Closure of Autemo / Site Migration Ideas
Hey all.
It has been a very long time since I have dropped in here, I hope those that still check in here occasionally are doing well!
With life getting busy, the industry moving in different directions, A.I photo generation and social media platforms becoming somewhat 3D/ video focused, photo-shopping cars will be always be a part of me and a part of my history, but something I rarely do or have time for or do, as photography and video work is my full time work.
But the people I have met, the monthly competitions, World Team Battles, W.I.P watching, learning from the pros, having work featured in publications and just general banter have been very memorable.
With the website costing me a fair bit to run each month and the site back-end being built on a very old platform that isn't migrate-able to 2025/ 2026 standards (which I have learnt years ago) I have to make a decision to close it down, something we all saw coming, but I didn't have the heart to do so.
I still have a huge love for forums, as they hold so much knowledge and are a great reference to every day questions, but this particular site just isn't sustainable. so I will keep the site running until the end of the year, December 31st to give everyone a bit of notice.
Although everyone is talking about A.I in the last couple of years, I think us being artists, creating things from scratch and having our own style and flare, it is something irreplaceable and which is why I want to spend some time in the next couple of weeks to revive, if not, at least help migrate and connect most of us before closing the site and losing direct contact.
Because like my photo and video work, we are all unique individuals and our art style/ way of thinking is what makes human and continue to create amazing things, even when not photo shopping cars, the skills and knowledge are something we can utilize in different aspect of every day work and life or creating art.
So, This doesn't have to be the end, but we as a community have to adapt to other platforms and channels instead of creating one from scratch because I don't have time or skills. (unless someone want to take the site off my hands and attempt to salvage what is remaining)
One option that I find myself using a lot more of recently is Discord for text and image sharing with the occasional voice chat with close friends. like all social platforms, it probably won't last forever, but I think it is a good temporary home to for everyone to chat, share project and ideas or have general banter.
But before I start a channel, I'm happy to hear ideas and alternatives and hopefully revive the community for those that stuck around, because I feel like that is the least I can do for everyone.
Cheers,
J_HUI
It has been a very long time since I have dropped in here, I hope those that still check in here occasionally are doing well!
With life getting busy, the industry moving in different directions, A.I photo generation and social media platforms becoming somewhat 3D/ video focused, photo-shopping cars will be always be a part of me and a part of my history, but something I rarely do or have time for or do, as photography and video work is my full time work.
But the people I have met, the monthly competitions, World Team Battles, W.I.P watching, learning from the pros, having work featured in publications and just general banter have been very memorable.
With the website costing me a fair bit to run each month and the site back-end being built on a very old platform that isn't migrate-able to 2025/ 2026 standards (which I have learnt years ago) I have to make a decision to close it down, something we all saw coming, but I didn't have the heart to do so.
I still have a huge love for forums, as they hold so much knowledge and are a great reference to every day questions, but this particular site just isn't sustainable. so I will keep the site running until the end of the year, December 31st to give everyone a bit of notice.
Although everyone is talking about A.I in the last couple of years, I think us being artists, creating things from scratch and having our own style and flare, it is something irreplaceable and which is why I want to spend some time in the next couple of weeks to revive, if not, at least help migrate and connect most of us before closing the site and losing direct contact.
Because like my photo and video work, we are all unique individuals and our art style/ way of thinking is what makes human and continue to create amazing things, even when not photo shopping cars, the skills and knowledge are something we can utilize in different aspect of every day work and life or creating art.
So, This doesn't have to be the end, but we as a community have to adapt to other platforms and channels instead of creating one from scratch because I don't have time or skills. (unless someone want to take the site off my hands and attempt to salvage what is remaining)
One option that I find myself using a lot more of recently is Discord for text and image sharing with the occasional voice chat with close friends. like all social platforms, it probably won't last forever, but I think it is a good temporary home to for everyone to chat, share project and ideas or have general banter.
But before I start a channel, I'm happy to hear ideas and alternatives and hopefully revive the community for those that stuck around, because I feel like that is the least I can do for everyone.
Cheers,
J_HUI
Post edited October 29, 2025 at 04:04:51 PM by J_HUI
