Weekly Flickr group highlights – Week 4

A little quieter this week, but our Flickr group continues to grow, especially with the number of new photos. It’s great to see everyone participating. Conversation was a little quieter this week, but I’ve been a bit busy and haven’t been able to keep pushing that along myself.

• Group Members: 218 (54 new, +33%)
• Photos: 627 (180 new, +71%)
• Discussion topics: 36 (5 new, +14%)

Neil’s Favourite Photos

Interesting Discussion

 Calling for volunteers.

The group is growing well, and I want to keep the momentum going. To do this, I’m asking for enthusiastic members to lend a hand. Already we have several putting their hands up and more help is always welcomed! I’m especially looking for a social networks expert!

 Resources for new to DSLR users

Getting started, or considering starting using a DSLR can be intimidating, so here we are sharing links to resources that would be of particular help to new DSLR users.

 Teach an old dog new tricks: Exposure Compensation

Member vandyll.net asked about the mysteries of exposure compensation, and got some very detailed and helpful responses.

Visit the discussions to read more.

Meet a Member

Boris Weishaupt
Zug, Switzerland
Flickr: photographie.in

What got you into photography?
I’m into photography since I was a child. I started with the usual small film cameras and I was mainly shooting during holidays, birthdays and other special days, but also during walks with our dogs… Six years ago I bought my first SLR a Nikon F80, because I was not satisfied with the results from a trip to Monaco, where I shot with a standard compact cam. I immediately recognized that I have more influence on the results and the number of acceptable pictures increased. Approx. 4 years ago I bought a DSLR a Nikon D50 which I still use.

What do you think are you photographic strengths and weaknesses?
Where to start with my weaknesses, there are so many of them…
Well, I still don’t know enough about the different effects of shutter speed and lens aperture. I too often use the automatic settings.
My composition very often sucks. Maybe I should plan more pictures, actually I’m more the kind of a impulsive photographer.
Coming to the strenghts I don’t see realy photographic strengths at the moment. It’s more personal, like I’m open to learn, I recognize my progress and I’m happy about it and I’m not too pathetic if I fail. Just take it relaxed and step by step.

What is your favourite piece of photographic equipment and why?
It’s my camera, the Nikon D50. Simply because it allows me to learn in a simple way. I immediately see the results (and my possible mistake). Hey, and it has an optical viewfinder, something I hardly can live without, if I want to shoot. That’s why I have heavy problems in handling the digital compact cams.

What is your favourite photographic subject and why?
There are two of them. First of all my family, because I love them so much and it’s just great to keep moments and memories in a picture. If I just have a look at the pictures of my son when he was born 7 months ago…
Second are landscapes (I’m not to focused on this topic and try a lot of different things), I live near the mountains, like to walk and climb and I’m all the time impressed by natures beauty. It’s just great to put a little piece of it in a picture.

Tell us a story about a memorable photographic experience you’ve had.
Sorry if I bore you again with my son (and it’s not a real photographic experience), but I can tell you the moment when I was infected with the photographic virus. It starts with the birth of my son, when I was shooting hundreds of pictures, browsing portfolios of other photographers to see their results and ideas, looking for hints and inspiration and converting them for my work, all that assured me that photography is the ultimate hobby for me.

What is the most valuable photographic advice you can give?
Maybe I’m not experienced enough to be asked but I would say:
1. shoot, shoot, shoot,….
2. Don’t care too much about equipment
3. Take it easy and relaxed
4. Be open for some criticism

Comment Day

The whole point of starting the group is to learn with and teach each other. All of us have things we can improve, and most of us have things to teach that others would find useful. Apart from participating in the discussion, which I strenuously encourage you to do, is to comment on others’ photos. Every week, on the day that I post the flickr group update, is Comment Day.

I ask that everyone who reads this blog to please visit the group’s photo pool and leave a worthwhile comment on at least five photos that you find there.

By “worthwhile” I mean something that clearly expresses why you like or dislike a photo, and if possible, what you can suggest that might make it better. Constructive comments are essential, and carefully thought comments are far better than off-the-cuff ones. Absolutely no “Awesome!” or “I like this photo” comments please. I want you to actually say something. :)

If you have trouble writing comments, then I suggest reading my recent post on DPS on the subject:How to Win Friends and Influence People – A Guide to Commenting on Other People’s Photos

Weekly Challenge

Each week I challenge group members to take photos to a particular theme or topic. Not every photo added to the pool must be to the theme, and you don’t have to participate, but it is encouraged. Try to be creative and imaginative with the theme, and use it as a chance to show off your skills.

Last week’s challenge was self portraits. Here are some of my favourites from the photos submitted:

Please tag your challenge photos with the following tags:

• lpncchallenges
• lpncchallenge5
• happiness

If you would like to be eligible to have your challenge photo selected as one of my weekly picks, then please make sure the photo is added to our Flickr group. I generate the thumbnails above by adding a special tag to those photos, but I can only do this if your photo is in the group (or if we are on each others’ contact lists). So please make sure your photo is in the group, or you may not be selected to show, even though I may love your photo. Thank you!

You can see the photos submitted to the challenge so far here.

You can join in the discussion of the weekly challenge here.

Photo Critiques

I’m going to run an experiment and try doing some weekly critiques of some photos submitted to the group pool. You can read more about the idea in the group discussion, but essentially, members will tag their photos, and I’ll choose about five to give a deep and honest critique of the photos, which I will post to the blog, along with the photos. If you choose to participate in this, be prepared for me to rip your work to shreds! Just kidding ;) But I plan to be brutally honest, so make sure you’re okay with that.

You can only offer one photo for critique per week, and I’ll only be choosing about five. If you’d like to offer your photo for critique, add it to the LPNC group pool, and tag it: lpnccritiquew5

Lets see how this experiment goes!