So why do you post photos to AP?

[Mark L]

So let's extend Steve's question a bit. .... http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...ke-photographs
Are you really posting for CC , or maybe to say "look at me". Yep we just want to share,

[Mary Anne]

I like to share what's in my Garden be it Birds or Flowers, CC is good as it Helps, though I am past that now

[jim]

A bit of all three I think. But being able to show my better photos to people who can tell the difference might be the reason. Most people I know can't and dont care. They think it's a good photo if they're smiling in it, and are genuinely baffled if you point out that it's blurry and overexposed.

[ricktas]

It is nice to get the 'likes', but also good to get valuable feedback. Sometimes it can also help solve a 'problem'. So posting photos, for me, is different each time. Entering a comp, it's great to make the final poll (or even win), but the reason for entering a comp is different to posting asking 'how can I fix..".

So for me, there is no one simple answer. It could be for dozens of reasons..depending on the day... the photo..

Or if it is a bird photo.. it's to show how useless I am at those compares to the ex-spurts.

[Glenda]

Definitely for the CC - I've learnt so much over the years from members. They often pick up faults or suggest improvements I either haven't seen or thought of. They have also been a valuable source of info and assistance on technical, photography or software queries. Post a question and invariably someone on here will have the answer. I've also enjoyed being able to meet some of the members when travelling and putting a face to the name. It has also improved my general knowledge - I now know so many more varieties of birds than I ever thought I would. I was talking to an American couple at a rest area in Gympie and she was asking me the names of various birds and plants (luckily ones I knew) and said I was the first person she'd found who could name them. I remember thinking at the time, it wouldn't have been the case without me being into photography and on the forum.

[Lance B]

It is always good to get accolades from your peers and also good to get feedback. Many people post photos here and thus you can also get some ideas on what you can do to improve your own work as well as the feedback to your own photos.

[KevPride]

Generally photography is an isolated activity, and as someone else posted many people do not get that a photo is out of focus etc, here you can get CC on the photos which improves what you do and the sharing takes away the isolation part of photography, for me anyway.

Sent from my SM-P550 using Tapatalk

[Steve Axford]

Good question. For me, I don't post photos here anymore as I am not really concerned about crits or nice picture anymore. I do post pics on my website and on other things like Facebook, but the reason now is generally to share the photos with those who are interested in the subjects I take or the stories I want to tell. The photos by themselves may, or may not be good photos, but the story is what is important and I always prefer a comment that is about the story, rather than a critique or praise of the photo. I rarely enter comps now for the same reasons. To me, the story is of primary importance with the quality of the photo second and the processing a distant third. I like questions like this because the why of photography interests me more than the how. Bit odd as my photography could be described as very technical.
When I was starting my photography, about 15 years ago, I used critique sites a lot (anyone remember Passion for Pixels) and entered many comps so as to get an idea of what was considered good and what was not. I think this is a very good way to refine your skills and I would recommend it to anyone who is learning photography.

[ameerat42]

Good question. For me, I don't post photos here anymore as I am not really concerned about crits or nice picture anymore. I do post pics on my website and on other things like Facebook, but the reason now is generally to share the photos with those who are interested in the subjects I take or the stories I want to tell.

A preliminary reply in this thread to address the point above.

I cannot see why you even said that, Steve. As it stands it does not appear relevant to the thread:
"So why do you post photos to AP? "

Nor does the rest of your post address the question much, except just a little by the concession that
you recommend posting for CC for those learning photography.

The photos by themselves may, or may not be good photos, but the story is what is important and I always prefer a comment that is about the story, rather than a critique or praise of the photo. I rarely enter comps now for the same reasons. To me, the story is of primary importance with the quality of the photo second and the processing a distant third. I like questions like this because the why of photography interests me more than the how. Bit odd as my photography could be described as very technical.
When I was starting my photography, about 15 years ago, I used critique sites a lot (anyone remember Passion for Pixels) and entered many comps so as to get an idea of what was considered good and what was not. I think this is a very good way to refine your skills and I would recommend it to anyone who is learning photography.

FWIW, I will add a post to try to address the Q later...

[Steve Axford]

I thought it was relevant as the thread was started with "So let's extend Steve's question a bit. ....". I look forward to your FWIW

[thegrump]

I would not be taking photos as good as I do today, if it wasn't for the helpful info from the members of AP

[ameerat42]

I thought it was relevant as the thread was started with "So let's extend Steve's question a bit. ....". I look forward to your FWIW

Yes. To the extent that you start to explore the opposite question. But it sounds as if
you're basically only saying:
"I'm way past posting pictures here because I get the response I want elsewhere."
(Apologies for the words used.)
As such - and this is how it seems to me - it rather serves to put you in an "elitist" position.

