[johnmflores]

I'm on a Facebook group of NJ photographers. Hyper-saturated, wide-angle, long exposure cityscapes are the order of the day there.

What I'd really like to see is a place where people slow down and really look at a photograph instead of quickly liking and scrolling. Better yet, a place where people post and comment on multi-image projects, a collection of photos with a theme. dialogue | burn magazine, curated by David Alan Harvey of Magnum does that pretty well. I've also got a Photo Critique group on Google+ where the rule is simple - post one and then critique one. It helps the signal to noise ratio. https://plus.google.com/communities/112818839210511664016

Flickr? Fickle. According to them, this is my most Explore-worthy photo of the last several years:


There's a camera in there somewhere. by john m flores, on Flickr

[mrNewt]

Norm, from what I see on your profile, you have 1674 at this point... you already have too much :P.
FF and like on pictures... that's too easy...

...

Looks like people have their moral down when they don't receive likes... so today...

YOU get a like... and YOU... AND YOU... and YES YOU TOO!!!!
EVERYONE GETS LIKES!!!!


WOHOOOOOO!!!!

[crewl1]

Norm, from what I see on your profile, you have 1674 at this point... you already have too much :P.
FF and like on pictures... that's too easy...

...

Looks like people have their moral down when they don'g receive likes... so today...

YOU get a like... and YOU... AND YOU... and YES YOU TOO!!!!
EVERYONE GETS LIKES!!!!


WOHOOOOOO!!!!

When did Oprah join our forum?

[mrNewt]

When did Oprah join our forum?

When people started qq about likes...
That was a lot of clicks...

[BrianR]

There's a big context issue here as well. For a group of people interested in backyard birding, a barred owl at a feeder is utterly awesome and something they'd all like to see. It doesn't have to be a photo that makes wildlife photographers collectively stand up and salute to get this groups attention- the event itself is at least as important as your capture of it.

I like it too, but if some one some toughs how to make it better with different light etc.

You may get a better response if you give more details- what were you trying to accomplish with this photo, what is it's end purpose, what do you like about it, how you think it could have improved, if there's anything specific you're unsure of etc. You're asking people to spend their time evaluating your photo, it makes their task much easier and more productive if they have some idea of what you were trying to do.

[Rondec]

When did Oprah join our forum?

I looked under my chair for a prize, but I didn't find anything...

[normhead]

Having spent years teaching photography, my theory is, if you like an image, tell the photographer. God knows there are lots of days when I'm just grumpy and don't like anything. There are other days where I am more easily impressed. But basically, if someone posts a picture that impresses me, I make an effort to let the photographer know. As for whether or not they "need it" or I need them, is irrelevant. They don't need it, I don't need it, but it's still encouragement.

The other thing I'd point out is, if you look in the 300 plus club, there are a lot of likes given there, because most of the photographers in that club, understand what it takes to get those pictures. It's recognition that you put in the time and effort. That people put in that kind of time, many of us are spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year to get to the destinations where we can photograph these creatures, as well as having spent thousands on lenses and other equipment, well, ya I really appreciate that they do that, and then post their images on line where I can see them for free, in exchange for seeing everyone else's efforts.

So I'm not going to say likes are meaningless, it's like saying thanks when someone buys you a free meal or something. What I would find less understandable would be someone who saw an image that inspired them to get out with their camera and try harder, and didn't even acknowledge that. A meaningful comment would be nice, but if you don't know what to say or don't have a lot of time, a like will do. At least that's the way I see it.

Oh and for whoever asked, my owl image was taken in near darkness with an A-400 and a K-3, through the glass of my kitchen window. This owl would not stay in the area or come to his "perch" if i was outside.

---

Last edited by normhead; 02-23-2015 at 08:58 AM.

[cxdoo]

Part of it is that PentaxForum as great as it is, is not that focused on artistic demonstration. Based on my observation the majority of posts here are technical in some way, shape, or form. It's mainly about the 'stuff' you buy.

But isn't that implied already in forum name? If one wants to talk about photography in general rather than 'stuff' wouldn't they be served better by reaching to wider audience than Pentax shooters?

---------- Post added 23rd Feb 2015 at 18:12 ----------

Flickr likes are pretty silly and who can predict when their photo will get explored? I certainly can't. This photo was explored and got 333 likes:
...
And this photo (that I happen to like better) got 13 likes.

They're both great photos, Rondec. However the first one clearly has more cowbell.

[derekkite]

Having spent years teaching photography, my theory is, if you like an image, tell the photographer. God knows there are lots of days when I'm just grumpy and don't like anything. There are other days where I am more easily impressed. But basically, if someone posts a picture that impresses me, I make an effort to let the photographer know. As for whether or not they "need it" or I need them, is irrelevant. They don't need it, I don't need it, but it's still encouragement.

