detriment of the others who follow DPReview.
By the way– Gear Patrol, the new owner of DPReview, might be interested in how readers are affected by this one overzealous moderator Mako2011. You can email Gear Patrol’s Chief Content Officer, Ben Bowers, at bbowers@gearpatrol.com. It would be helpful if he understood how one guy can affect his new business. Give him the link to this blog post.
Rush2112On Jan. 2nd, 2025
He is one of the big reasons that DPR is a shell of its former self. On top of that, the writing style has become only a 3rd arm to camera companies, I find almost no value to any of the reviews they post and haven’t for a while. In short, the wrong people are in charge of a site that could be run so much better and be so much more successful.
Roy KayOn Sep. 22nd, 2024
Simon Joinson is no longer involved in management. The link below will identify the current employees. A lot of the old crew is gone. However, the general manager is not very helpful either. Amazon dropped DPR and they almost did not make it. They found a publisher to continue DPR but this publisher was not involved in serious photography.
Mako2011 does not appear to understand the words he reads or he doesn’t care what is being said. DPR will not do much about Mako2011 or the other bad moderators because the moderators are all unpaid volunteers I believe. Where would they find someone who has nothing to do all day but moderate DPR?
https://www.dpreview.com/about
Daniel J. CoxOn Oct. 2nd, 2024
Your comment, specifically, ” Where would they find someone who has nothing to do all day but moderate DPR?” says it all Roy.
HJOn Aug. 9th, 2024
Mako2011 guy is a mindless idiot. In the past we were lucky to didn’t have him as our moderator but since Tog Guy left he has become our biggest pain,
Daniel J. CoxOn Aug. 9th, 2024
Thanks for the update. I’m still banned. Have tried a couple of times to post something but it never appears. I’ve moved on from DPReview. No need for the frustration. Thanks for joining our conversation out here on the Blog.
BasOn Dec. 27th, 2023
After my second encounter with this Mako2011 guy I am totally pissed off. I am an active DPR member since 2005. This guy removes posts at will. In my case some questions about images in another forum. Bang, removed. When I ask I am basically half banned. What a guy, to drive the last few active posters away from the Canon FF dslr forum.
Please contact Simon Johnson directly and complain about Mako2011 directly. If enkugh people complain to Simon it will get through eventually.
Daniel J. CoxOn Jan. 9th, 2024
Good info Bas. Thanks for letting me know. How do we contact this Simon guy and who is he?
Bene PlacitoOn Sep. 6th, 2023
He’s obviously un-educated and has had NO training in how to be a moderator. I’ve seen him in action on any number of occasions where he has made strange, unassociated and quite puerile comments/decisions.
“Moderators” such as him, damage forum sites.
B
Daniel J. CoxOn Sep. 6th, 2023
It’s interesting. I had a runnin with this same guy a couple years ago. I’ve been posting ever since in many other forums than the one he’s in charge of which I believe is the General Photography Forum. I had many posts over that time that I offered advice that was also linked back to my blog but nobody else ever had a problem with it. Until the day I added the post to HIS forum without knowing he was the dude I had issues with. Then bang, he bans me for posting about a photography related issue that ALL photographers should be concerned with. He’s a piece of work to say the least and I have no interest in doing anything with DPReview because of this guy. Thanks for your input.
Rene ThebergeOn Jul. 23rd, 2023
Well, this is BS. Sounds like the moderator has power/control issues.