Woah, two blog posts two days in a row? That has not happened since, like… 1942 (that’s a joke for Cori and I). The blog is not dead!
But indeed, I got some of the nice, chest thumping “chuffed” feeling (as my friends on the other pond side say), for a recent flickr photo I posted of a sunset got picked for flickr explore, their regular feature for highlighting photos shared on the platform.
The formula supposedly is algorithmic, and I gather because of the exposure generates, people theorize all kinds of ways to get a photo “explored.” You will in the main pool lots of awesome landscapes, animals, people, odd objects. Can you really name the pattern?
I only knew because I got a notification that my photo was added to the group “in explore” which I remain unsure is part of the official process or something done in another way. Its noticable as my photos spike from the normal single digit number of views to a few thousand, and then congratulatory comments come in.
Well yes, I am some a few many ways bragging, because it feels good. I’ve been fortunate to have had now 31 of my photos explored — for those that have URL literacy you can find your own photos that swim in a flickr groups pool by taking the main URL: https://www.flickr.com/groups/inexplore/ then add pool/ then add your flickr user name that leads to your own photos, e.g. for me, cogdog.
But actually it’s been almost 5 years since the last time it happened. I can conjure all kinds of reasons, “my photos are boring” or “i don’t get many views/comments” or “Saturn is in remission”.
I mean I felt like this was a nice photo, but believe me, we get colorful sunsets almost daily (well at the end of the days!)
This was an evening Cori and I were walking a part of our property where the poplar trees have been rhizomatically spreading and springing up saplings, well now some of them are 15 feet tall in a few years. But the sunet was magnificent, with that low swatch of swirling clouds. We were both snapping pics on our iPhones, and I admit, I saw Cori first taking a similar one with the top of the poplar in the frame. So indeed, I “stole” the photo, Cori!
Is it really unique? Shrug. Nice colors, a close to rule of thirds alignment, I do like the grey reach like shape of the cloud, and very far, another home’s light on the horizon.
Yeah, I like the photo.
But how was it selected? Why? It had a handful of views, and one comment from my Australian flickr friend Michael.
It’s the mystery and unexpectedness that is special. You can’t just jimmy the system (well I hope).
And it reminds me of that value of giving recognition, sharing the work of others. Sure, in my social streams I might send out my blog posts or Big Headed Ideas or links to My Stuff, all in the name of sharing, right? That’s the premise of sharing?
Yet I think more valuable to another person is when you do something that give them a shout out, or send people whio might stumble on your blatherings. And it just feels reassuring to get one out of the blue.
To be heard.
Seen.
And not just for the numbers.
Thanks flickr, another reason to love ya added to my list. I know Dave Lane does not agree, and will shake his head (maybe, he is too nice to be mean), but 20+ years in, flickr still gives me much internet joy.
Featured Image: Yup, mine. Do I really need to dip into GenAI to get some cartoon gopher or robot peeking into a blue tinted telescope? Nah, I got my own photos. This is one from the Grand Canyon, and it fits.
Nice! I only have two that made it and stayed. I did not know about the URL pattern. I think I used to use Big Huge Labs or something like that. My two pictures are pretty much opposites.
That shows you how mysterious the algorithm must be because you have a phenomenal collection. I remember the sign painter one, and love how someone in the comments identified the artist. That’s how “it” should work. And agree with your words:
“I really feel like the world is full of these cinematic moments and the more you’re out in it looking around, the more amazing things you see.”
I still follow Sure Hand Signs (the company he worked for) on Instagram. I also set that image to be in the demo post on all the VCU Ram Pages sites . . . so it got lots of eyes over the years. Fun stuff.
I do miss wandering around downtown Richmond since I’m working from home these days. I’ve replaced regular rational numbers daily photos with irregular thousands of sport photos.
@topdog Hey, nice post (please world, ignore, testing replies to a post spawned by the ActivityPlub plugin).
I have never heard that this. As I regularly yearn for early days of the internet, maybe I should revive my dormant Flickr account and maybe my Yahoo.com email as well. ?
Howdy, Bill!
File that yearning, the internet of yore has ridden off into the dusty sunset.
I can/t promise any explore goodness, its rather random, but if you round up your flickr, let me know, I will follow ya.