...how one, a newbie, has over 200 followers while following fewer than 100 and has just a couple dozen photos that are mostly, in my opinion, just mediocre.
And before anyone gets upset, I don't mean that in an ugly way. I just mean don't we all have more important things to worry about than how or why on an issue such as this?
@hmgphotos Yea, I just happened across the "Hate" thread as well. Geesh. I don't understand why everyone gives a crap about what others post on their project. I knew there was a reason I stayed away from the forum part of this site...I'm too awesome for all that ugliness.
;P
@notsoaverage I for the most part stay away from the forum part, because most of the topics I can't reply to nicely or just don't care about. So much of it is a popularity contest. I just wander around with an iphone and take photos of daily life, this isn't serious business to me.
Well, since you haven't identified who this person is (nor do I think you need to), we only have your word to go on that their photos are mediocre. So maybe they aren't, in fact, mediocre. Maybe they're actually amazeballs.
@beautifulthing Well, I'd put you in the amazeballs category myself. But perhaps I'm biased by my deep love for you. What about my work? Mediocre? Absolute shite? Amazeballs?
@mebswartz I know, but it's kind of hard to respond to your wondering aloud about this when we really have only your opinion to go on. Maybe their photos are spectacular, maybe people find the person interesting - who knows? @sdpace smooch!
@mebswartz I'm not trying to be snarky either, as @notsoaverage said - I just think there are several reasons why people on this site find a particular photographer to their liking.
For some reason it seems like certain people on this site just take off... People like long narratives, kids, animals, rainbows, birds, etc. and they may just have a good combination of the things that people like.... I don't think the # of followers is a very accurate measure of how good of a photographer you are.....
I sorta feel bad for all of the newbies out there who are now frantically counting their followers, wondering if this thread is about them. Poor newbies. We heart you. :)
@mebswartz i wouldn't worry about it, i understand the question but struggle to see where it comes from - Its all about your project, nothing else really matters.
People leaving comments, favoring your work is all "very nice" but its gotta be about your project for you and you alone, to enter the numbers game is foolish, to be bothered by it even worse.
Enjoy your 365 :)
@katybell1992 I am now going to do a project consisting entirely of long narratives about my daughter, my pugs, and hopefully some rainbows:) With some birds. Actually, minus the rainbows - I think that IS my project, lol
@pwallis haha I've seen your stuff before, and I wouldn't say that it's the majority of your pictures! I think if they're done well like your's they're fine! I just think that pictures containing those subjects tend to be more popular haha (: don't get me wrong, I have quite a few shots of my cat, Frankie (tagged frankiethecat), and I just did a rainbow picture today! I was just sort of disappointed that my iPhone picture of my cat made the popular page, and some others that I worked hard on wouldn't stand a chance. I feel like that's how the majority of the popular "mediocre" photographers become so popular right from the start. I think certain subjects are more "marketable" than other ones that might be better.
@katybell1992 my first pop page appearance was an iPhone shot too! There does seem to be a bit of a "sure bet" type shot for pop page success, but I like what I like, can't really change that:)
I know I've had some days when I wonder "How did that make the pop page and mine didn't?" It might frustrate me, but I've learned to keep said frustration to myself. I just keep on trucking with what I do. Some people seem to think what I do is cool, so it's all shiney. =)
@beautifulthing
Nah, I'm sure it doesn't worry too many of us newbies,(as she quickly navigates back to own project to count followers)
It's nice to think a few people want to look, but just bcause they have clicked "follow", doesn't nessessarily mean they are actually looking!! @notsoaverage
I have actually learnt a lot from the forums. I use the search box to find the topic I'm after. Has increased my terminology understanding, and lots of links to tutorials on all sorts
I have to agree with @gh0st that your project is first of all, for yourself. Make sure you're happy with it. Period.
I am not a fan of any popularity contests on the web. You like it or you don't. You comment on it or you don't. Honestly, who cares! It's not like the __00s followers you get will pay you to see your photos. Sure, compliments/suggestions/etc are great, but I feel they are sometimes forced. Thanks, I know my photos are great, that's why I posted them and am happy. I do appreciate those who comment on my photos and hope my lack of returning comments isn't received negatively, but really, let's be honest. What is the point of commenting on every picture in your stream! (Please, please, don't take this negatively, keep commenting on my photos, I know when you're putting in the effort!)
Feel free to game the system, to bribe people with trades and what not, photoshop them to be unrealistic, to follow everyone you possibly can. I'm not playing that game. In another 349 +/- days, I'm gonna be looking back at two years of photos that I'm proud of. If I ever make the popular page (remind me what I get from that again?) or get followers because one of my pictures was "awesome", yet you really want favs/comments from me, so be it. That's how you play and you are enjoying yourself.