If I am wrong, please say so, and I will furnish due apologies.

Below is my attempt at answering the Q.


[The FWIW]
I think (or at least hope that most of the time) it's for the basic reason: to get feedback.
That can be in the form of some constructive critique, or as remarks that indicate you
may have nailed/fluked it for a particular shot. So basically, it's posting to practise and
improve skills and abilities. (Yes, and I could and should do more!)
[/The FWIW]

[Reasons for The FWIW]
Feedback can help you improve your abilities, or it helps you to at least maintain your photographic, or PP,
or even story-telling skills. This is particularly so for me when trying something new or that I haven't tried
for a while. Mostly, this is pictures of birds (but also stars/night sky, etc).

Particularly on AP, I've found that it's eye-opening to get a different perspective on an image - either one that
you post yourself, or that someone has posted here and you have given some feedback on. I don't think you can
"rank" the skills of taking the picture, PP the image, or tell a story about it. What would be the use of a poorly
presented picture IF you had the ability and means to do better?

Regarding feedback, the views of less experienced users are to be appreciated as much as those of experienced ones.
Their perspective may not be the same as that of more experienced users, and this could help to remind the latter of
something they may have forgotten about.

Even if the idea is to simply "share" an image - the motivation for which is still mysterious to me - some useful feedback
usually accrues here on AP. Only rarely on AP is received CC either blatantly questioned or some excuse is offered which is
irrelevant to the presentation of the image. - I don't mean the odd burred shot of something in uncontrolled circumstances
where the shot has some other valid significance. But IMO, posting images here also helps people think about them and what
they want to offer as feedback.
[/Reasons for The FWIW]

And finally: 1000 apologies for making you read all this
(Or just blame Mark for asking)

[Drinks and refreshments available here.]

[jim]

Perhaps Steve is just saying that this forum deals with photography as such, (and is therefore a great training ground for aspiring photographers) while he is now more interested in photography as a means of communication, and prefers to show his pictures to people who are interested in the subject rather than in the means of delivery.

[Steve Axford]

Perhaps Steve is just saying that this forum deals with photography as such, (and is therefore a great training ground for aspiring photographers) while he is now more interested in photography as a means of communication, and prefers to show his pictures to people who are interested in the subject rather than in the means of delivery.

Maybe my explanation left something to be desired as what you say is correct, Jim. Thanks for the simple explanation.

To Ameerat42
I didn't mean to be elitist and put myself up as a "tall poppy" to be cut down. I am often asked to give presentations to photo clubs and fungi specialists, and that has got me thinking about why I take photographs and how I have learnt photography, as these questions are often asked. I do apologise if my musings were not clear.

Unlike you, I do post my images to share with people. The primary purpose is to start a conversation. I have found that the best vehicle for that is either my website or Facebook using the group feature so that the audience are all interested in fungi. I still post here as I also have an interest in the technical and philosophical side of photography, and this site is one of the few that manages to cover that in a reasonably sane way. Sorry if I answered a "Why do you" question with an answer of "Why I don't"

[ameerat42]

OK. Ta for that, Steve.

[Steve Axford]

Was that an apology?

[ameerat42]

I was thanking you for your reply.

[Mark L]

Thinking some of the above is why some people don't post stuff here.

I think Steve's first post was good. He did offer reasons to encourage others to post photos here on AP.
Reckon it's a problem if threads are supposed to simply deal with the original musings and can't be lead to other related things.
Reasons for not posting photos is easily related to posting photos for me.
At least Steve still post opinions that I think are valuable generally.

[Steve Axford]

Thanks Mark. I was just posting what my thoughts on your question were.

[CathyC]

I don't post images for CC often, but when I do, I post in the hope of getting feedback on an image - mostly with the intention of submitting that image in my local camera club competition. I am less confident with the composition aspect of my images, and will always appreciate feedback on that! I still don't fully understand all the numbers - but I am having a lot of fun experimenting with M, A, S & P on my cameras LOL I occasionally use 'auto' to see what numbers it comes up with, then I use my own anyway

As I have found, everyone sees an image differently and may mention different aspects - but that is what this forum is about!
I usually don't give much CC as I don't have any thing extra to say from what has already been mentioned, but will comment on an image I really like, or feel a connection to