Picture: “Witches Forest” Moonrise in evening behind oak trees, Briones Regional Park, Contra Costa County, California
One of the great things about the development of the internet is how exponentially easier it is today to share and show your photos to the world than it was fifteen years ago. There are many places and forums online where people can now display their images and even get critiques on how to improve their photography skills.
Every venue for sharing photos has what I call a different “community mindset.” Many people like to dive right in and show off their best work. An equal number of people may take offense if someone dare to suggest any way in which a photo could be improved. Places that deal in numerical ratings tend to have a competitive mindset, and in similar fashion, people get wrapped up more in how many views a photo gets.
When I post an image on my weblog, I’m using my photos to help tell a story. When I post on Facebook, I’ve likened it to reaching into the apple barrel, grabbing one and setting it on the counter for all to see.
But when I post an image into a photo sharing forum, often I choose photos that ‘are on the fence.’ These are images I want to see if others react the same as I might (or hope to) expect, or if I’m even playing in the same ballpark. For instance, “Witches Forest” I thought might get a lot of comments because of it’s dark moodiness. But by being dark and tangled, it generated lots less than I expected, even though I know people tend to psychologically shy away from ‘dark or eerie’ scenes. A number of photographers also addressed the technical issue of light flare on the branches, which was something I personally really liked.
On the other hand, “Mirror Tree” (below) I thought would generate very few comments, thinking I was getting a little far off base posting such a chaotic scene. However, by properly placing the context of what I saw in the image, the photo generated quite a bit more comments by people who, once they understood what I was trying to show, “got” the image much more than I expected.
I know when I get a good shot, and yes, I do like sharing those. I know when I get a bad shot, and I never share those. But there are many in-between shots where the photo communities can serve as a valuable resource, letting you know if you’re heading in the right direction, or successful in communicating your passions and thoughts through photography.
Picture: “Mirror Tree” – Oak Tree branches mirroring nerve cells in the brain and the distribution of matter in the universe following the Big Bang, Briones Regional Park, Contra Costa County, California
Click here to see a larger detailed version of this image.
You can see a list of Photo Communities here.
