Weekly Flickr group highlights – Week 5

Group stats

• Group Members: 236 (18 new, +8%)
• Photos: 751 (124 new, +20%)
• Discussion topics: 43 (7 new, +19%)

Neil’s Favourite Photos

Interesting Discussion

 Tell us about your Flickr avatar.

Why did you choose this particular picture to represent yourself on Flickr? If it’s a self portrait, did you take it, or someone else? Do you change your avatars frequently? What do you hope your avatar says about yourself?

 Do you use Photoshop Actions?

From Chika-X: I’m totally new to photoshop actions, but not photoshop, and am still experimenting with them. Any feedback would be great. Thanks! :)

 Sensor Cleaning

I get to dig up an old blog post when sillymunky-Chris asks for advice about sensor cleaning.

Visit the discussions to read more.

Meet a Member

Stacie
Fort Worth, TX, USA
Flickr: shutterbug_rn

What got you into photography?
I was always interested in photography as a child, but when I mentioned having a “real” camera to my mother, she said, “Do you have any idea what all that costs?” So I would borrow my mom’s old film point-and-shoot camera, and proceed to cut the heads off of everybody! Later I “graduated” to disposable film cameras, which are frustrating at best–not to mention the annoying clicking sound as you advance the film! My first digital camera had terrible shutter lag, which drove me crazy. Finally, I did some research, and now am happily shooting away with my DSLR!

What do you think are you photographic strengths and weaknesses?
I don’t think I have a natural eye for composition. I feel like I struggle to come up with something that is artistically pleasing, probably because I’m entirely too left-brained and I analyze everything to death! On the other hand, the analytical tendency has helped me pick up on the technical side with less difficulty, so I’m not too bad at dialing in the “correct” exposure for a photo using the manual setting. It’s just the creativity that’s lacking…

What is your favourite piece of photographic equipment and why?
Why, my Nikon D40x, of course! It’s everything I ever dreamed of back when I was stuck using disposables… And my Nikon 18-135 lens pretty much lives on it. It’s got a good range. I have two other lenses, but neither one will auto-focus with my camera. :(

What is your favourite photographic subject and why?
Landscape photography has always inspired me. I love to look at beautiful photographs taken in exotic places. So I like to try to do landscapes. Unfortunately, I’m a city girl at heart, and it’s much easier to just look at those exotic places from the comfort of my air conditioned living room! But I’m working on it. Right now I’m on a quest to capture the perfect sunset.

Tell us a story about a memorable photographic experience you’ve had.
Last week I attempted to photograph fireworks for the first time. They were going off in a nearby baseball field. I got there early and set up in what I thought was a good spot, based on where all the early birds were sitting. I had my settings dialed in and my tripod set up two hours before showtime. I was ready, gosh darn it! Then, the show begins–directly behind a massive light pole! I got some beautiful bursts–with a giant light pole silhouette directly in front! Luckily, some bursts went off to the immediate right of the light pole, so I was able to rescue some shots with cropping. I learned my lesson–the early birds are not necessarily sitting in the best viewing spot, they’re sitting in the shade!!

What is the most valuable photographic advice you can give?
Tripod and remote release. Seriously. And I hate to lug around a tripod (probably because it’s a massive beast). But everything just comes out so much better!

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 happiness. Here are some of my favourites from the photos submitted:

Please tag your challenge photos with the following tags:

• lpncchallenges
• lpncchallenge6
• reflections

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.

Also, if you are able to, it would be nice if you could mention in your photo description that you have submitted your photo to the challenge. This will provide a little publicity for the blog and our Flickr group, and it will also let people know about the challenge which they may wish to participate in themselves. This is completely optional.

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.