rdenney
11-Mar-2025, 06:39
It is with much sadness that the moderators report that Ralph Barker, one of the original members of this forum and its longest serving moderator, has died. He passed away on October 16, 2024. He had reported a number of health problems over the last decade. We have been in touch with his son, but have not heard any specifics about how he died.
Ralph was an influential and highly respected expert on Unix systems administration, and owned his own consultancy in Silicon Valley in the 80's. He served as the editor of several magazines in that space in the 90's, and was a key figure in important software standards committees back in the day. By the turn of the millennium he was already well known as a California photographer. Soon after, he moved to New Mexico.
QT Luong wrote this about Ralph:
Ralph Barker, a dedicated photographer and longtime moderator of the Large Format Photography Forum, passed away last year after more than a quarter-century of involvement with the community. Though I never had the chance to meet Ralph in person, we communicated extensively over the years, and his presence on the forum was deeply felt by all who participated.
Ralph’s passion for photography began in the mid-1960s, around the time I was born. Over the decades, he worked professionally across a vast range of subjects, mastering multiple formats, including 4x5 and 8x10. His technical knowledge was extensive, and he was always generous in sharing his expertise, becoming one of the forum’s earliest and most prolific contributors in the late 1990s.
When I started the forum, I was the sole moderator, and the policies were relatively relaxed. I don’t recall exactly how Ralph joined me in that role, but his enthusiasm and track record made it an easy decision. I was honored that someone with his depth of photographic and life experience volunteered his time to help. I respected his wisdom so much that I gradually stepped into the background, trusting his steady hand in guiding the forum.
As the forum’s first true moderator, Ralph played a pivotal role in shaping its core principles: a strict focus on large-format photography and a firm stance against commercial and political activities. He was patient and fair yet unwavering in enforcing these standards, ensuring the forum remained a dedicated space for meaningful photographic discussion. When Kirk joined the moderation team in 2009, Ralph transitioned to handling background tasks, but his decade as the main moderator had already left an enduring mark. He remained active on the forum until just months before his passing.
Though his website never fully materialized, some of Ralph’s personal work after retiring from professional photography can be found in a Blurb publication. His images, like his contributions to the forum, reflected his dedication to the craft.
Ralph, your patience, knowledge, and generosity helped shape a community that continues to thrive. You will be missed.
Rick writes:
More than anyone, Ralph established the tradition among the moderators of letting discussions proceed and applying moderation only when they ventured into specifically prohibited topics. Most forums are moderated by those whose sole objective is to keep peace, and do so somewhat broadly, throwing a lot of wheat out with the chaff. We have always tried to adopt a light touch, but still preserve the principles on which this forum has always been based, and we owe that balance to Ralph's example.
On a trip to New Mexico in early 2019, I was lucky to have a free evening and brought together several people I know in the Albuquerque area, including Ralph. (I exercised a similar opportunity in 2012 with Kirk, on a different trip to Albuquerque.) Chatting with Ralph in the side room at Sadie's in the North Valley felt so natural and at home. He's just the sort of person one wants to sit next to, late in the evening, in a comfy chair in front of a crackling fire, sipping a fine whisky, and solving the world's problems. The side room at Sadie's wasn't that, of course, but the company that evening made it seem so.
We've had controversies on the forum, and will undoubtedly have them again. We will muddle through. But we will miss Ralph's maturity, wisdom, and friendship.
Oren writes:
Within this small world of ours, a mighty oak has fallen.
Ralph was a perceptive observer of human behavior. Together with his long and comprehensive memory of this Forum, his talent for cutting straight to the heart of an issue and ability to debate possible solutions without ever being disagreeable provided a solid foundation for our work as a team. I am also especially grateful for Ralph's patience and wise counsel during those early days after I joined the moderation team and was finding my sea legs.
We would all like to be remembered in part by the photographs we made, and Ralph was no different. He uploaded dozens of excellent photographs in his profile on this forum, and we will (of course) leave that active in perpetuity.
