500px

There seems to have been a shift lately from Flickr over to 500px so I have been checking it out.

The main complaint with Flickr seems to have come from those photographers who I suppose are raising there game and who have shots that are very professional and aren't overly keen on having there work share the stage with us fumbling amateurs...one quoted that Flickr was a general dumping ground. But then aren't they forgetting that it was there dumping ground too in the beginning.

So as I said I went over and had a look and what I have seen is more professional and yes the standard of photography is high...but its also quite cold, less friendly and to be honest slightly more intimidating.

Perhaps there comes a time when as we grow as photographers we outgrow Flickr, we start to see ourselves as A list and want to hang with the other A listers...only time will tell but for now I will stick with Flickr.

Quotes

One of the hardest things I found when I started posting on Flickr was coming up with titles/names for my pictures. At first I just used the uninspiring file number! Something more meaningful seemed to be the norm so I started making things up...that didn't last long either! These days I try to post a quote or a lyric. It might not go together with the picture to most people eyes but it will mean something to me, even if it's only something that makes me smile.

This week I have still be going through old pictures and putting them in some sort of order. It's quite nice to view your pictures with fresh eyes after a while away from them. Part of my way of backing them up is to keep them in monthly folders, or if I have been to a special event or place then they will be grouped on their own.

Here are a couple more beach shots from St Annes...

Forgotten ones

This week I have been deleting old pictures and backing up and generally having a sort out...mainly because my hard drive is full...who knew I would take so many pictures in little over a year.
As is usually the case when you look back you find some forgotten gems and this week I have been putting one or two on flickr....here are a few more...

Escape

In the past 12 months there have been some really terrible things that have happened to our family, and I have to say at the moment things feel like they are at an all time low. My hobby of taking pictures and processing them and interacting on Flickr ultimatly has been the escape that's helped me through. It feels at times a world away from whats going on in the rest of my life, it allows me to focus on something else and more importantly to enjoy it.

Filters

Having not used any filters for a very long time I made the leap and bought an upscale ring for my camera so that my old filters would fit. Things have moved on since I last used them...we now have digital files instead of film and we have software that just about creates any kind of filter effect you could wish for. I still went out and gave it a go though. A few really just did not work but the graduated sepia one made some quite good effects, as did the graduated blue one.

The problem with the filters is you have to make the decision to either take all your gear out with you on the off chance you will use it or decide beforehand what you are certain you are going to use. My photography expeditions really aren't that thought out usually!

Point of view

I read something today that made me think about what pictures convey...what's more important? What the photographer is trying to convey or what the viewer interprets? Surely how people feel about a picture is subjective...my response to an image is not likely to be the same as the next person. My editing of an image, indeed the image as a whole is to do with me, what I like, what I feel, what I see, what I want to share and how someone views that is unique to them. Art is a personal thing a matter of personal taste....no rights or wrongs...no good nor bad.

Tulips tulips and more tulips

At the end of the day what I photograph most is flowers...and in particular tulips. As tulips are my favourite flower I am given them for every occasion...and that leads to lots of pictures of them!

There are some days out I am planning in the next few weeks so a few different things will be popping up on my stream. Some vehicles too will be making an appearance. I took a few some time ago but hopefully my photography and editing skills have improved so that this time the shots will be better...fingers crossed!

Blog = a diary with pictures

This week the weather has been up and down and I haven't been out with my camera. I seem to have a huge backlog of shots to process and if I keep taking more shots I'm never going to get to the end of it!
Here is an alternative to the shot I posted on Flickr as well as a few other nature ones.

Nature textures

I have posted a few new textures this week, and I am really pleased with them. I have tried to make them more of a wall hanging canvas rather that just a photo texturised.

Also this week I would have won the May competition of the Sony Group on Flickr, however I didnt read the rules properly and submitted a photo took in March instead of May....I live and learn! The theme for the competition was Camera Shy and I submitted the Swan picture featured in an earlier blog.

Pic Of The Week

It was a great surprise this week to have one of my pictures picked as Pic Of The Week in the Nature Only Group. I really like this group and the many wonderful pictures it contains.

This is one of a series I have done called Dying Flowers as the beauty lasts way past the flowers best, as it withered and curls and changes colours. You can see my set Here

Landscapes

You may have noticed a few landscapes creeping on to my stream on Flickr. With the better weather and a few days off I have had the chance to venture further afield and take some seascapes and landscapes....not really my 'thing' usually. Most of my photography usually centers around my back garden so it has been a change to take my camera out and about. I have visited the seafront and a local nature reserve so quite a few to post in the up and coming days.