The oddity of online photo posting

[rexbobcat]

Do you know how hard it is to get external validation with prints, though? Ugh...You have go find someone, have them look at the prints, and then stare at them until they give you the gratification you crave. Soooo much work.

Online, I can just zap an image to Flickr and then get the sweet affirmation that keeps my self-esteem intact.

that's what I use instagram for. Put up a picture of a backlit dogwood? Bam 20 likes. Picture of my #coffee with steam rising off, boom, 30 likes. But then my girlfriend posts a bathroom mirror selfie and, welp, 200 likes, haha.

God, I can't stand Instagram...but I use it anyways...There are many nice feeds (I really like Nat Geo's photography account) but it's the most disingenuous app out there. It's basically 70% softcore porn. And then the people who are popular for just that act like they're not vain or shallow at all even though the people they hang out with in their photos are basically clones of themselves. lol

Plus, people always manufacturing moments for the photo app. I watched a documentary where some hipster dudes went around jumping off of sh*t for the perfect Instagram photo. I'm not all about that scene. I've never understood it.

I'm the Debbie Downer for not liking and complimenting people's selfies and inspirational quotes/Bible verses. I'll survive I suppose.

 

[fjrabon]

Do you know how hard it is to get external validation with prints, though? Ugh...You have go find someone, have them look at the prints, and then stare at them until they give you the gratification you crave. Soooo much work.

Online, I can just zap an image to Flickr and then get the sweet affirmation that keeps my self-esteem intact.

that's what I use instagram for. Put up a picture of a backlit dogwood? Bam 20 likes. Picture of my #coffee with steam rising off, boom, 30 likes. But then my girlfriend posts a bathroom mirror selfie and, welp, 200 likes, haha.

God, I can't stand Instagram...but I use it anyways...There are many nice feeds (I really like Nat Geo's photography account) but it's the most disingenuous app out there. It's basically where people go to get softcore porn but nobody will admit to it. And then the people who are popular for just that act like they're not vain or shallow at all even though the people they hang out with in their photos are basically clones of themselves. lol

Plus, people always manufacturing moments for the photo app. I watched a documentary where some hipster dudes went around jumping off of sh*t for the perfect Instagram photo. I'm not all about that scene. I've never understood it.

I'm the Debbie Downer for not liking and complimenting people's selfies and inspirational quotes/Bible verses. I'll survive I suppose.

haha, I think it just all depends on the feeds/hashtags/communities you follow and interact with. Honestly the worst follows I have on instagram are IRL friends that I follow out of a sense of obligation.

 

[rexbobcat]

Do you know how hard it is to get external validation with prints, though? Ugh...You have go find someone, have them look at the prints, and then stare at them until they give you the gratification you crave. Soooo much work.

Online, I can just zap an image to Flickr and then get the sweet affirmation that keeps my self-esteem intact.

that's what I use instagram for. Put up a picture of a backlit dogwood? Bam 20 likes. Picture of my #coffee with steam rising off, boom, 30 likes. But then my girlfriend posts a bathroom mirror selfie and, welp, 200 likes, haha.

God, I can't stand Instagram...but I use it anyways...There are many nice feeds (I really like Nat Geo's photography account) but it's the most disingenuous app out there. It's basically where people go to get softcore porn but nobody will admit to it. And then the people who are popular for just that act like they're not vain or shallow at all even though the people they hang out with in their photos are basically clones of themselves. lol

Plus, people always manufacturing moments for the photo app. I watched a documentary where some hipster dudes went around jumping off of sh*t for the perfect Instagram photo. I'm not all about that scene. I've never understood it.

I'm the Debbie Downer for not liking and complimenting people's selfies and inspirational quotes/Bible verses. I'll survive I suppose.

haha, I think it just all depends on the feeds/hashtags/communities you follow and interact with. Honestly the worst follows I have on instagram are IRL friends that I follow out of a sense of obligation.

Yeah, they're not all like that. But there is something to be said about what makes a good photo and what makes a good Instagram photo. The community is vast but oddly very similar in their aesthetic tastes. I know a few photojournalists who take great photos but can't gain traction because they don't have make content that is very popular on Instagram.

It's basically like how those "surreal" photos of naked white young people lying in wooded areas are super popular on Flickr, only on Instagram it's lots of travel photography, selfies, food, and feet all processed with VSCO.

 

[bribrius]

meh... Dont even know why most people bother posting anything on any site most of the time. This thread seemed to help me understand better though. I get what others get out of it now (least a little bit). And sites gain advertising revenue, more hits, whatever. Really all about trying to make money, pretty much. Other people get to see photos. whatever. Most of the time what i can't figure out is wtf i get out of it. Which usually ain't a whole lot. suppose it kills time, boredom, helps in procrastination. gives people something to look at. Hell, i dunno....

 

[Buckster]

It is too easy. you will never meet most people. what you print or would show personally i am sure it much better than what you throw online.

It feels like you are doing "something" when you really may not be. Again, it is easy. I am starting to think if i really wanted to be doing "something" i should probably be putting REAL work out there and trying to display in real life. Posting photos online seems a low involvement cop out.

Time. I am starting to think of a few sites i have regularly posted too. And what better uses i could have used for that time instead of tossing up photos. Facebook included. As it doesn't really seem a great use of time.


Less print. If i spent as much time concerning myself with printing photos vs. online digital media. I would probably have more photos printed.


