Flickr, hows it work then?

treeman

treeman

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I keep toying with the idea of using Flickr, but I can't work out how you get anyone to see your images.
For instance i see comments that people have posted about a particular image, but how did they find that image? Is there a general 'Gallery' feature that just has loads of pictures on it? Do you have to post your images to a group or something :shrug:

I'm sure it's probably screamingly obvious but I can't see it :bonk:
 
People search on 'titles' and 'tags' which you obviously create when you upload images.

There's also groups which you can link your images to so they will be seen by people with similar interests.
 
You can also geo-tag your photos, so that it's possible for users to view pictures by location.

If you want to have a look at how groups/tags etc work, feel free to have a look at my Flickr (link below)
 
If you just post your images onto Flickr without tags, or posting into groups etc, and with image titles straight out of the camera (DSC_0001.jpg etc.) then it's highly unlikely people will just stumble across your shots. If you do want the pictures to get a wide audience, then give the shots a meaningful name, put a good description into the caption box below. You can also tag shots with extra information which again is searchable.

Oh - and don't forget to join the TalkPhotography group on Flickr :lol:
 
It's a challenge to be noticed on flickr when there are thousands of uploads a minute...
Mostly it's good to post images in groups relevant to the local area or photographic style so people viewing them will actually be interested in the subject. This is where my few contacts have come from and they now comment on my images based on the "recent uploads from your contacts" bit.

Sometimes I post my pictures to scoring groups such as "Score Me!" where it's mandatory to rate the previous 5 images out of 10 when posting. I like groups where people actually have to critique to at least some basic level..

Unfortunately there are also groups which are pretty much just there to increase comment count. For example I saw one recently where all you had to do was post an image and then give a generic award to the previous 5, regardless of whether it's any good :s. Would much rather post it to somewhere that makes an attempt at honest feedback.

(p.s. hello first post)
 
Probably one of the better ways to get yourself noticed on Flickr is to go out and comment on and favourite other peoples' photographs. They'll often come over and take a look at your own photostream. If you're lucky, you'll get some pics favourited and comments made in turn.

It's a community.

If a particular picture hits a critical mass of comments/favourites (Flickr calls it 'Interestingness') you may find your photos get into Flickr Explore, which is a daily gallery of the most 'Interesting' photos on the site. You'll find then that your stats go through the roof. I've had 71 pics in Explore since 2006.
 
Oooh l didn't know there was a group either...joined!

Flickr is great as long as you put some effort in. l used to...a lot. Even started and ran one of the biggest groups on there for over 2 years.

l'm not as active now, as l'm just busy doing other things. l do use it to back up images, and just to keep in touch with my Flickr friends.

Tag your images, but also, find groups that are about things that interest you, or that are about things you'd like to learn more about....like Photoshop skills....or how to get the best from your camera.

l learned so so much in my early days from talking to people who have similar photographic interests to me, rather than just general togs.

Try this...

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikond3/

Add me if you like. And yes....browse other peoples work, comment, fave their work, add them as contacts....and slowly it will grow for you.
 
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