This is my entry in the Social Photography Project.
Life online - behind the scenes
I’ve always been a bit of a web geek. Not only does all that information on the internet fascinate me but I’m curious as to how the internet works and what makes it tick. So great was my interest that I eventually learned how to code and style webpages and now work as a web developer. Learning about photography is just as absorbing an interest and it seemed only natural that I would eventually create my own photography-related website.
I read bags of blogs on web design and photography and have learned so much along the way. I wanted to be a part of it. But I had never delved into the more social aspects of the internet, in fact I found it all a little daunting. I would read blogs but never leave comments - a self-confessed “lurker” who was a little hesitant to actively participate.
And then I found Flickr.
My introduction to social photography
Early symptoms of Flickritis
I joined Flickr in October 2006. It was easy: the basic accounts are free; the Flickr site is friendly; the instructions are easy to follow; there was software to download to help me upload my images; I found the privacy settings a comfort for family-related photos; I could also add my own copyright. Later, Picnik partnered with Flickr to enable online editing of uploaded photos. It was all very cool!
This is the first photo I uploaded.
Contracting Flickritis
I still kinda “lurked” around Flickr at first. I put a few photos up and spent hours viewing other people’s images, finding them through keyword searches and the amazing “Explore” button. And then I got a comment on one of my macro photos. And then someone invited me to post a photo to a group. Group? What are groups? I read about groups, joined a few, joined a few more, started commenting on other photos I found.
And then someone added me as a contact. Contact? Who are contacts? I read about contacts, discovered I could add my own and found it an efficient way to keep up to date with various photo streams and the people behind them.
And then someone asked to use one of my photos on their website.
Before I knew it, I was an active member of the online photography community. Dare I say my social photography experience evolved “organically’?
Living with Flickritis
The Flickr community was the unexpected surprise for me. I find it very friendly, easy-going and helpful. I look forward to viewing new photos from my contacts and I value their comments on my photos. People pop by to make a comment on a photo they like, they might “fave” it at the same time, they might even give advice on how to improve a composition. I learn. I enjoy. And my photography has improved as a result.
I “fave” photos I like or leave comments, I am no longer a “lurker”.
Playing it safe with Flickritis
I haven’t personally had any bad experiences using Flickr. I do take certain precautions (I mean there are weirdos out there on the web, right?) and use the available privacy control settings so that I’m not posting photos of my friends and family “to the world”.
When I get a comment on a photo from someone who isn’t on my contact list I usually head over to their photo stream to check it out. If I like their photos I often return the comment compliment or “fave” a photo that has particularly caught my eye. If their photos are of a dubious nature, however, I tend to ignore the comment. Don’t take the bait.
If someone adds me as a contact I do the same, check out their photo stream. If I like their photos I add them as a contact, if they are “dubious” I ignore it. I’m sure people check me out, too, if I add them as a contact first. Flickr is addictive, just use a bit of common-sense.
My photography-related website
About six months after joining Flickr I started this website, Lilahpops, with the view to learning more about photography. I regularly link to my Flickr photos and have begun to participate in photography-related projects, such as this one. I write posts on what I have learned and was pleasantly surprised to find that I have been a help to some people. My website does not attract the masses of internet users that other sites do but the traffic is slowly building.
It is all thanks to Flickr
Some of my Flickr-related posts were noticed by the owners of Photophlow, who sent me an invite to test out the beta version. While I have not really spent much time on Photophlow I was interested to read Brian Auer’s “how-to” guide which caught my attention.
It was through Flickr that one of my photos was added to the 4th Edition of Schmap, an interactive travel website which uses photos from Flickr users.
This is the photo that was “Schmapped” - a macro food shot taken at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna.
How do I contribute?
My contribution back to the online photography community is to write posts on my own website; stumble photography posts and websites when I can; bookmark articles on del.icio.us and vote for articles on PhotographyVoter.
I use Stumbleupon as a way of discovering new photography-related websites and to give the “thumbs up” to articles I have enjoyed. I use del.icio.us to bookmark photography information and add them to my sidebar for my readers. And I vote for articles on PhotograhyVoter that have caught my interest.
Flickr is definitely the key to my social photography experience. In fact, if I had not discovered Flickr, I may still be “lurking” my way around the internet.
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