This is a very brief guide to posting in the new rec.photo hierarchy. It's not a substitute for reading the group charters, but it's a lot shorter. When in doubt, read the group charters (http://www.cyberenet.net/~eos/).
If you want to post a question please read the appropriate FAQs first. You can find the list of rec.photo FAQs at:
You should also try to find previous posts about the same subject (sometimes someone ask somwthing about which a lenghty discussion has happened just the previous week). A good place for search such old posts is:
Is the posting a binary image file (JPEG, GIF etc)?
If so, don't post it. Binary postings are not permitted in the rec groups,
including the rec.photo groups. Check out the alt.binaries.pictures groups.
Is the posting an advertisment for a business or service?
If so, then DON'T POST IT! The group charters all explicitly prohibit
commercial advertising.
Are you selling a an item of personal used equipment related to
photography, or are you looking to buy such equipment?
If so, then post in rec.photo.marketplace.
Is the post about darkroom work?
That includes any non-digital item of darkroom equipment or any
(chemical) darkroom technique If so, post in rec.photo.darkroom
Is the post about digital imaging, including PhotoCD, scanners,
printers and software?
If so post in rec.photo.digital
Is the post about film or commercial photofinishing services?
If so, post in rec.photo.film+labs
Is the post about a 35mm camera body or lens?
If so, post in rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Is the post about a medium format camera body or lens?
If so. post in rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Is the post about a large format camera or lens?
If so, post in rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Is the post about some other item of equipment?
This includes projector, camera bag, battery, flash system, filter etc.
If so then post in rec.photo.equipment.misc
Is the post about photographing people?
That is portrait work, wedding photography etc.
If so, then post in rec.photo.technique.people
Is the post about photographing nature?
Wildlife, landscapes etc.
If so then post in rec.photo.technique.nature
Is the post about photography as art?
What makes a picture "art", how do you display an "art" photography, etc.
If so, post in rec.photo.technique.art
Is the post about some other photgraphic technique?
Medical photography, architectural photography, sports photography?
If so, post in rec.photo.technique.misc
If the post doesn't fit into any of the above then post in
rec.photo.misc.
rec.photo.moderated
There is also rec.photo.moderated. All submissions to
this group are reviewed by the group moderator and may be rejected if inappropriate
for the group. Look at the group to see what kind of postings are
appropriate. Generally any serious question about photography will
be OK. The one-line group descriptor is "the art and science of
photography". This group will not normally carry discussions of the
"what's the best XXXX" type, where XXX may be "P&S camera", "100mm lens",
"SLR body" etc.
rec.photo.marketplace
Note that rec.photo.marketplace
is NOT a discussion group. It is only for private advertising (no
commercial ads). It is NOT the place to ask advice! ALSO, the groups other
than the marketplace group ARE discussion groups. They are NOT the place to post
private adverisments (or commercial adverisments).
PLEASE KEEP ALL THE ADS TO THE REC.PHOTO.MARKETPLACE newsgroup and
out of the other rec.photo newsgroups.
NEVER, NEVER MULTIPOST (i.e. post separate copies of the same article to more than one group)! While crossposting can be annoying, multiposting wastes people time since the newsreader can't see that the person has already seen that article and will present it in every group, even if it has already been read.
Multiposting also wastes system resources since a separate copy of the article must be transmitted and saved for each individual group to which the article is posted.
This text is
an excerpt from a post by Bob Atkins