I, like many, have also noticed a decrease in numbers. I think I have the answer why. Nobody is clicking the thumbnail to enlarge the photo, thereby giving that said photograph a hit/view. I noticed a few friends of mine who I follow. I have commented on their images... They have many, many comments but small views. I noticed on one that she had as many as 9 comments but only 1 view (mine). I at least take the time to look at the photo up close. I decided to check because I got a bizarre comment on the photo I posted today titled "Above the Storm"... The person commenting said it was a beautiful sunrise. That tells me that (A) the title of the photo wasn't even considered and (B) they didn't click on the image itself to read the actual description of the photograph, which describes what the sky looks like when you get above the actual storm to clearer skies. I also know that they went based solely on the thumbnail because I know how many views it had prior to that post. That makes it a little hard for people who want to go on the popular page since the formula used is based on number of views and comments combined. I can understand peoples' frustration and disheartened feelings with the lack of views, and sometimes comments. I try to always expand the photo. It gives me a much better view of the photograph and I can see the detail that you can't see in the thumbnail... Like my picture today you can't see the rays shooting out of the clouds in the thumbnail. So why is it so hard to click the thumbnail and look at the picture? Is it a time thing? Or is it because you are following so many that you can't be bothered to click on the picture because when you go back to home it won't put you on the spot where you left off? Here's a little trick.... If you have lots of friends, if you are way down in the page of thumbnails, RIGHT CLICK on the thumbnail and a drop down menu appears that gives you options to view in a new tab (depending on your browser settings), view in a new window (my preferred choice of viewing). That way you don't lose your place, you get to see the image the way it's supposed to be seen and the person that put the time and the effort into taking the picture (and depending on if they edit it, that takes blood sweat and tears too) to getting the actual view it deserves instead of scant comment based solely on a thumbnail. Just stating what I've noticed based on some of the threads posted about viewership. /rant
Hmmm, thanks for the tip on the right click viewing! I always enlarge, but yes, it is time consuming to get back to where you were in the newsfeed! However, I don't know if this glitch applies to your numbers (perhaps in reverse?) but I was viewing someone's photos (can't remember who) and each one was showing more than 3000 views, but zero comments! I thought for sure that must be some sort of random glitch or something.....just a thought.
Also if you hold ctrl and click on the photo, it opens in a new window....found that out by serendipity. I use that all the time to catch up on photos I missed earlier or when lots catch my eye at the same time.
Thanks for the hint, I do like to view the pics large but it is very time consuming having to constantly go back to the start every time, so I'll do it this way from now on. :)
I always open in a new tab, so I can just close the tab when I'm done. When I have limited time, I open every single photo in my feed so that my friends at least get a view-count if I don't have time to comment.
I agree with @prttblues. I have also noticed a lot of comments and the number of views do not relate. i also think it would be nice if people did pass comment when they view. We are not only here on this site to make a diary but also to learn. I value the critique when posted. Also through various comments have tried other ways of processing my pics, with good and bad results but I have had fun doing it. I always look at the larger pics as I love to read the description so that I get an understanding of the pic and the person taking it, I feel like I am getting to know people without actually talking to them. I get very few views and comments but those I do get are lovely and really helpful to me.
I find that those with interesting descriptions that dont fit under the thumbnail get viewed alot maybe because you want to finish reading the description. After having my first very successful photo I try to view everyones but cant comment on all- time to go to work!
Thanks for the tip Bev! I agree with your comments, viewing only the thumbnail probably contributes to the low numbers. Personally I never leave a comment after viweing only the thumbnail, but it takes a lot of time to view larger and come back to where you, and when the thumbnail is not attractive enough I don't click, like many people I guess.
@jannkc You'd think that, but as with my photograph "Above the Storm", the picture wasn't viewed in full. So the person commenting thought it was a sunrise because they didn't blow it up and they didn't even read the title. If I saw something with that title, I'd most definitely want to look closer.
@jinximages That's what makes you an awesome follower. It's disheartening to see that nobody even bothered to view one of my photos. If I have 0 views, what is going to inspire me to continue?
@shadesofgrey I am loving the ctrl-click technique! Thank you so much for that. I had always opened it full just by clicking, then taking the time to navigate my way back to where I was. Very time consuming. This will make it so much easier :)
@prttblues I always try to view everything in my newsfeed, but I know the feeling when some of your photos don't have any views. Hopefully by letting people know some of these techniques (opening in a new window, ctrl-click) more people will be viewing in full instead of just the thumbnail!
Thank you for writing this! I always open to see the full picture. This is a photography site after all. You cannot possibly fully appreciate someone's photo from a thumbnail, and I've also had people write comments that don't really relate to my pic. One time I had no less than 14 comments on a pic with 0 views!!?? Thanks for your 'right click' hint!!!