Would be interesting to know how many popular people finish their project. And yeah, it ain't easy taking a great shot everyday. Nothing ever is.
I read an article online few months ago, that said the amount of people completing was quite a low percentage but I can't remember the exact figure. Sorry.
just checked and it's not me....phew ! "the popularity contest" is the only aspect I dislike on here...just how you feel disappointed when only a few people look at your picture...*must learn not to check my stats*
@sharonaddison I agree! Sometimes you do a photo that you worked really hard on and really enjoyed and only see X number of views/favs etc. You do get that feeling of disappointment when you look at the popular page.
BUT, this project is for us and as long as we are happy with the results that is all that matters :) Just in the 3 or 4 weeks that I have been working on this project, I have learned a lot of new stuff. I have gotten a lot of interesting ideas from each of you that I hope to incorporate into my work one day. I also feel like I am improving my technique with every picture. It is an awesome learning experience :)
@lolanae You just said what I think all the time -- how did that get on pop page and mine didn't? It doesn't matter how many followers ... I just learn from all the people I follow and hope I help them, too!
I guess I am just a greedy selfish kind of guy. started this project for me, not too worried about how many followers, or popularity of any of photos, etc. In over a year I have not looked at the popular page. I started this as a way to keep motivated while recovering from an injury, and just have fun with it.
It seems like especially recently the popular / followers trend has started to raise its dumbness in the boards again. I really have to resist the urge to say something evil like "are you that scared of yourself you feel you HAVE" to be on a page to get your 15 seconds of fame" when I see those posts in the boards **NOTE** that was not pointed at any individual, just a general thought.
@sharonaddison I have found stats can be misleading at times. often people look at a lot of photos on their main feed page, but if they do not click on it, it ill not show up in your stats. also I have noticed the views is often different for daily. an example it may show 1 view 0 comments on my main page, but I uploaded 2 photos and on their pages it may show up 5 views each.
@notsoaverage "Like I said...I didn't mean it in an ugly way at all. Just every time I pop into the forums all I see is negativity. Makes me sad. "
I agree! This is one of the reasons I have struggled with deciding to stick around for a 3rd year. I decided that I am because the good far out weighs the bad but there has been a shift on 365 over this last year that has been ... different. I am not sure that I like it.
@pete21 I know a ton of people drop off. I think that every friend that I have inspired to join has quit so far. As for me? I am about to start year 3!
@Cherrill :-0 what me? Smug look would appear if I could find the damn blog I read it in, some journo in the US wrote a big piece about her 365 project even had some quotes from Ross.
@jeancarl Quote from Ross in the article, "The number of people that complete their projects is a mere 2.5 percent; whereas about 1.5 percent of the total carries on to upload more than 365."
@Cherrill Well by now you must be in the top .5 ! I'll keep going as long as it doesn't become a chore. I know that for at least three months this year I'll be taking a break as it was too much last summer.
Maybe I'll upload ninety photos in September mahahaha!
followers are not always based on skills! comment others photos be friendly and gain followers! i dont follow people because i love their skills i follow them to follow their year and their progess with photography!
if they've had a photo on the new faces page, then they will have had some exposure, especially if its then gone onto the PP, at teh end of the day does it matter, i have some 240 followers and follow under 60 at teh moment - my photos are nothing special
@kmrtn6 I've actually been making a concentrated effort to have as few followers as possible. I distinctly ask, in all of these threads, for people NOT to follow me. And yet I am still up to 150. This displeases me.
Another thing to consider is there are people on here who did a project last year, and then for whatever reason gave it up. Then, this year, they are trying again and made a new acct. So they look like they are new, but already had a following.
Personally, hang in there. I have been on this site for over a year and am not a rockstar by any means. I love photography and how it makes me feel. If strangers on the web like my shots great, but I am not doing it for them. Last year, at this time, I wondered the same thing, but then decided that I didn't care.
@cchambers A friend asked if I would like to take the journey with her. She lives in New Mexico and I live in DC. We already share our lives and photos via Facebook. It was about getting better; taking a daily photo; and learning and enjoying others who also take a lot of photos. I didn't know the other features existed and then a week or so in I was chasing a "yellow" photo and then a kitchen "abstract" until I realized, these aren't things that I would normally shoot, so yeah, I am learning something and boo, time to get back to my own life.
@mebswartz If you are here to be popular, then invest more time. If you spend hours everyday saying nice things about other peoples photos, your numbers will go up quickly. If like many of us, you are here to post, learn, play and post some more, then you'll find that it is a good day when you see a photo that inspires you, can encourage another photographer and/or got a good shot.
@jeancarl Couldn't have said it better myself! I don't go out to do spectacular photography every day, because in the end (if there ever is one, I'm on my second year and plan on just keep going with it) all I care about is looking back and remembering the little things about day to day life.
