Slideshow options

I've just stumbled across a great method of creating slideshows very simply using sets on Flickr. Simply copy the URL of the Flickr set and add /show to the end. The slideshow views in your browser and can be full screen.

Dandelion Slideshow

An alternate method is to choose the 'share' option and the code will be provided for embedding directly on a blog.

Another idea which quite intrigued me was creating a gif from a number of images of the one subject so I used the online gif maker at Spacegens to try it out on my kookaburra. I photographed him in my cousin's backyard and enjoyed processing each of the shots. I slowed down the speed to 2000ms. It's a great strategy to use when it's impossible to choose a favourite shot :-)

And another to demonstrate a range of post processing options. Super grainy I know but a tripod wasn't high on my list of necessities wandering around during the Vivid event

Tag Galaxy

One of the coolest Flickr applications I've ever seen. You can quickly locate image using a search by tag option and they are presented according to categories and then displayed on an interactive sphere. Cool, fun and quick

Flickr's Christmas Present - NOT !

I logged on to Big Huge Labs Scout today and was greeted by a cheery message which stated :
1,041 of Pandora's Perspective's photos have been in Explore.
Now I knew that was inaccurate but I decided to take the opportunity to get some screenshots of my images as it's normally a time consuming task to do them using mosaic maker. I began to save small screenshots of my images. I was thinking : ......"Thank you Flickr. Occasionally you frustrate us but sometimes we are impressed with your versatility.........."
Well, I went and jinxed myself didn't I ?
I was in the middle of saving my 5th screenshot when a message popped up saying:
Sorry, no Explore photos were found for that person
Now go figure, one moment 1,041, now 0. How does that work ? I'll play the glad game and rejoice that I was able to get at least a proportion of them :-)
Thank you Flickr - sort of 

 

EXPLORE - The Monster That Ate Flickr

I'm still not so sure what Explore actually is, or how it's generated but many people still seem to think it's worth getting excited about. I  recently searched at Scout , a site which compiles thumbnails of photographs which have qualified for inclusion on Explore   and found a selection from my photostream.  Inclusion on Explore is meant to be a measurement of 'interestingness' in Flickr talk, which in itself is an obscure term. 

Now these images are actually ones I quite liked, but had varying degrees of visits, 'favouriting' and comments so I'm still unsure how it works, and how these images could be regarded as any more interesting than other images of mine which appeared to be far better received by my contacts. I've seen images which have made it to Explore with 5 visits, no favourites and 2 comments. I'm wondering how 'interestingness' can be equated given these stats ? There is a veil of secrecy about the "secret algorithm" used to select these images which seems to add to the allure, but for me adds to the frustration, the lack of any definable criteria. 

What concerns me is that many people become driven by Explore, perceiving it is a measurement of the quality of the photograph (which it is not), and which Flickr itself states. Flickr itself is addictive yet harmless ( unless you count lost hours as harmful), however addiction to Explore is something that Newbies frequently experience. They can fall victim to the euphoria generated by hitherto unknown contacts visiting their stream and posting effusive comments about the worthiness of their image. Fuelled by " Congrats on Explore !!!! " they investigate links which explain what to do or not to do in order to have an image score a position on the daily Explore.

I speak from experience because I've "been there, done that "! But it no longer holds the same appeal, in fact it frustrates me, because it changes the behaviours of people and fosters a culture of "Quid Pro Quo".

 Have you become driven by Explore ????
1. Do you check Flickr Scout every day to see if one of your photos is featured ? 

2. Have you favourited hundreds of shots in an endeavour to generate return favouriting ?

3. Do you post to a multitude of groups which carry a "post 1, comment on 5" demand which promotes gratuitous commenting ?

4. Have you collected thousands of contacts which you could never hope to maintain ?

5. Have you elected to post 1 image at a time to maximise the number of comments?

6, Do you comment on a multitude of image prior to posting one of your own ?

If you answer no to each of these questions I would think that Flickr will retain its magic for you and you will gain much joy from the genuine responses to your images, positive or otherwise.   You can jump for joy again ! Forget about Explore.

