Sites like (and) FLICKR doing more harm than good?

Status
Not open for further replies.
RjLPhotography

RjLPhotography

Suspended / Banned
Messages
137
Name
Robb
Edit My Images
No
I've noticed a trend over the past 2 years in which the bigger sites like FLICKR become the more self-gratification the users respond as a result. My own personal experience of this has been uploading newsworthy images or images in their own right that should be viewed and rated by hundreds weekly, and yet it seems a picture of a chair or coca cola bottle (as cliche as they are) gets thousands of hits for no apparent reason other than the username co-incidentally being 'trendy' or its shared around nearly every group going.

This wanting to be accepted into such groups, not forgetting the pinnacle of getting 'explored' I've noticed has led to people talking pictures simply for the site itself and not for artistic originality/self-creationism. Granted there are some excellent photographers on the site but it's just a shame increasingly they are being shunned for average, even mediocre, pictures.

I closed my account a long time ago, and focus on taking pictures for the enjoyment rather than going outside thinking to myself 'I need a new FLICKR photo today.' Does anyone else share these same sentiments, or perhaps I have the wrong end of the stick?
 
I don't really get what your gripe is...if it is flickr explore that has always been a weird one :shrug: there are some really rubbish IMO photo's that make it onto explore, I like it when I get an explore but it's not something I actively pursue..

I've found that if you take photo's of what people search for then you will get views I get well over 250 google hits a month which is nice :thumbs:

I do add photo's into groups but activly avoid groups that are comment/favourite groups, I only really go after peer groups as I like to have my work viewed by people that have the same passions as me, I bet if you check out the rubbish that has loads of views/comments you'll find that the taker has a load of favourites/contacts, it's all a bit of a game :thumbs:

Matt
MWHCVT
 
RjLPhotography said:
...or perhaps I have the wrong end of the stick?
Click to expand...

This.

Sounds you were trying to use Flickr as a press agency. Which it ain't.

Does people taking and uploading images specifically to try and get favourites and on Explore really do any harm?

Sounds more like you uploaded some images, they didn't get much attention and you spat the dummy.
 
You shouldn't concern yourself so much about what others like or think; if you truly shoot only for yourself, then why post a thread seeking validation for that choice?

To be honest, your post sounds rather jealous and bitter. Whether or not that's the case is something only you know for sure, but that's how it's coming across :/
 
I love Flickr. I am in about ten different groups just for cats. I love cats. Cats are boss.
 
I think Flickr is a win, win, win situation, as are 500 and the other photo sites.
Its a win for the site owner raking in the cash from free content provided by, and in many cases paid for by photographers.

Its a win for photographers who like self promotion and the ego being stroked, and the faint hope their picture of a plate of food will be noticed among the 6 billion others by Getty.

Its a win for the users of photographs who no longer need to pay for images, just browse the site and steal what they need.
 
Plus it's a win for the photographers who get a huge amount of hosting/storage space (is it even limited?), involvment in a potentially massive community of like minded people if they want and some pretty handy features that some hosting sites don't offer, all for a relatively low annual fee.
 
norters said:
I love Flickr. I am in about ten different groups just for cats. I love cats. Cats are boss.
Click to expand...

I'm in a Flickr group for cats. I've got pictures of cats on my Flickr page. My misses likes cats. We've got two cats.







I like dogs.




We don't have a dog.

I know my place....
 
It is just a social media site than happens to revolve around photos. People saying nice photo to each other are just the same as people saying nice bike on a bike forum. Each group has a forum and some are more active than others, people form virtual friendships and say nice things to each other and positive comments on photos.

If more people like a photo of a coke bottle than your 'more worthy' shot then so be it, that is the general public/popular culture.
You either produce photographs that you like or photographs that the masses will like. Sometimes that will be the same photo, other times not.
 
nobby noname said:
I'm in a Flickr group for cats. I've got pictures of cats on my Flickr page. My misses likes cats. We've got two cats.







I like dogs.




We don't have a dog.

I know my place....
Click to expand...

That made me smile :)
 
So the OP doesn't like Flickr, closed his account a few years ago but starts a thread complaing about a site/community he has, and obviously doesn't want, any involvement with :cuckoo:

The only interest here is the psycology behind the thread, and that's not that interesting.

Oh well........
 
I struggled to get my head around mediocre shots being so popular on Flickr too but then I altered the way I view the site. Instead of getting confused about the popularity contest going on I view it as the photo social networking site that it is, I comment on others work if I genuinely do like it, I try to keep up to date with my contacts work. I've entered a few beginners competitions threads which are a bit addictive but it's a good way to view work of others in a more interactive setting :)
 
PaulF said:
So the OP doesn't like Flickr, closed his account a few years ago but starts a thread complaing about a site/community he has, and obviously doesn't want, any involvement with :cuckoo:

The only interest here is the psycology behind the thread, and that's not that interesting.

Oh well........
Click to expand...

The OP has started at least two other threads which detail his bungling attempts to impersonate a press photographer. It's quite funny really.
 
