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.
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Finding My Niche
So, as I try to gear up and prep to take this photography thing into the "professional" realm, one theme I keep running into in most forums, books, and blogs is finding your photographic specialty. There seems to be a running sentiment that a photographer needs to focus on one genre or area and keep everything else as nothing more than playthings to mess around with in our spare time. I've had a hard time dealing with this on several fronts.
I've always been keen to the idea that you should do what makes you happy and cut out things that only bring stress or drama. This is a philosophy that applies not just to photography, but to all aspects of my life, from relationships to work to simple hang-outs with friends. I'm not on that likes being told that an area I like being in won't be applicable due to economics, competition, or what-have-you. So, as you can guess, trying to narrow down only a few focuses out of the wide world of photography has been a bit of a challenge.
I guess in a business world, everything will click, and artists become much more willing to sacrifice things they enjoy once paychecks are rolling in. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be writing about trying to break into the art world if I had, well, all ready broken into the art world. So, those sacrifices don't mean much to me yet, and I continue searching. I have narrowed down a few key items, though.
1) I don't do weddings. They don't interest me creatively.
2) As such, I also don't do general "portrait studio" work ala Olan Mills.
There's a whole two items! Which isn't a lot to work with. Even number two is rather vague, since I still do portrait and headshot work, so long as it isn't repetitive. and then there are other factors, like being able to objectively look at my work and notice that, at the moment, I probably couldn't handle doing a lot of food photography on a commercial level due to inexperience. Or sports due to a lack of long lenses. Etc.
So where is my niche? What do I enjoy? And, most importantly, how can I make money out of doing what I love?
To start, my tagline for photography is "Bringing the World to You." I've been a reader of National Geographic since 2004, and it has quickly become less of a casual read and more of an obsession. I love the magazine, the Society, and all that it stands for in bringing readers aspects of our world that we may not be able to see otherwise. Whether it was the special report issue on China for May 2008 or an article in January this year on Scotland's Hebrides, I'm enthralled by learning all I can about this world. So, in point, I like taking pretty pictures of culture, landscape, and wildlife that breaks outside the realm of "normal." I love adventure.
Naturally, this is an area loved by many photographers and, to make matters more complicated, it's largely an area dominated by those that can afford the travel in the first place. Hello, Money, Crusher of Dreams. Now, I come from a family that has struggled pretty frequently on finances. I have an awesome job at Warner Bros., but it's also only slightly above minimum wage, which is immediately drained by that thing called "Rent." Travel is certainly a luxury, not a career. My future will have to involve finding a way to flip that around. Somehow.
A least I have my niche. Sort of. It's a start, a goal to work towards. I can't imagine that will be the only area I find some interest in as I journey through the optical world, but there's now some emphasis above everything else.
Anyone know of a research expedition that needs a photographer?
Gone Fishin' by =serphius on deviantART
I've always been keen to the idea that you should do what makes you happy and cut out things that only bring stress or drama. This is a philosophy that applies not just to photography, but to all aspects of my life, from relationships to work to simple hang-outs with friends. I'm not on that likes being told that an area I like being in won't be applicable due to economics, competition, or what-have-you. So, as you can guess, trying to narrow down only a few focuses out of the wide world of photography has been a bit of a challenge.
I guess in a business world, everything will click, and artists become much more willing to sacrifice things they enjoy once paychecks are rolling in. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be writing about trying to break into the art world if I had, well, all ready broken into the art world. So, those sacrifices don't mean much to me yet, and I continue searching. I have narrowed down a few key items, though.
1) I don't do weddings. They don't interest me creatively.
2) As such, I also don't do general "portrait studio" work ala Olan Mills.
There's a whole two items! Which isn't a lot to work with. Even number two is rather vague, since I still do portrait and headshot work, so long as it isn't repetitive. and then there are other factors, like being able to objectively look at my work and notice that, at the moment, I probably couldn't handle doing a lot of food photography on a commercial level due to inexperience. Or sports due to a lack of long lenses. Etc.
So where is my niche? What do I enjoy? And, most importantly, how can I make money out of doing what I love?
To start, my tagline for photography is "Bringing the World to You." I've been a reader of National Geographic since 2004, and it has quickly become less of a casual read and more of an obsession. I love the magazine, the Society, and all that it stands for in bringing readers aspects of our world that we may not be able to see otherwise. Whether it was the special report issue on China for May 2008 or an article in January this year on Scotland's Hebrides, I'm enthralled by learning all I can about this world. So, in point, I like taking pretty pictures of culture, landscape, and wildlife that breaks outside the realm of "normal." I love adventure.
Naturally, this is an area loved by many photographers and, to make matters more complicated, it's largely an area dominated by those that can afford the travel in the first place. Hello, Money, Crusher of Dreams. Now, I come from a family that has struggled pretty frequently on finances. I have an awesome job at Warner Bros., but it's also only slightly above minimum wage, which is immediately drained by that thing called "Rent." Travel is certainly a luxury, not a career. My future will have to involve finding a way to flip that around. Somehow.
A least I have my niche. Sort of. It's a start, a goal to work towards. I can't imagine that will be the only area I find some interest in as I journey through the optical world, but there's now some emphasis above everything else.
Anyone know of a research expedition that needs a photographer?
Gone Fishin' by =serphius on deviantART
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