John Carey wrote an excellent post which continues the conversation from my Flickr and Instagram article:
I can not stress how important it is not to let the pressure of posting a photo only to have no one pay it any attention stop you from enjoying what you do.
Agreed. John brings some excellent and thoughtful perspective to this whole conversation, and I love it.
It’s great to hear John’s thoughts on the current state of social networks, faves, likes, comments, page views, and how it all relates to the art and craft of photography. His photographs have been a very positive influence on my own work as I’ve been learning what my own photographic “style” and “voice” are over the past several months shooting with the E-PL5.
I fear my article last Friday came across as to negative and/or self-centered. And for that I am bummed. I am loving shooting with my Olympus, editing in Lightroom, and then seeing the finished product. Photography has become a very enjoyable and rewarding hobby for me over the past several months.
My intent isn’t to communicate that I’m sad as a photographer because I don’t see enough activity on my Flickr shots. Nor do I want to communicate that I dislike Flickr.
The point I am hoping to communicate is that I don’t feel Flickr to be the ideal “final resting place” for my best and favorite photos. The network is great, and I will continue to use it — but I am not satisfied with it alone.