Inspiration

[Graham]

Hi all, I have been pondering on this question for a while now.
Does looking at Flickr (explore) inspire you, give you ideas on seeing other shots that you would like to do ?
For me, the answer is yes,I am just into photography now 2.5 years so still very much a learner
It has helped give me ideas and the inspiration but I am mostly into Macro photography but I am willing to take a shot of a landscape or animal or whatnot if I see the opportunity.
So, Does Flickr inspire you ?, your thoughts please.

Apologies if this type of question has already been asked in the past.

 

[viewfromthenorth]

No. I only use Flickr to look at photographs other people have taken at places I intend to go to. It's more for information rather than inspiration. I don't think I've ever looked at explore.
The problem with Flickr is its a bit of a dumping ground for images - I stopped using it for anything other than backing up images a few years ago. Groups can be useful, but again, too many people just dumping dozens of images into groups made me lose interest.
I'm sure there's some really good stuff on Flickr, but there's better places to go for nice looking pictures - 500px maybe has higher quality images.

I do wonder if Instagram is becoming more relevant these days, although loading non-mobile images is a faff.

 

[juggler]

Hi all, I have been pondering on this question for a while now.
Does looking at Flickr (explore) inspire you, give you ideas on seeing other shots that you would like to do ?
For me, the answer is yes,I am just into photography now 2.5 years so still very much a learner
It has helped give me ideas and the inspiration but I am mostly into Macro photography but I am willing to take a shot of a landscape or animal or whatnot if I see the opportunity.
So, Does Flickr inspire you ?, your thoughts please.

Apologies if this type of question has already been asked in the past.

There is some great stuff to be stumbled across on flickr but most of the stuff in explore is cheesy as can be. Including some of my own
I've recently developed an expensive photo book buying habit; they can be much more inspiring. Good photo books are an exploration of a subject rather than an exploration of photography techniques.

500px seems to have much more polished work but much of the popular stuff leaves me completely cold so I've never signed up. 1x.com has more variety and its curation process is at least fairly consistent.

I've only recently started using Instagram. It's an odd site but it's one of the few photo sharing sites which is used by non-photographers and that makes it a more interesting place both to find and to share stuff.

 

[gramps]

I don't get inspiration from Flickr Explore particularly but I do like to see what others are posting on Flickr, especially of a type of photography or place I am interested in.
I've never really thought of Flickr as being only for 'special' images and do post quite a number there, more for my own benefit than that of others ... means I can check, review and show wherever I have Internet access and of course link to in TP etc.
Instagram makes me shudder!

 

[TheBigYin]

I use Flickr to host my pictures, can't remember the last time I actually used it to "just browse" other peoples work.

 

[cannockwolf]

No. I only use Flickr to look at photographs other people have taken at places I intend to go to. It's more for information rather than inspiration.

definitely this, can be a really useful tool for it

 

[dinorock]

can't remember where i saw it but instead of getting inspiration why not set yourself some challenges.today i want to try x and so on my challenge ....curves my result try it with any subject it can be fun.

b/w conversion by Mike Rockey, on Flickr

 

[GT von]

Heavens NO. Flickr is a trash heap!

 

[Jayst84]

No. But then looking at other people's photos in general doesn't really inspire me.

I find reading a book, or going for a run more useful.

 

[Russ G]

I browse Flickr every now and again, usually if I am considering changing cameras or buying a new lens, to check on the quality of image

 

[Musicman]

Heavens NO. Flickr is a trash heap!

I would tend to disagree, if you take the time to seek the good stuff out and don't spend too long looking at Explore.

I've been a member for over ten years now, and I've curated a collection of people whose work I enjoy.

To pick some examples: Maciej Dakowicz, who I discovered as a photographer of Cardiff's night life on Flickr well before he became rather better known in some of the national press, Paul Russell, whose street photography is always full of wry humour, or Toshihiro Oshima [AKA Tommy Oshima] who has a magical relationship with his Noctilux. Another photographer with a singular way of looking at the world (centred on his home town of Brighton) is 'Lomokev' Kevin Meredith.

While I'm as likely to refer to to Eugène Atget or Walker Evans when I'm out taking photographs myself, the names above have certainly played a part in developing my photographic sensibilities over the last few years.

 

[EightBitTony]

I would tend to disagree, if you take the time to seek the good stuff out and don't spend too long looking at Explore.

I've been a member for over ten years now, and I've curated a collection of people whose work I enjoy.

To pick some examples: Maciej Dakowicz, who I discovered as a photographer of Cardiff's night life on Flickr well before he became rather better known in some of the national press, Paul Russell, whose street photography is always full of wry humour, or Toshihiro Oshima [AKA Tommy Oshima] who has a magical relationship with his Noctilux. Another photographer with a singular way of looking at the world (centred on his home town of Brighton) is 'Lomokev' Kevin Meredith.

While I'm as likely to refer to to Eugène Atget or Walker Evans when I'm out taking photographs myself, the names above have certainly played a part in developing my photographic sensibilities over the last few years.

Like all social media, and indeed, like all gatherings of people, there's a range of quality and purpose. There's plenty of amazing stuff on Flickr, and there's plenty of family snapshots, and there's plenty of rubbish. Decrying the entire thing as trash just doesn't make sense. So I agree with you entirely.