The other thing I'd point out is, if you look in the 300 plus club, there are a lot of likes given there, because most of the photographers in that club, understand what it takes to get those pictures. It's recognition that you put in the time and effort. That people put in that kind of time, many of us are spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year to get to the destinations where we can photograph these creatures, as well as having spent thousands on lenses and other equipment, well, ya I really appreciate that they do that, and then post their images on line where I can see them for free, in exchange for seeing everyone else's efforts.

So I'm not going to say likes are meaningless, it's like saying thanks when someone buys you a free meal or something. What I would find less understandable would be someone who saw an image that inspired them to get out with their camera and try harder, and didn't even acknowledge that. A meaningful comment would be nice, but if you don't know what to say or don't have a lot of time, a like will do. At least that's the way I see it.

Oh and for whoever asked, my owl image was taken in near darkness with an A-400 and a K-3, through the glass of my kitchen window. This owl would not stay in the area or come to his "perch" if i was outside.

The photography threads are a tough crowd, and that one especially. The stream of work is outstanding, and it takes a very nice shot to stand out. Compare your shot of a grey owl to the one posted yesterday from someone in Vancouver. Both are an accomplishment; I spend three days chasing one down from a report a month ago without success. I like the tough crowd, it makes me sharpen up. The most improvement I've made in my photography is being a tougher critic of my own work.

[stevebrot]

You just have to get the right group of "friends" on Flickr who will like your photos in high enough percentages.

That is what I thought. The photo above is my first to have been explored and it happened with only about 20 views, a couple of favs, and no comments. Word has it that Flickr made a radical change to the explore algorithm recently, so that may explain it.


Steve

[stevebrot]

And some threads I visit the content is so consistently amazing I tend to only say something when the pic strikes a chord.

Same here. I seldom "like" a great photo. Instead, I give copious praise in the comments.


Steve

[normhead]

The photography threads are a tough crowd, and that one especially. The stream of work is outstanding, and it takes a very nice shot to stand out. Compare your shot of a grey owl to the one posted yesterday from someone in Vancouver. Both are an accomplishment; I spend three days chasing one down from a report a month ago without success. I like the tough crowd, it makes me sharpen up. The most improvement I've made in my photography is being a tougher critic of my own work.

They're not a tough crowd at all, as long as everything you post is worthy of being published in National Geographic.

[Dean Bradshaw]

Don't. It makes this place special. Un Facebook like.

Some time in the last few days I followed a link to a facebook post by an excellent photographer. The comments were utterly abominable. If someone comments here, they mean it, and have something useful to add.

This is as close to an antisocial network as I have found. Just fine for me.

Probably a little off topic, and also a little swear-ey in its unedited form, but derekkite your comment make me think of this great Bill Hicks bit...

"There's a new party being born: The People Who Hate People Party.

"People who hate people, come together!"
..."No!"
We're kind of having trouble getting off the boards, you know.
"Come to our meeting!"
..."Are you gonna be there?"
"Yeah."
..."Then I ain't f$&@ing coming."
"But you're our strongest member!"
..."F$&@ you!"
"That's what I'm talking about, you a$&h@&e"
..."F@&$ off!"
"Damn, we almost had a meeting going"

It's so hard to get my people together."

Not my intent to offend anyone...hope I haven't...

Cheers
Dean Bradshaw

[stevebrot]

Flickr? Fickle. According to them, this is my most Explore-worthy photo of the last several years:

Camera porn is a sure winner for interestingness. Prior to the waterfall shot, Flickr said that this was my most interesting...




Steve

[normhead]

Probably a little off topic, and also a little swear-ey in its unedited form, but derekkite your comment make me think of this great Bill Hicks bit...

"There's a new party being born: The People Who Hate People Party.

"People who hate people, come together!"
..."No!"
We're kind of having trouble getting off the boards, you know.
"Come to our meeting!"
..."Are you gonna be there?"
"Yeah."
..."Then I ain't f$&@ing coming."
"But you're our strongest member!"
..."F$&@ you!"
"That's what I'm talking about, you a$&h@&e"
..."F@&$ off!"
"Damn, we almost had a meeting going"

It's so hard to get my people together."

Not my intent to offend anyone...hope I haven't...

Cheers
Dean Bradshaw

I feel the same way about solo canoeists. These people love to be off in the wilderness by themselves and not see anyone else for days. So try and get them to get together or agree on anything. It's as bad as what you posted.

At some point there will be no wilderness left, because the people who enjoy it most, are completely incapable of getting together to try and save it.