Random Photos : Part 4
Discussion
CY88 said:
V8Wagon said:
CY88 said:
Please don't be offended but I don't understand how this image ends up being 'explored' on Flickr. I love your previous shots of the camper etc and am in no doubt that you are a talented photographer and you certainly appear to get a lot of shots 'explored'
Why this one though? Am I missing something?
I am just curious :-)
singlecoil said:
If you are I am too.
Not offended at all. Being explored on flickr isn't about taking the best shots. Explore is an algorithm which takes into account various factors ... number of views, favourites, comments, number of groups your picture is in, number of links to it, the nature of the image tags, the number of days since your last explore, number of times you favourite or comment on other people's photos - the goal is to meet the criteria for the magic flickr formula for "interestingness". To get explored you must therefore, to a certain extent, engage in the social aspect of flickr. In fact, I'd say that its fairly crucial. However, once you start getting picked, its sort of self fulfilling, as explore gives you greater exposure (10K-100K views easy) which leads to more followers, more comments, more "interestingness" as flickr calls it.... and therefore more chance of further explores.
The nerd in me actually sees it as a challenge (as do many others playing the flickr game), and now and again I think i've worked it out to the extent that I can post a photo with some confidence that it will get picked (know what your followers like and when to post it). Often this works - sometimes it doesn't. I try and post my better shots when I think it'll work, but get peeved when all the variables align and no explore.
What I can say with certainty is that you will not get explored unless you have at least 2 comments on your photo in a 24 hour period, and at least 20 favourites. Neither will you get explored if your photos are in more than 5 groups (in fact the less the better), nor if you post in the sort of groups that offer sparkly badges or require you to comment on the person below you etc.
Having said all that, todays picture of the sea wall was just a throwaway sort of post because I thought the colour pallet fitted my photo stream. The fact it made the front page was a complete surprise. So what do I know?
At the end of the day, I see explore as a means of getting exposure. And the more people looking at my photos, the better chance someone might like to use one - as did the obscure Italian lifestyle magazine who wanted one of my camper van pictures last week.
For what its worth, I wouldn't say that I am a talented photographer at all. I often simply use my iPhone, and I like playing around with post processing. My aim is to evoke a positive emotion in the viewer rather than technical praise
Flying back to Lossie after smashing Tain range.
56th RQS HH-60G Pavehawk by Lloyd Horgan, on Flickr
Smashing Tain range.
56th RQS Special Mission Aviator by Lloyd Horgan, on Flickr
56th RQS HH-60G Pavehawk by Lloyd Horgan, on FlickrSmashing Tain range.
56th RQS Special Mission Aviator by Lloyd Horgan, on FlickrV8Wagon said:
CY88 said:
Please don't be offended but I don't understand how this image ends up being 'explored' on Flickr. I love your previous shots of the camper etc and am in no doubt that you are a talented photographer and you certainly appear to get a lot of shots 'explored'Why this one though? Am I missing something?
I am just curious :-)
It's attractive and interesting - I love abstract photos as I do with painting, less is often more as they say.
Such an awesome trip down south, heaps to process, but still a few ones from last week to do yet!
Greenpoint by Rob Dickinson, on Flickr
Greenpoint by Rob Dickinson, on FlickrLovely that Rob, just saw it on flickr too.
Loch Torren by Christopher Marr, on Flickr
Took my girlfriend up to Glencoe with her new Nikon and decided to dust off my ten stop and try a few shots myself too.
Loch Torren by Christopher Marr, on FlickrTook my girlfriend up to Glencoe with her new Nikon and decided to dust off my ten stop and try a few shots myself too.
CY88 said:
V8Wagon said:
CY88 said:
Please don't be offended but I don't understand how this image ends up being 'explored' on Flickr. I love your previous shots of the camper etc and am in no doubt that you are a talented photographer and you certainly appear to get a lot of shots 'explored'Why this one though? Am I missing something?
I am just curious :-)
singlecoil said:
If you are I am too.
Not offended at all. Being explored on flickr isn't about taking the best shots. Explore is an algorithm which takes into account various factors ... number of views, favourites, comments, number of groups your picture is in, number of links to it, the nature of the image tags, the number of days since your last explore, number of times you favourite or comment on other people's photos - the goal is to meet the criteria for the magic flickr formula for "interestingness". To get explored you must therefore, to a certain extent, engage in the social aspect of flickr. In fact, I'd say that its fairly crucial. However, once you start getting picked, its sort of self fulfilling, as explore gives you greater exposure (10K-100K views easy) which leads to more followers, more comments, more "interestingness" as flickr calls it.... and therefore more chance of further explores.
The nerd in me actually sees it as a challenge (as do many others playing the flickr game), and now and again I think i've worked it out to the extent that I can post a photo with some confidence that it will get picked (know what your followers like and when to post it). Often this works - sometimes it doesn't. I try and post my better shots when I think it'll work, but get peeved when all the variables align and no explore.
What I can say with certainty is that you will not get explored unless you have at least 2 comments on your photo in a 24 hour period, and at least 20 favourites. Neither will you get explored if your photos are in more than 5 groups (in fact the less the better), nor if you post in the sort of groups that offer sparkly badges or require you to comment on the person below you etc.
Having said all that, todays picture of the sea wall was just a throwaway sort of post because I thought the colour pallet fitted my photo stream. The fact it made the front page was a complete surprise. So what do I know?