After having seen several discussions relating to this (lack of views, etc) and doing some ruminating, I have decided this is the calm before the storm. We are 4 1/2 months from the new year when a lot of new users will show up. A lot if not all of the casual users have come and gone. I know that I was super excited when I first started and was all over commenting, following, viewing, etc. As I have settled into the swing of things and understand how the site works I have been guilty of less clicking of thumbnails and leaving less comments. I have found several people that I make sure to check in with and keep up with. Most of the others I usually catch on my feed when I can. It is impossible to keep up with everyone. About once a month I go through my following list and ctr-click everyone in batches of 20 or so. I browse the albums and leave a few comments if I feel the need. I try to let them know I am still interested in their album because I truly am interested in everyone I am following. I think this coupled win the nicer weather in our hemisphere is contibuting to less activity. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has gotten comfortable with the site and is using the shortcuts to try and keep up. Can anybody who has been on here for more than a year confirm or deny this? Is this a yearly phenomena or something new?
@shadesofgrey Not true about the time of year. I had a lot of hits the same time last year. Everyone says it's the time of year, but that isn't the case. There has been a regular slide downward. I think it's because people just comment on the thumbnails, not taking the full picture into consideration. I know people are busy with their day to day lives, but isn't that what the 365 is about - daily life? It's nothing to right click an image and view it and give the person your following a view. And if it's a great photo, a quick little comment. I was just offering my observations and a little trick for those that follow tons of people. If that makes a difference, then that's great. It was a surprise to see how many didn't realize that trick to open a new tab or window.
First thing, if you hit the back arrow it will bring you back where you were in the photo list.Since I do not know you I am not meaning to be rude but try to look at it with a positive that someone is taking time to drop you a note about your work. They made a choice to compliment you. By needing to get total views you are focusing on a goal that while exciting may not mean as much to them.
I know that I try to look at the photos of 120 people each week and comment on several of them as a thank you for following me. While not all of these people have a style I find Intriguing, it would be inconsiderate not to send positive notes. I have a few followers that really love their pets or children -so I will still look at each thumbnail and comment on their photo because they like their pets and children. Amazingly, I also have followers that never return a comment after I take the time. But that is their choice and how they work their project.
I also try to comment and thank anyone new who comments. This is a lot to do when I work full time, have outside hobbies and commitments. Maybe those people who comment on your photos feel that they are giving all they can at the moment.
Are all of your followers still active, Many fade out before the first year and you are on the second with a small number of people you follow. Ross has been purging the past week which could have an impact somehow
@prttblues I totally agree, but having been on here less time than others I thought it might affect it. I try to take 15 min break at work to look and I realize an hour later that I better get back to work! They may appreciate the photo but are short on time for opening all of them. Right now all I have for internet is my phone so I am stuck thumb typing. I am stubborn and insist on full words whenever possible but I know that is not the norm. It could be the internet connection also. My house internet is satellite and is super slow most of the time...its all I can get at the moment. I do my best to open all the pictures but it gets overwhelmed so I resort to thumbnails. At work I have better connection so I try to get to what I missed the day or night before. Most people on their phones can't/won't take the time to open all the photos in their feed. I know I can't right now. As for the right click trick, I am amazed more people don't know about it. Im glad you are passing that tip along, hopefully it will help out. Ctrl and left click works too, hope people reading this will adopt these shortcuts.
@brumbe Ross purging the non-existent accounts has nothing to do with the number of views...Those non-existent accounts have not been around for a long time. I didn't post this topic because I was upset with my lack of views... I posted this because I realized what a lot of people are doing and I'd seen a lot of other threads pertaining to lack of views and I figured out at least one trend and thought I'd point out a trick to help the ones who only reply to thumbnails to view the picture to help the person they are following.... after all, there is a reason we follow others. It was just an observation I was making. That's all.
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I always open in a new tab, so I can just close the tab when I'm done. When I have limited time, I open every single photo in my feed so that my friends at least get a view-count if I don't have time to comment.
@prttblues I always try to view everything in my newsfeed, but I know the feeling when some of your photos don't have any views. Hopefully by letting people know some of these techniques (opening in a new window, ctrl-click) more people will be viewing in full instead of just the thumbnail!
I know that I try to look at the photos of 120 people each week and comment on several of them as a thank you for following me. While not all of these people have a style I find Intriguing, it would be inconsiderate not to send positive notes. I have a few followers that really love their pets or children -so I will still look at each thumbnail and comment on their photo because they like their pets and children. Amazingly, I also have followers that never return a comment after I take the time. But that is their choice and how they work their project.
I also try to comment and thank anyone new who comments. This is a lot to do when I work full time, have outside hobbies and commitments. Maybe those people who comment on your photos feel that they are giving all they can at the moment.