Any 500px users here?

[mfo_]

Hi
I'm thinking about moving onto the 500px platform and would like to read feedback from anyone who uses it and prefers it over the other sites. Its a hobby for me not a business although i may try to offer some pictures for sale as this seems to be included in a paid account. Any input from existing users appreciated thanks!

 

[Patriot]

Just make sure you pictures stand out. You will see pictures on there that will make you go :shock:. I was on there, but I couldn't keep up with everyone else's images.

 

[mfo_]

Just make sure you pictures stand out. You will see pictures on there that will make you go :shock:. I was on there, but I couldn't keep up with everyone else's images.

Patriot thank you for responding. I do see what you mean. Pbase is another place i have seen but that is a very different kind of place in all respects. Perhaps i should stay with my flickr but i would like a clean look with a dark background so im wondering where is a good place to build up a nice collection with largish thumbs and big screen capable.

 

[thetrue]

Just find an available domain name and build your own site with Wordpress.

 

[sm4him]

I use it, although I've slowed down on it a lot recently and need to get some pictures up that are more recent.
I like it because, as Patriot mentions, there seem to be more real QUALITY photos than on sites like Flickr. Of course, that was more true back in its early days--I've seen more and more of the same flickr-type stuff as it's gotten more popular. But I still use personally for ONLY my very best shots--everything else goes to flickr.

For me, personally, the one downside is the way the rating system works. The more a picture is "liked" and the faster it is liked (i.e., 10 likes soon after uploading is way better than 10 likes a week later), the higher the rating it gets. A high enough rating moves it to the "Upcoming" gallery or Popular category. The Popular category--THOSE are the truly stunning shots!

My problem though isn't really with HOW the rating system works--it's that I am a little OCD and I'm also a "like"-monger, so if I see that a picture is starting to take off, I will absolutely obsess about helping it on its way. I'll spend HOURS looking through the other pictures, liking things (only if I truly DO love them) and hoping they in turn go look at my photos and "like" them. I've had two photos, I think, hit the Upcoming list, but never had one make it to Popular and can't imagine I ever will.

I have used the portfolio on it to send to a few people who have asked me if I have an "official" website for my photography. Like you, it's not a business for me. I've never sold anything from 500px--I do have the paid "Awesome" account, but I've never really even checked into whether it offers selling options. I'm too busy trying to get "likes" for my photos to worry about getting PAID for them. :lmao:

 

[mfo_]

I use it, although I've slowed down on it a lot recently and need to get some pictures up that are more recent.
I like it because, as Patriot mentions, there seem to be more real QUALITY photos than on sites like Flickr. Of course, that was more true back in its early days--I've seen more and more of the same flickr-type stuff as it's gotten more popular. But I still use personally for ONLY my very best shots--everything else goes to flickr.

For me, personally, the one downside is the way the rating system works. The more a picture is "liked" and the faster it is liked (i.e., 10 likes soon after uploading is way better than 10 likes a week later), the higher the rating it gets. A high enough rating moves it to the "Upcoming" gallery or Popular category. The Popular category--THOSE are the truly stunning shots!

My problem though isn't really with HOW the rating system works--it's that I am a little OCD and I'm also a "like"-monger, so if I see that a picture is starting to take off, I will absolutely obsess about helping it on its way. I'll spend HOURS looking through the other pictures, liking things (only if I truly DO love them) and hoping they in turn go look at my photos and "like" them. I've had two photos, I think, hit the Upcoming list, but never had one make it to Popular and can't imagine I ever will.

I have used the portfolio on it to send to a few people who have asked me if I have an "official" website for my photography. Like you, it's not a business for me. I've never sold anything from 500px--I do have the paid "Awesome" account, but I've never really even checked into whether it offers selling options. I'm too busy trying to get "likes" for my photos to worry about getting PAID for them. :lmao:

Thanks very much for your reply this is very helpful.

 

[mfo_]

Just find an available domain name and build your own site with Wordpress.

Yes i could do this but i would like to join a community of photographers and im dont know about how much there is for photography networks with wordpress or those blogs. Do you know are there photo blog networks that you can recommend ?

 

[thetrue]

Welcome to the best photography community there is!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I use it, although I've slowed down on it a lot recently and need to get some pictures up that are more recent.
I like it because, as Patriot mentions, there seem to be more real QUALITY photos than on sites like Flickr. Of course, that was more true back in its early days--I've seen more and more of the same flickr-type stuff as it's gotten more popular. But I still use personally for ONLY my very best shots--everything else goes to flickr.

For me, personally, the one downside is the way the rating system works. The more a picture is "liked" and the faster it is liked (i.e., 10 likes soon after uploading is way better than 10 likes a week later), the higher the rating it gets. A high enough rating moves it to the "Upcoming" gallery or Popular category. The Popular category--THOSE are the truly stunning shots!

My problem though isn't really with HOW the rating system works--it's that I am a little OCD and I'm also a "like"-monger, so if I see that a picture is starting to take off, I will absolutely obsess about helping it on its way. I'll spend HOURS looking through the other pictures, liking things (only if I truly DO love them) and hoping they in turn go look at my photos and "like" them. I've had two photos, I think, hit the Upcoming list, but never had one make it to Popular and can't imagine I ever will.

I have used the portfolio on it to send to a few people who have asked me if I have an "official" website for my photography. Like you, it's not a business for me. I've never sold anything from 500px--I do have the paid "Awesome" account, but I've never really even checked into whether it offers selling options. I'm too busy trying to get "likes" for my photos to worry about getting PAID for them. :lmao:

You so funny!

:hug::

 

[mfo_]

Welcome to the best photography community there is!

Thank you very much. Im sure you are right! Ive browsed through quite a lot of threads here and one thing that becomes immediately apparent is its a very mature polite forum almost devoid of trolls and with a really knowledgeable membership! Certainly a place for dedicated photographers to spend a lot of their time and energy! The Liked: thingy is very cool too! I notice that many members with lots of likes seem to be the most sincere and least egotistical contributors here which is very refreshing when so often useful threads on forums may get derailed or hijacked by conceited people with little interest in the topic or questions asked.
A great community you have! Im sure i will be choose this forum over several others!!