500px - Photography Meets the 'Like' Button

It's not often I plug websites around here. As my blog does gear towards not just travel but also photography, I'm sure most of my readers have a plethora of photo galleries on the web. Between Flickr, Facebook, personal websites, deviantArt, etc. it's pretty easy to get lost in the shuffle.

I came across one site recently that does intrigue me, though: 500px. It's certainly a newer website that doesn't have a gigantic user base yet. Which, frankly, is pretty nice. What caught my attention though is not just the layout and design, but the social aspect of it. The site encourages quality over quantity pretty clearly. To do so, it not only limits the number of photos you can post per week but also implements a rating system for each photo. I'm not entirely sure how it works, but by using a very simple "Like" or "Dislike" button, you can vote for a picture. Each picture is then assigned a percentage based on some formula of Views vs. Likes vs Dislikes. You also can't just go through and Dislike a hundred photos, either, as it will eventually require the user to enter a 140-character critique of why they disliked a photo (Likes do not have a set limit). Combine with a simple StumpleUpon toolbar, and you find yourself sifting through galleries pretty fast. You also get an "Affection" rating as a photographer based on the number of Likes/Dislikes between all your photos.

I definitely like it and will probably be using it as a filter of my better work as opposed to my Flickr account. There are also a ton of great photos on there, since there is a level of quality control I haven't seen on other sites. It's not perfect, though. The user base so far seems largely Eastern European, which in itself isn't bad but can present a language barrier on comments/descriptions until it gains more users. Also, the majority of photos seem to be largely placed in three realms: landscapes, birds, and nudes (which you can filter off). Seriously, there are lots and lots of owls and eagles on this site. More than are necessary even.

That said, give it a look. It's a nice change of pace and it's good to see an online gallery that isn't filled with self-shooters and HDR every other shot.

Wildwood Canyon

Despite its infatuation with cars, Los Angeles can still be an interesting place for nature-lovers to visit. It is, after all, a giant basin surrounded by impressive mountains in nearly every direction. The city is surprisingly park-friendly with little pockets of greenery throughout the city and a few major areas like Griffith Park and the Angeles National Forest to the Northeast. Hikers and picnickers alike can find plenty to offer if they are willing to search a little.

A personal favorite of mine lately has been Wildwood Canyon, nestled in the Verdugo Mountains that dominate the Burbank skyline. I managed to go early enough one morning that it was extremely quiet with little traffic and found it to be a fairly difficult but satisfying hike. Parking was free, and you will find gorgeous views of the mountains, downtown Burbank, and even a little training fire range for BPD as shown above. As you ascend the trail, you begin to feel like you are in the heart of a massive range rather than in the middle of a city, and there are points where the San Fernando Valley almost completely disappears from views. For those less exercise-inclined, the benches along the main road through the park offer a nice place to escape and read for a few with peace and quiet.

There is very little shade on the hiking trails, so try to go during cooler temperatures if possible. My personal favorite is during the transitional seasons where mornings are cool enough to create beautiful clouds and fog among the mountain peaks while leaving the ground visible and clear. Just be ready for a fairly winding hike once you get started, especially if you are new to hiking. But, get to the top near the radio tower and you'll certainly feel a sense of accomplishment.

You can find more information at The LA Mountains Website