Peoples dislikes or likes. See above. I should probably concern myself more with what i want to put on my wall or in a real show. Than what ten thousand no name people on facebook or where ever i put photos thinks.

Things look different in actual size and print. Again, kind of put into question the digital media idea. It seems the way the world is going though. wifi, quick uploads, quick sharing. I am starting to wonder seriously of the value of most of it.

thoughts?

You're 100% absolutely right.

You should definitely pack this e-involvement in altogether. Abandon it outright and devote your time and energy entirely to real-world pursuits. Interact with real live people face to face using actual physical prints of your work. Take them around town to galleries, banks, public markets, anywhere and everywhere, showing them to real live people and interacting with them in real world ways, and thereby find your niche in the real world in which to truly participate.

This online stuff is a total waste of your time, and the sooner you leave it behind you altogether, the better off you will be.

Bon voyage!!!!

 

[bribrius]

It is too easy. you will never meet most people. what you print or would show personally i am sure it much better than what you throw online.

It feels like you are doing "something" when you really may not be. Again, it is easy. I am starting to think if i really wanted to be doing "something" i should probably be putting REAL work out there and trying to display in real life. Posting photos online seems a low involvement cop out.

Time. I am starting to think of a few sites i have regularly posted too. And what better uses i could have used for that time instead of tossing up photos. Facebook included. As it doesn't really seem a great use of time.


Less print. If i spent as much time concerning myself with printing photos vs. online digital media. I would probably have more photos printed.


Peoples dislikes or likes. See above. I should probably concern myself more with what i want to put on my wall or in a real show. Than what ten thousand no name people on facebook or where ever i put photos thinks.

Things look different in actual size and print. Again, kind of put into question the digital media idea. It seems the way the world is going though. wifi, quick uploads, quick sharing. I am starting to wonder seriously of the value of most of it.

thoughts?

You're 100% absolutely right.

You should definitely pack this e-involvement in altogether. Abandon it outright and devote your time and energy entirely to real-world pursuits. Interact with real live people face to face using actual physical prints of your work. Take them around town to galleries, banks, public markets, anywhere and everywhere, showing them to real live people and interacting with them in real world ways, and thereby find your niche in the real world in which to truly participate.

This online stuff is a total waste of your time, and the sooner you leave it behind you altogether, the better off you will be.

Bon voyage!!!!

I can't tell if that was sarcasm or serious. But, Agreed!!! Yet i am still here??????? And on two other sites??????????????? Maybe it is a addiction??????????????????????/
Going to have to see if i can get hooked up with some methadone from my primary care physician.

 

[jsecordphoto]

Do you know how hard it is to get external validation with prints, though? Ugh...You have go find someone, have them look at the prints, and then stare at them until they give you the gratification you crave. Soooo much work.

Online, I can just zap an image to Flickr and then get the sweet affirmation that keeps my self-esteem intact.

that's what I use instagram for. Put up a picture of a backlit dogwood? Bam 20 likes. Picture of my #coffee with steam rising off, boom, 30 likes. But then my girlfriend posts a bathroom mirror selfie and, welp, 200 likes, haha.

God, I can't stand Instagram...but I use it anyways...There are many nice feeds (I really like Nat Geo's photography account) but it's the most disingenuous app out there. It's basically 70% softcore porn. And then the people who are popular for just that act like they're not vain or shallow at all even though the people they hang out with in their photos are basically clones of themselves. lol

Plus, people always manufacturing moments for the photo app. I watched a documentary where some hipster dudes went around jumping off of sh*t for the perfect Instagram photo. I'm not all about that scene. I've never understood it.

I'm the Debbie Downer for not liking and complimenting people's selfies and inspirational quotes/Bible verses. I'll survive I suppose.

Thats funny, instagram is probably my favorite social media place. Admittedly, there is a LOT of nonsense on there. But I've been able to connect with a lot of photographers, worked with some awesome companies, sold prints, etc. through instagram. I do hate the square crop, even if you can just add white borders to be able to post 2x3 ratio photos

 

[Derrel]

I do hate the square crop, even if you can just add white borders to be able to post 2x3 ratio photos

The square crop helps lift the impact of photos from clueless newbs who tend to shoot very loose...I mean, it literally FORCES them to crop away 1/3 of their image area, thus eliminating sooooo much dead space. Plus, a square aspect image looks good with the subject dead-center. So, it's a win-win aspect ratio for a site like IG. I honestly think the square aspect ratio IG uses is one of the key things in its growth. It truly helps improve the visual impact of the photos made by most people.

 

[snerd]

There is an app on ios that allows to post photos as shot........ Cropic. Give it a try.

 

[bribrius]

There is an app on ios that allows to post photos as shot........ Cropic. Give it a try.

that actually could be fun..

 

[bribrius]

or maybe not.......

post where??????????????????

 

[snerd]

or maybe not.......

post where??????????????????

Instagram and other social sites.

 

[snerd]

It allows to post landscapes as landscapes on Instagram.

 

[jsecordphoto]

It allows to post landscapes as landscapes on Instagram.

Yeah there are quite a few apps that do that, or I'll just add white borders in photoshop, but other accounts typically only feature square crops and adding the borders just makes the photos so small. I crop square for IG whenever possible, but some compositions just cant be cropped.

 

[Dikkie]

Anyone yet noticed this thread was started on Fool's Day ?