I also believe in having specialized galleries so images aren't lost on the mix. As far as losing members, I've seen a decline in the repor on this forum since I began as a member. I'm on other forums that are more positive and offer cc without squelching the posters spirit for photography. Those other forums will block those that continually put down other members in an inappropriate manner.

This forum has a reputation for harsh criticism. If you post a comment or image, you better be able to take it. Some grow and some shrink with this type of criticism.

I still enjoy reading posts from longtime members that have so much knowledge to offer. And I'm one of the first replies that will not tolerate inappropriate dialogue.

While I am a relatively new member here (about 5-6 months), I felt really good about the learning experiences I had hoped to find here. I even recommended this site to a few friends who, like me, were really interested in all this site could provide.

At first it was a good thing for me. Unfortunately, I have been seeing the really ugly side of many members and that has almost made me decide to leave. I don't have favorites -- if I like a photo, I say so. If I don't like a photo, I try to decide why I don't like it and learn from the comments made about it, but I say nothing, only because I am relatively new to the style of photography I want to learn and do not feel qualified to say something. If I have something that would be constructive or a comment in general, I might post it but I have the feeling that other members are going to give me "what for" for having said something, so I say nothing. And I read all the comments in an effort to glean information that will be helpful to me. I know how to "search" for information and do that regularly. But, I must say that the snide remarks and hateful comments of so many here don't convince me to stay.

With that in mind, since I recently purchased a Nikon camera and lenses, I also joined the Nikonians. Now I am sure there are websites for Canon users, Leica users, Pentax, etc., so I am not saying the Nikonians website is better because it is a group of Nikon users with "better" equipment.

What I will say is this: The people on that web-site are respectful, make constructive comments and offer ways to improve, and always make notice of their new users. They are willing to offer advice about lenses, camera bodies, and to try to work with "newbies" such as I to improve my photography skills. They recommend books, other websites, and generally try to cooperate and help those who are trying to learn more and create better photographs. But most important of all, they do not argue among each other and criticize the knowledge or lack thereof, of other members.

While I started out here posting a few photos of which I was proud, I quickly realized that only 3 members even bothered to comment, one way or another, about them. I am thick skinned and can take constructive criticism; never having a comment left me realizing that much as I wanted to, I just did not fit in. I guess I was NOT a member of one of those cliques. Ok, no problem. So I come to read and try to learn, and hopefully see some photographs that I like and enjoy.

With all this in mind, I hope the new galleries will be more beneficial and that members will feel welcome to participate. Time will tell. Until I see how it goes, I will remain on the sidelines.