At the end of the day, I see explore as a means of getting exposure. And the more people looking at my photos, the better chance someone might like to use one - as did the obscure Italian lifestyle magazine who wanted one of my camper van pictures last week.
For what its worth, I wouldn't say that I am a talented photographer at all. I often simply use my iPhone, and I like playing around with post processing. My aim is to evoke a positive emotion in the viewer rather than technical praise
Edited by CY88 on Sunday 24th April 22:46
V8Wagon said:
Thanks for the illuminating reply mate. It's interesting stuff.....I really haven't been able to get my head around how they pick them, though to be fair the quality is usually pretty high! When you say the "social aspect" of Flickr, what are you referring to? Simply commenting on other people's pictures? Being in groups and mutually appreciating each others work? Is there a busy forum on there? Sorry for all the questions! Well done on getting the camper van pic published...they did look lovely!
No probs. By "social aspect" i mean essentially just what you've identified - commenting on other people's pictures, posting pictures to a limited number of groups and favouriting other peoples work. There's no need to get involved with the forums, and definitely not the ones that encourage people to "post one, comment on 2". In terms of comments on flickr, their content doesn't have to be particularly meaningful, but obviously the more genuine your comments are, the more likely to pique someone else's interest in your own work. I spent a year or so simply posting pictures and adding them to dozens of random groups, and would be lucky to get 2 or 3 faves. It took a while of studying those who made it regularly into explore to appreciate that its an active band of followers commenting on your work that really ramp the odds in favour of being selected. And I probably fave around 50 photos a day. I also tend to fave and comment on pictures that have been very recently posted, as then I know that the photographer is an active user or online. These will yield better "returns" than perhaps better quality images posted by users who no longer frequent the site. I know it all sounds a bit mercantile, but I genuinely only fave photos I like, and follow photographers whose work I enjoy seeing.
Bring on the clowns said:
Well, I like it!
It's attractive and interesting - I love abstract photos as I do with painting, less is often more as they say.
Thank you very much !It's attractive and interesting - I love abstract photos as I do with painting, less is often more as they say.
tenohfive said:
Something about the colours and the framing just makes it...nice. Not stunning, not beautiful, just nice. But really nice, in a much less lukewarm way than the word traditionally implies. Explored or not I've had clicked it if it popped up in my photo feed. Taste is subjective at the end of the day.
Nice works for me! Cheers!Edited by CY88 on Thursday 28th April 01:16
CY88 said:
All of your shots are contenders for the top of explore Rob! Not just because they're bloody fantastic, but because they get lots of attention. From what I can gauge they're often simply in too many groups which automatically rules them out.
I usually dont put them in any groups unless I get invited, but I just dont get explored so I've been putting them in a few groups now, the previous boat shot ended up in 50 of them lolSome great landscape shots guys!
Approaching RAF Lossiemouth after 2 1/2 hours on Tain range.
56th RQS HH-60G Pavehawk by Lloyd Horgan, on Flickr
The iconic 'Darth Vader' that is so often associated with the USAF rescue squadrons.
56th RQS Special Missions Aviator by Lloyd Horgan, on Flickr
Bombing up having gone Winchester.
56th RQS HH-60G Pavehawk's by Lloyd Horgan, on Flickr
Approaching RAF Lossiemouth after 2 1/2 hours on Tain range.
56th RQS HH-60G Pavehawk by Lloyd Horgan, on FlickrThe iconic 'Darth Vader' that is so often associated with the USAF rescue squadrons.
56th RQS Special Missions Aviator by Lloyd Horgan, on FlickrBombing up having gone Winchester.
56th RQS HH-60G Pavehawk's by Lloyd Horgan, on FlickrFew recent random ones from me...
Beach Scene by André Jardinière, on Flickr
Rain Cloud over the Channel by André Jardinière, on Flickr
Unimog by André Jardinière, on Flickr
Warp Speed by André Jardinière, on Flickr
Beach Scene by André Jardinière, on Flickr
Rain Cloud over the Channel by André Jardinière, on Flickr
Unimog by André Jardinière, on Flickr
Warp Speed by André Jardinière, on Flickr
V8Wagon said:
Cracker, love the mini starburst !chrismarr said:
V8Wagon said:
Cracker, love the mini starburst !
delboy735 said:
Photo taken at Loch Awe. Shot in jpeg, no processing at all. What could I do to improve shots like this in the future ??
Shoot in RAW and do some processing! 
Sorry I'm being flippant but that would be a good start. If you have a nice scene in front of you and a composition you like then shooting RAW and doing a bit of work in Lightroom or Photoshop etc will make a world of difference
A 5 minute play in Photoshop could give you something like this:
DibblyDobbler said:
Shoot in RAW and do some processing!
Sorry I'm being flippant but that would be a good start. If you have a nice scene in front of you and a composition you like then shooting RAW and doing a bit of work in Lightroom or Photoshop etc will make a world of difference
A 5 minute play in Photoshop could give you something like this:
Cheers DD. Been admiring your photos for quite some time. Never done any processing, so it would be a steep learning curve !! Asked some advice on here, and the general consensus seems to be try Lightroom, so may have to give it a go Sorry I'm being flippant but that would be a good start. If you have a nice scene in front of you and a composition you like then shooting RAW and doing a bit of work in Lightroom or Photoshop etc will make a world of difference
A 5 minute play in Photoshop could give you something like this:
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