Some of the reason I follow people is where they come from - if someone is from a place I'd love to know more about and their pictures are showing that place, then I am going to consider following them.
@beautifulthing hahaha - is that "a-maze-balls" or a -mazy-balls" - i don't want to say it wrong when I say it out loud! @mebswartz - i know that I, and quite a large number of other newbies, have signed up to this from an OU photography course, so many of the "popular" people from there already have quite a lot of followers carried over from that other fora if you will ... regardless of the quality of their photos (and to those of you from said course - no I am not calling your photography mediocre - god forbid - I am just proposing one possibility is all)
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People leaving comments, favoring your work is all "very nice" but its gotta be about your project for you and you alone, to enter the numbers game is foolish, to be bothered by it even worse.
Enjoy your 365 :)
Nah, I'm sure it doesn't worry too many of us newbies,(as she quickly navigates back to own project to count followers)
It's nice to think a few people want to look, but just bcause they have clicked "follow", doesn't nessessarily mean they are actually looking!! @notsoaverage
I have actually learnt a lot from the forums. I use the search box to find the topic I'm after. Has increased my terminology understanding, and lots of links to tutorials on all sorts
I am not a fan of any popularity contests on the web. You like it or you don't. You comment on it or you don't. Honestly, who cares! It's not like the __00s followers you get will pay you to see your photos. Sure, compliments/suggestions/etc are great, but I feel they are sometimes forced. Thanks, I know my photos are great, that's why I posted them and am happy. I do appreciate those who comment on my photos and hope my lack of returning comments isn't received negatively, but really, let's be honest. What is the point of commenting on every picture in your stream! (Please, please, don't take this negatively, keep commenting on my photos, I know when you're putting in the effort!)
Feel free to game the system, to bribe people with trades and what not, photoshop them to be unrealistic, to follow everyone you possibly can. I'm not playing that game. In another 349 +/- days, I'm gonna be looking back at two years of photos that I'm proud of. If I ever make the popular page (remind me what I get from that again?) or get followers because one of my pictures was "awesome", yet you really want favs/comments from me, so be it. That's how you play and you are enjoying yourself.
Would be interesting to know how many popular people finish their project. And yeah, it ain't easy taking a great shot everyday. Nothing ever is.
/rant
I read an article online few months ago, that said the amount of people completing was quite a low percentage but I can't remember the exact figure. Sorry.
BUT, this project is for us and as long as we are happy with the results that is all that matters :) Just in the 3 or 4 weeks that I have been working on this project, I have learned a lot of new stuff. I have gotten a lot of interesting ideas from each of you that I hope to incorporate into my work one day. I also feel like I am improving my technique with every picture. It is an awesome learning experience :)
It seems like especially recently the popular / followers trend has started to raise its dumbness in the boards again. I really have to resist the urge to say something evil like "are you that scared of yourself you feel you HAVE" to be on a page to get your 15 seconds of fame" when I see those posts in the boards **NOTE** that was not pointed at any individual, just a general thought.
@sharonaddison I have found stats can be misleading at times. often people look at a lot of photos on their main feed page, but if they do not click on it, it ill not show up in your stats. also I have noticed the views is often different for daily. an example it may show 1 view 0 comments on my main page, but I uploaded 2 photos and on their pages it may show up 5 views each.
I agree! This is one of the reasons I have struggled with deciding to stick around for a 3rd year. I decided that I am because the good far out weighs the bad but there has been a shift on 365 over this last year that has been ... different. I am not sure that I like it.
@pwallis AMAZEBALLS!!
@pete21 I know a ton of people drop off. I think that every friend that I have inspired to join has quit so far. As for me? I am about to start year 3!
http://m.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111111/LIFE/111110304/-1/NEWSMAP&template=wapart
@jeancarl Quote from Ross in the article, "The number of people that complete their projects is a mere 2.5 percent; whereas about 1.5 percent of the total carries on to upload more than 365."
Maybe I'll upload ninety photos in September mahahaha!
Personally, hang in there. I have been on this site for over a year and am not a rockstar by any means. I love photography and how it makes me feel. If strangers on the web like my shots great, but I am not doing it for them. Last year, at this time, I wondered the same thing, but then decided that I didn't care.
Keep shooting and posting.
@mebswartz If you are here to be popular, then invest more time. If you spend hours everyday saying nice things about other peoples photos, your numbers will go up quickly. If like many of us, you are here to post, learn, play and post some more, then you'll find that it is a good day when you see a photo that inspires you, can encourage another photographer and/or got a good shot.
@mebswartz - i know that I, and quite a large number of other newbies, have signed up to this from an OU photography course, so many of the "popular" people from there already have quite a lot of followers carried over from that other fora if you will ... regardless of the quality of their photos (and to those of you from said course - no I am not calling your photography mediocre - god forbid - I am just proposing one possibility is all)