We are incredibly proud to present the new fotocommunity to you today. Like we announced in the past weeks, we worked hard on making the fotocommunity easier, more modern, and more user-friendly. Now you can experience the result for yourself. And we’re sure that you’ll like it.
Why are we changing? What defines us? You’ll find the answers to these questions in the following film:
We connect people – in front of and behind the camera. That has been our mission for the past 15 years. And it will continue to be for the next 15 years.
With our new fotocommunity, we have now paved the way for the advancement of our community:
- With our new search function, it is easier than ever to find awesome pictures and fascinating members.
- Our new single-frame view gives great photos more room to display their full potential. At the same time, all relevant information regarding the picture is easily traceable.
- Our photos are now displayed in a bigger format and give the viewer the opportunity to deal with the picture on a more intense level.
- Several pictures can be uploaded and edited at the same time – as fast as never before.
- The new profile integrates all information about the photographer/the member in a well-arranged manner.
- I can now compliment interesting photos. I can follow exciting photographers and can keep up-to-date in this way.
- I can control the new fotocommunity easily and comfortably from all devices – also from my tablet or smartphone.
But that is only the beginning. In the next months, we will develop the fotocommunity further and further. Like Chris has already explained, we will use the new fotocommunity as a starting point for a sophisticated, well-designed advancement. The result provides more individuality for you as a member while the usability will be simpler for all visitors.
The new fotocommunity – a structural restoration in several phases
Let’s compare the current situation with the renovation of a house. The old fotocommunity started 15 years ago as a small house and was expanded step by step by more and more annexes. Some annexes were already built in a more modern way and therefore already had underfloor heating, for example, while other parts of the house were still heated by a fireplace. Since they were constructed by different architects, all of the annexes also look different from each other. As a visitor to the house, I had a hard time finding my way around. If I had memorised the floor plan, I could get along. Otherwise, I could err through the winding corridors for a while. Little by little, the architecture of the house also did not correspond to modern standards anymore. A modernisation was in order.
We have now structurally restored the house. The base was completely replaced and refurbished with modern building equipment (picture system, search technology, etc.). The windows (pictures) are now bigger, the rooms structurally arranged and easily findable (navigation). All new areas of the house are accessible without barriers (all devices) and newly painted (new design).
However we have not torn down, but structurally restored. There are still annexes that could not yet be restored in the current construction phase (dates, models, home page, forum). Some of the old wires could also not yet be exchanged (news system). And a few of the extensions wished for by the inhabitants (f.ex. group function) have been postponed until coming construction phases. After all, the base first has to be modernised before additional corrections can be put into place.
We have designed the construction plans together with you. Your feedback on what the house should look like in the future was and is enormously important and has helped us a lot. Even in the first phase of construction (beta test), we were able to built in a lot of improvements because of your feedback. For this, we are very grateful to you.
Of course a renovation also means that as a resident of the house, I have to reorientate myself after moving in again. Some rooms or switches are now in a different place. They are in a better place, but I first have to get to know the new routes and locations. The new colour is beaming and seems unfamiliar in the first few days. And I have to get used to the bigger windows – but will soon learn to appreciate them. And then soon, I will feel at home again.
As architects, we have put a lot of thought into how the house should look and work – and how the move to the new fotocommunity can be configured as easily and comfortably as possible. On every page with a new design, guidelines will appear on your first visit, which will lead you through the new page and its functions. You can open these guidelines again at any time. Just click on the blue light bulb on the bottom left. Additionally, you’ll find a post on each new page type in our blog, which explains this page with pictures and videos.
Like on every long-planned construction project with a lot of subsections, we could build more and more on this forever. But we have divided the overall project into several construction phases in order not to deprive you of the new house for too long. This means: You can now move in and for us, the new phase of construction begins. The plan is ready, but as always, we’re happy to receive your feedback. And as usual, we will continue to always keep you up-to-date on planned advancements of our house, the fotocommunity.
Until then, we now hope you enjoy the shining new fotocommunity.
In the name of the entire, very proud, team
Daniel
PS: at this point too, it is time to say thank you. To our developers and our product management, who have done a fantastic job. To our community managers, who stand by your side day and night to offer help and support. To our marketing team, who offer you amazing product tests together with our partners. To all our other helpers, who make it possible to advance the fotocommunity. And of course to you – for your loyalty and your commitment. Because we go all out for you day after day. And you reward us with your enthusiasm for the fotocommunity. It honours and motivates us immensely and we thank you so much for it.
