Most, but not all users of ipernity, know that the site has been having financial difficulties for some time and closure of this great platform does indeed remain a distinct possibility.

However, there is now a ray of hope on the horizon thanks to a small number of people who got together and came up with the idea of creating the Ipernity Members Association (IMA).

This body has now been officially registered and a crowdfunding campaign initiated to raise funds to secure ipernity's short term future in the first instance, but ultimately with a view to acquiring the platform for the community.

However, time is of the essence as the IMA need to secure sufficient monies within the next 2 weeks to cover the site hosting costs for March and April or ipernity will almost definitely close. If they are successful then the expectation is that the platform will be transferred to the IMA in a matter of weeks, but as I've said first we need to raise enough money to keep the site going.

Many have already made a donation, myself included, and the campaign has got off to a great start, but there is still a way to go. So, I would urge anyone who hasn't yet made a pledge to follow the link below and donate as much as they can afford.

www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/ipernity-members-association-a-non-profit-entity

The last few years have seen countless photosharing sites like Multiply, Fotopic and more recently Panoramio fold. So, understandably people feel let down, they feel disengaged, and are tired of seeing internet businesses (big or small) take their money, offer them a future, build up their hopes and then in an instant they take a decision that throws them out into the cold.

The situation is becoming such an issue for many that they have actually started to question if it is all worth it, if the internet really has anything to offer them and I think this was beautifully summed up recently in a comment posted on ipernity by Peter Kohler who said:

"I give up. Trying to create, preserve or maintain anything in the ether of the web is a futile effort unless you physically own the website yourself. Three years of work and effort and it can just vanish like a fart in the wind. Very disappointing and profoundly depressing."

And now ipernity itself is on the brink of closure. The people that created this great site have admitted they are tired ... that they feel a desperate need to turn the page and move on. But they have also heard our pleas and agreed that they won't just slam the 'book' shut and toss it on the fire.

This is a unique opportunity then for everyone who loves ipernity and who wants it to not only survive, but to become somewhere we can call home for many years to come. Yes, there are still questions to be answered and hurdles to be overcome, but together we really can make a difference.

Let us not fail ... let us unite and ensure that through ipernity our photos really do have a bright future and will be here for a very long time!