Photography as a hobby

[Zane90]

Hi all,

I got into photography about six months ago and have gradually built up a collection of images that I'm rather happy with. I'm thinking now it would be nice to do something with them other than just store them on my laptop. Any ideas? What do other photography enthusiasts do with their images?

[barfastic]

Hello! i find it very helpful to post on photography forums, and ask for creative criticism.

Further than that, theres instagram, and other social media platforms that have communities etc to always try and expand your knowledge etc.

Have fun with your new hobby

its definitely very addicting!

M

[Zane90]

You're right there, it certainly is addictive! Social media is a good idea, I am not very clued up on it but will do my research. I also thought about making my own website, not for business or anything but purely to sort of collect and showcase my own work. Although again, I'm no expert on these kinds of things - has anyone else done this? Is there much technical expertise required?

[M_Six]

Flickr works well for sharing images. You can even get a personalized URL to send to friends and family. Check it out.

https://flickr.com

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Flickr works well for sharing images. You can even get a personalized URL to send to friends and family. Check it out.

+1 for Flickr.

If you're into high image quality and building a network of like minded enthusiasts, then Flickr is the best place to show your images at high resolution and zero in on others pursuing the same niches as you.

It's a very small community, but enthusiastic, but you might enjoy participating here:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...27637&page=462

[Zane90]

So I checked out Flickr and it seems to be just the thing I was looking for actually, so thanks for suggesting that! I'd never heard of it before but I found a nice introductory guide to the most important social media platforms, and apparently Flickr is one of the oldest online communities for sharing images - used by amateurs and professionals alike, so perfect for me Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys.

[dcstep]

Great!

What's you user name?

Here's a link to me:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcstep/albums

[Zane90]

Nice one, thanks. I'm not set up yet but will post a link as soon as I'm all sorted

[stratocaster]

After taking a long break from photography hobby, (due to day job and commitment to family) now i am going back the way i love to do before. Anyone here Nikon owner? My old stuff just D7000

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by stratocaster

After taking a long break from photography hobby, (due to day job and commitment to family) now i am going back the way i love to do before. Anyone here Nikon owner? My old stuff just D7000

Hey Strat, welcome back.

Is there supposed to be a link in your post?

[FD3S]

Originally Posted by barfastic

Hello! i find it very helpful to post on photography forums, and ask for creative criticism.

Further than that, theres instagram, and other social media platforms that have communities etc to always try and expand your knowledge etc.

Have fun with your new hobby

its definitely very addicting!

M

Hello barfastic.
Which are the available forums that you can submit photos for criticism?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by FD3S

Hello barfastic.
Which are the available forums that you can submit photos for criticism?

https://www.photo.net/

There are others for specialized interests, such as bird photography at:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/forum.php

While this is not a critique Thread per se, if you ask for comment, several of us will comment:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...27637&page=465

Within the BMWPost site, you can even start your own Thread in the Photography/Videography sub-Forum and a few of us will see it and comment.

Dave

[dcstep]

Sign up for free at:

https://digital-photography-school.com/

I've put over 100,000-clicks on several camera bodies over the last few years and I still find DPS's weekly updates interesting and educational.

Dave

[FD3S]

Originally Posted by dcstep

https://www.photo.net/

There are others for specialized interests, such as bird photography at:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/forum.php

While this is not a critique Thread per se, if you ask for comment, several of us will comment:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...27637&page=465

Within the BMWPost site, you can even start your own Thread in the Photography/Videography sub-Forum and a few of us will see it and comment.

Dave

Dave thank you very much for the information. The https://digital-photography-school.com/ is very helpful.

[anglefire]

I'm an occasional poster on http://cameracraniums.com/ and http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ - all but the big well established forums are slowly dying due largely I think to places like Facebook.

[barfastic]

I also used to visit http://www.thephotoforum.com/

its quite active, and the members are very helpful!

M

[Diver]

Post a few here. Join a photo forum. Open a free account on Flickr. It's an addiction, not a hobby.

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by stratocaster

After taking a long break from photography hobby, (due to day job and commitment to family) now i am going back the way i love to do before. Anyone here Nikon owner? My old stuff just D7000

Yes I'm... FG, Nikonos V, F5, D70, D3... And too many lenses...

[PWM3NA]

I really have no idea how I haven't yet made a flickr account. Fortunately my day job is photography and I'm currently employed by the military, but I definitely need a more effective outlet for the photos I shoot in my spare time. Preferably an outlet that doesn't ruin photo quality like facebook or instagram...

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by PWM3NAH

I really have no idea how I haven't yet made a flickr account. Fortunately my day job is photography and I'm currently employed by the military, but I definitely need a more effective outlet for the photos I shoot in my spare time. Preferably an outlet that doesn't ruin photo quality like facebook or instagram...

I have had a "Pro" account with Flickr since 2007. I'm extremely pleased with the quality of display and ease of Sharing images.

You may still want to post to Instagram or FB. I use the Sharing links that Flickr provides. On FB, for instance, it displays my image, with Link to Flickr and displays my name. My watermark is preserved. For here, on BMW-Post, I use BBCode. For other sites, I use HTML code, provided by Flickr

I upload my full resolution file to Flickr, but limit the display size somewhat, not much. Your stuff will get stolen off any site. I use Pixey to constantly monitor and have an attorney that files infringement lawsuits on 30% contingency fee. I'm just starting to Register my Copyright, which escalates the statutory damages by a factor of ten. It's a lot of work, but I've decided to make my photography income stream serious.

It takes years to build a following, so I suggest that you start now. There are many exceptional photographers on Flickr, but there is also tons and tons of trash. Find a handful that you like, then Follow them and look at who they Follow. That'll get you to the cream of the crop. Decide if you're going to work a presence on FB or Instagram and start work that, even if modestly. When you post there, followers can click on the image and see it full-screen over on Flickr. Also consider 500-Pix and a couple of others, then stick with one and work it.

[Josh (PA)]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I have had a "Pro" account with Flickr since 2007. I'm extremely pleased with the quality of display and ease of Sharing images. .

What is the benefit of the Pro account these days? I used to have Pro, but they changed their service a little while ago and I let it lapse. Is it worth re-upping it?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

What is the benefit of the Pro account these days? I used to have Pro, but they changed their service a little while ago and I let it lapse. Is it worth re-upping it?

The storage is unlimited, instead of "just" 1TB and it has no advertising. I think it primarily depends on how much the advertisements might annoy you. (They won't let you store RAW files, so I'm nowhere near 1TB, with 15,000 images.