Just like on here and other web-based places to share photos, some people like to take a shot every day as part of a 365 and others just take shots as and when the feeling takes them. There's no right or wrong.

Yes, there are plenty of 'so-so' shots IMO but one man's meat is another man's poison - some people like photos of things that hold no interest to me whatsoever but that doesn't make them any less valid. Some people like taking shots of random stuff as and when they see it; others take great care and lots of time to set shots up. Nowt wrong there. Nowt wrong in chasing Explore status either.

Sometimes i think some of my images are worth a few more views and comments than they actually get, but I just see that as me actually not being as good as I'd like to be and a sign to work harder, not to mention my work is a drop in the collective ocean of online photography.

Don't presume that you deserve recognition just because you have a camera in your hand....
 
The thing about Flickr is no matter the 'worthiness' of a photograph, you usually have to take part to receive feedback. I'd say I give out about eight times the amount I receive. I like using Flickr as an enthusiast photographer tho.
 
PaulF said:
So the OP doesn't like Flickr, closed his account a few years ago but starts a thread complaing about a site/community he has, and obviously doesn't want, any involvement with :cuckoo:

The only interest here is the psycology behind the thread, and that's not that interesting.

Oh well........
Click to expand...

Actually he closed his flickr account in a fit of pique after being told how crap a series of photos, that he expected a local paper to pay for, were.

brianwar said:
The OP has started at least two other threads which detail his bungling attempts to impersonate a press photographer. It's quite funny really.
Click to expand...


Yup!! :D
 
DemiLion said:
Actually he closed his flickr account in a fit of pique after being told how crap a series of photos, that he expected a local paper to pay for, were.




Yup!! :D
Click to expand...

Have to wonder where this guy earned his "credentials" ???

He was clearly taking toy throwing lessons when he should have been learning about image selection and transfer. Though he was given sound advice on at least the latter of those on here and chose to ignore it.

Here's hoping he doesn't do anything harmful while he plays at being a photojournalist.
 
Last edited:
RjLPhotography said:
I've noticed a trend over the past 2 years in which the bigger sites like FLICKR become the more self-gratification the users respond as a result. My own personal experience of this has been uploading newsworthy images or images in their own right that should be viewed and rated by hundreds weekly, and yet it seems a picture of a chair or coca cola bottle (as cliche as they are) gets thousands of hits for no apparent reason other than the username co-incidentally being 'trendy' or its shared around nearly every group going.

This wanting to be accepted into such groups, not forgetting the pinnacle of getting 'explored' I've noticed has led to people talking pictures simply for the site itself and not for artistic originality/self-creationism.
Click to expand...

Can someone explain in plain English what this actually means? Then I might be able to respond to it :thinking:
 
Musicman said:
Can someone explain in plain English what this actually means? Then I might be able to respond to it :thinking:
Click to expand...

It means "I post images on Flickr and they are not as popular as I think they should be"
 
Though I am intrigued by 'self-creationism'. Is that a branch of Existentialist philosophy?
 
Also, by dumping your Flickr account you have no images showing in any of your other threads you have posted, a said, seems like it was a big dummy spit. Will also be interesting to know what credentials you have, as if they are not legit ones, all you are doing is screwing up other peoples livelihoods, which is a big no no.
 
He's also dumped his photobucket by the look of it - probably the reason he hasnt been back is that mummy is very cross with all the toys on the floor and has taken his ipad away until he puts them back in his pram ;)
 
Has it ever crossed your feeble mind that maybe, just maybe, your photos weren't looked at as they sucked?
 
specialman said:
Not sure what wizards, dwarves and a magic ring have got to do with it.... oh, wait up, I misread.... ;) :lol:
Click to expand...

you forgot hobbits - we'll be needing our resident one when ther OP comes back and has a full blown dummy spit ;)

And yes Matt, that crossed my mind as well - walks like a troll, talks like a trolll, leaves troll crap all over the place... its a 'king troll.
 
MWHCVT said:
Did anyone else ready the OP and think that it sounded remarkably like what would have been typed by a certain former member of this forum :lol:
Click to expand...

Go on Matt, name and shame, I can't think who you mean, really I can't.
 
Davec223 said:
Go on Matt, name and shame, I can't think who you mean, really I can't.
Click to expand...

To me there was a slight reminiscence to the former Alpha Whiskey Papa :lol: and his rant's about flickr :lol:
 
Really?? Didn't think the OP was the him that you mention. From what I remember his stuff was half way decent at least so there was room to be mildly rude about the work of others :)

People forget not everyone looks at a photo like a photographer or an art critic.
 
srichards said:
Really?? Didn't think the OP was the him that you mention. From what I remember his stuff was half way decent at least so there was room to be mildly rude about the work of others :)

People forget not everyone looks at a photo like a photographer or an art critic.
Click to expand...

:lol: I'm sure that the OP is not who I mentioned at all it just it reminded me a little of it :thumbs:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top