Ralph's Photo Archive on LFPF (https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/album.php?u=3424)
Here are a few samples of his work to inspire us:
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257730&d=1740032119
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257731&d=1740032163
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257732&d=1740032193
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257734&d=1740032250
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257735&d=1740032274
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257733&d=1740032218
We invite you to write about your memories of Ralph in this thread.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Moderators
Ralph was an influential and highly respected expert on Unix systems administration, and owned his own consultancy in Silicon Valley in the 80's. He served as the editor of several magazines in that space in the 90's, and was a key figure in important software standards committees back in the day. By the turn of the millennium he was already well known as a California photographer. Soon after, he moved to New Mexico.
QT Luong wrote this about Ralph:
Ralph Barker, a dedicated photographer and longtime moderator of the Large Format Photography Forum, passed away last year after more than a quarter-century of involvement with the community. Though I never had the chance to meet Ralph in person, we communicated extensively over the years, and his presence on the forum was deeply felt by all who participated.
Ralph’s passion for photography began in the mid-1960s, around the time I was born. Over the decades, he worked professionally across a vast range of subjects, mastering multiple formats, including 4x5 and 8x10. His technical knowledge was extensive, and he was always generous in sharing his expertise, becoming one of the forum’s earliest and most prolific contributors in the late 1990s.
When I started the forum, I was the sole moderator, and the policies were relatively relaxed. I don’t recall exactly how Ralph joined me in that role, but his enthusiasm and track record made it an easy decision. I was honored that someone with his depth of photographic and life experience volunteered his time to help. I respected his wisdom so much that I gradually stepped into the background, trusting his steady hand in guiding the forum.
As the forum’s first true moderator, Ralph played a pivotal role in shaping its core principles: a strict focus on large-format photography and a firm stance against commercial and political activities. He was patient and fair yet unwavering in enforcing these standards, ensuring the forum remained a dedicated space for meaningful photographic discussion. When Kirk joined the moderation team in 2009, Ralph transitioned to handling background tasks, but his decade as the main moderator had already left an enduring mark. He remained active on the forum until just months before his passing.
Though his website never fully materialized, some of Ralph’s personal work after retiring from professional photography can be found in a Blurb publication. His images, like his contributions to the forum, reflected his dedication to the craft.
Ralph, your patience, knowledge, and generosity helped shape a community that continues to thrive. You will be missed.
Rick writes:
More than anyone, Ralph established the tradition among the moderators of letting discussions proceed and applying moderation only when they ventured into specifically prohibited topics. Most forums are moderated by those whose sole objective is to keep peace, and do so somewhat broadly, throwing a lot of wheat out with the chaff. We have always tried to adopt a light touch, but still preserve the principles on which this forum has always been based, and we owe that balance to Ralph's example.
On a trip to New Mexico in early 2019, I was lucky to have a free evening and brought together several people I know in the Albuquerque area, including Ralph. (I exercised a similar opportunity in 2012 with Kirk, on a different trip to Albuquerque.) Chatting with Ralph in the side room at Sadie's in the North Valley felt so natural and at home. He's just the sort of person one wants to sit next to, late in the evening, in a comfy chair in front of a crackling fire, sipping a fine whisky, and solving the world's problems. The side room at Sadie's wasn't that, of course, but the company that evening made it seem so.
We've had controversies on the forum, and will undoubtedly have them again. We will muddle through. But we will miss Ralph's maturity, wisdom, and friendship.
Oren writes:
Within this small world of ours, a mighty oak has fallen.
Ralph was a perceptive observer of human behavior. Together with his long and comprehensive memory of this Forum, his talent for cutting straight to the heart of an issue and ability to debate possible solutions without ever being disagreeable provided a solid foundation for our work as a team. I am also especially grateful for Ralph's patience and wise counsel during those early days after I joined the moderation team and was finding my sea legs.
We would all like to be remembered in part by the photographs we made, and Ralph was no different. He uploaded dozens of excellent photographs in his profile on this forum, and we will (of course) leave that active in perpetuity.
Ralph's Photo Archive on LFPF (https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/album.php?u=3424)
Here are a few samples of his work to inspire us:
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257730&d=1740032119
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257731&d=1740032163
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257732&d=1740032193
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257734&d=1740032250
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257735&d=1740032274
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=257733&d=1740032218
We invite you to write about your memories of Ralph in this thread.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Moderators