I've feared this post. And it has been a post-in-progress in my mind for a long time. I know I'm going to make people mad. I'm going to enflame passions, provoke protests, promote division and engender genuine untidiness. But like Peter Parker, I'm compelled to use my spider-powers for good.
Look, hear me out.
The King Has No Clothes
The more comments you get the more commenters commit to comment copiously. Then there's Explore, which is when 'they' (the unseen Flickr gods) select featured images based on the copious comments. That then gives a bunch more commenters the opportunity to hop on the bandwagon and ... well ... you see where this is going. He who has much will get much more. But, he who has little, even what he has will be taken away.
Look at Me, I'm Beautiful
Look, if ya got it, flaunt it! No issue there. But what about the rest of us!? There are groups that might as well just be titled "Let's Love Me 352 Days a Year"or "352 of Glen's Favorite Facial Profiles".
There's no "Amarillo Texas Sons of SAC Pilots Who Shoot Nikon D80 but Want Canon 5D MkII User's Group".
Oh, wait, I just found it ... nevermind.
So it's clear how highly I value Flickr ... when I'm not hating it, I mean. I really do appreciate having a place where photogs can freely post and view each other's work and gather new ideas. We just need to be careful not to steer our artistic direction by the rudder of Flickr opinion.
More thoughts on Flickr in a later post.
Peace and love,
Glen
"There is no beauty that has not some strangeness in its proportions" (Francis Bacon).
6 comments:
i hate flickr and i managed not to come back :P
love the framing and the soft colors.. very dreamy :)
chears
I have heard this many times, not from you though:) I agree, and there is so much more you didn't list. Which I will spare you. I have heard Flickr wasn't always like that. What is scary and sad to me is all of the teenagers who get a ton of views for their appearance and lack of clothing.
I don't see it getting any better. I could go on and on, but I won't. I do enjoy your photography, and seeing other photography from all over the world. There are always negatives out there. I could go on and on, but I won't:) Thanks for your input!
Romina - I have a feeling I'm going to be taking a break for a while myself.
Jules - It's when it goes from appreciating a person's photography to appreciating the photographer because they're attractive that turns me off. I mean Flickr is just a posting service and what people do with it is up to them but that's not my thing. Your comments are always so thoughtful. Thanks.
I love this photo, so amazing! For filckr I don't have a account so I can't tell!
Hi Glen,
thanks for your visits and comments!
If feeelings are like this a break could help;-) Beautiful photo! Sunny greetings
Thank you, Janine. I really enjoy your site. Flickr and I are divorced but still good friends. We visit for tea occasionally :P
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