The problem with Flickr

[ABERS]

Originally Posted by Hevans

Also the number of groups that feed of backslapping is awful. If you want genuine criticism/help, there isn't nearly as much help.

In summary: they've got the best gallery upload/organising/browsing/display software around, but the actual human community/communication side is sorely inadequate.

H.

I used to send my images to other groups, especially the B+W ones, and if you did tha, on some, there was a stipulation that you were obliged to comment on 1,2 or 3 already on the site, which quickly became a pointless excercise. I only comment on an image if it has something that I consider worth commenting about.

As far as the community side of things is concerned, there are small groups that exist for that, I think you are aware of that Howard. However the private message system works quite well with those that I have struck up an acquaintance with.

[jinky]

I have got to love flickr over the last 18 months or so. I find it really useful to trawl around looking at images and ideas and think some of the threads are really useful. I hate the badges / stickers element and am amazed at some of the invites I get ( An invite to the Ploughman`s Lunch group for a food shot I did was one of the most bizarre - yes it was a group that majored on PL`s !!)
The real plus for me is that we have an incredibly active Leeds Flickr group that doubles up as a photography club - the only other ones I found were so dull and anti-digital in Leeds it seemed. Our flicr group has a monthly meet where we do workshops / presentations put forward free by other members skilled in an area, monthly click n sup nights where we go round Leeds shooting in groups after a coffee and before a pint and have so far had 3 photocamp weekends - new to the UK where we do a whole weekend of worshops. Yesterdays had 150 people there and featured that flicr celebrity Miss Aniela ( Natalie Dybisz) who did the opening address and a session on composites. Als spearheaded by a hardworking commited guy who makes it happen wth help but shows what can be done with some co-operation on flickr. I led a world wide photowalk in Leeds linked to flickr recently with 40 people involved from Leeds. Incredible tool used well and one of my key learning areas.

[KeithT]

Flickr's picture management is fautless in my view and beats any other free picture management service I know of. I'm sure the pro paid status is pretty good too. If you want to chat with other like minded togs, join the groups that interest you most and participate. If you want to know something - ask. Flickr is as solitary or as friendly as you want to make it. There isn't as much bickering between personalities on Flickr either. At least that has been my experience.

[ap4a]

Flickr's great, but it has its issues too. Notably, the lack of control over who can see what. I want to make full res images available to some people, large to others and only medium to others, but you don't get that level of control. It'd also be nice to be able to opt out of 3rd party API uses effectively, rather than being able to opt out so long as the 3rd party developer adheres to the rules and respects the opt out (and the licensing used on photos, such as ARR). Being able to modify or replace a photo without it breaking it when you've used it elsewhere would also be nice. Then there's the whole attitude that if you post to a group you should relinquish some aspects of control, such as the ability to block notes being splattered all over images. And being able to appeal dictatorial decisions before they're carried out (such as images deleted or whole paid-for accounts being irreversibly deleted) is also massively important, but they don't allow that either.

[bain]

i agree with most here but there are groups that are quite informative, for example the lightroom group i have learned a lot form there.. canon 40d group i have the manual but have learned so much from them too, so good information is there you just need to find it.... just my 2p worth

[DavidBracher]

I really like flickr and find it's one of, if not the best place for finding inspirational photos. Most people use the favorites section for saving shots that inspire them, so as soon as you see someone who's taken a shot you quite like have a look at their favorites folder. Then pick one from that which you like then click on that photographers favorites button and so on. Within four clicks of the mouse I can find work that is gobsmacking!

[Carolpgh]

I'm another flickr fan. I originally joined when I was doing the Open University photography and editing course last year, and it's kind of gone on since then.

Although I'm a member of an inordinate number of groups, I only regularly visit less than half a dozen because I'm one of the admins on them: namely the OU T189 May 2008, where I run the challenges on behalf of the main admin who's now a student and no longer has time; I'm an admin of a challenge group that's mainly US based, and the third most visited is (Officially) England's Best Buildings, which was put together with the aim of collating images of all the Grade I listed buildings in the country so I'm "in charge" of finding images for Northamptonshire.

OK, I get awards and will post to a group as long as it's not more than "post 1 comment 1 or 2" - the ones that request you to comment on 5? I can't be asked..

I'm on there to share the images I'm proud of, and to keep up with the friends I've made on there - most of whom are in the OU group. Yes, I've had pics pinched for use on websites once or twice but a stern email usually sorts that out and since I still consider myself a beginner that doesn't happen very often!

You get out of flickr what you put into it - I agree with the previous post in that you can find some amazing images. You can also find a lot of total dross!

Carol

[Rees]

Originally Posted by Steve9091

I used to love flickr, I have been a paying member on there since 2005 and I have been an admin of a few groups aimed at British users, such as http://www.flickr.com/groups/britishcountryside/ and http://www.flickr.com/groups/coolbritannia/.

There are now more groups than ever and lots of photos but the problem is no one seems to talk or share knowledge and ideas about their work and others work anymore.

It seems to be a me me me attitude, upload lots of pics and hope someone pastes lots of welldone, great photo picture and invite type posts on the photos.

Its not fun anymore and I think it has peaked and it has now had its day. I would love to know others thoughts on it, do you like it, hate it, feel the same way. Do you still use it and can you make any group recomendations.

I agree entirely with the comments you have expressed and would not, do not use this site.

[andreasphotography]

Like Carol above i joined Flickr when i did the T189 course personally i have made lots of friends a fair few i have met up with
also it drives me to photograph places i would not normal go
I find it good for ideas

Ok i dont like the idea that people can steal my images but hey if they think they are that good

I get lots of group invites i used to feel really excited by them but i dont now
and tend to ignore alot of them

its me cats that do it
I have learn t alot from Flickr from photoshop groups, topaz groups, action groups T189, and the D300 group as well as my camera club group and my night shooting group
yup you get out of it what you put in