Image Stacking

One of the reasons I love Flickr is its educational aspect - I learn so much from other photographers. This learning encompasses photographic techniques, software, composition, special effects and specific facts about other countries,their way of life and fauna and flora.  Today I discovered a new technique from 'Thystine' who posted the most amazing image of an egg sac which appears to belong to the 'Pirate Spider'.

 image courtesy of Sarefo under GNU licensing  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sarefo
The technique is called stacking and Thystine used Helicon Focus to achieve the effect.  Helicon Focus Software reportedly "...... creates one completely focused image from several partially focused images by combining the focused areas. The program is designed for macrophotography, microphotography and hyperfocal landscape photography and solves the shallow depth of field problem........"

Alternate software which has received great reviews from some other contacts on Flickr is "Zerene Photostacker" . Their website provides a most effective explanation of the process and combined with a great Video has encouraged me to place photo stacking on my bucket list to be done sooner rather than later.

I've Turned Into A Groupie

Distressingly, I have a new addiction, an offshoot of my photography addiction and this is to Flickr Groups. Flickr is a treasure trove of the most wonderful images but many are never located simply because one is oblivious to the correct search terms.

I uncovered some diverse groups using a simple technique. I followed leads from those who commented on contacts photos or photos which had sparked my interest through a general search. I then perused the groups or sets they had created according to whichever criteria tweaked my enthusiasm at that moment in time. I currently belong to 26 groups which seems a little like overkill, however each of them is serving a purpose at this stage.

The Daily Shoot is becoming a tad repetitive and the pressure to post a pic each day is becoming a little too much of a commitment, but I am really enjoying the interactions which have taken place between my Flickr contacts created from this initial group. I gravitate towards groups with few didactic restrictions and find the process of giving 'awards' using large images very distracting and cluttering so those types of groups currently hold little appeal for me.

While I anticipate remaining a voyeur in some of the groups I plan to become an active member in the 'Scavenge Challenge group' created by DeForestRanger.  This was one of the first groups I joined mainly due to the quality, diversity and personal annotations attached to Crow's photography shots. The group is the perfect size, just large enough to have an avid active component, an administrator who is a prolific contributor herself, and a supportive network with great informative, discussion posts. And best of all, there are no compulsory 'Awards' distribution. The challenge lasts for one month each calendar month which allows time for inspiration, and so I'm looking forward to commencing in July (just in time for the school holidays). 

I haven't updated this post for a long time. So much for currency !  The Daily Shoot is of course no more, and my groups have changed with time. I'm now member of a critique group created by one of my contacts VanGoffy  and I think it will be taking up a lot of my time. If you desire honest constructive feedback on your images take a look at the Photo-Focus Group and consider joining us.

Flickr - Beginning And End Of An Era

I've never really Flickred before.

Sure I'd had an account for a few years since completing a Web 2.0 course, had tested out the tools and uploaded some token screen shots. But I'd never been able to understand what all the fuss was about. HOWEVER...........

Since being recently motivated to pursue a lifelong yet relatively latent enthusiasm for playing around with images, I discovered Flickr was suddenly convenient. It's become more than simply a cloud location for dumping my experimental images. It's now my catalyst. Initially I spent some time exploring its functions and quirks and, compared with my initial foray some years ago I was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency and speed of the uploading tool and the ease with which photos can be added to sets or collections.

Alan Levine (cogdog) posted today about terminating his participation in, and frustration with, the repetition and unimaginative "Daily Shoot" themes. He raised some relevant points:

* lacking the drive

* weary of the repetition of themes

* lack of response by administrators to contributor suggestions.

It's not like Alan to give up so easily however and he is now recommending participating in the Tell a story in 5 frames (Visual story telling) group.

Another site I've registered is the 365 project (see more about this in 'Top Shots')
One advantage on 365 is the option to browse photos by:

'Latest', 'Tags', 'Day', 'Popular', 'New Faces', or 'Search', all from the one page

Click image to see my 365 project