Users regularly share their techniques and even detailed ‘recipes’ they used in their post processing work flow. But with the community of Flickr, you don’t have to wonder how to take beautiful photos. I think all photographers experience the frustration of not understanding why they haven’t achieved a look they were going for and I think that a photographer who isn’t wholly committed could easily give up after their first couple disappointments. I didn’t know about such things when I was newly into photography and having my eyes opened to not only beautiful photography but also the techniques processes that fellow photographers use to achieve such works revolutionised my skills and ability immediately. The gentle calm of ethereal florals as in Shana Rae’s Spring Pastels.The richness of textures as in Paul Grand’s Sunflowers.Before I became engrossed in Flickr, I’d never before seen: It opens you to the possibilities, techniques, ideas and concepts you may have never entertained before. I firmly believe that the number one way any visual artist can become better at what they do is to view other works of art. So how can I make the statement that Flickr changed my life? First I’ll lay a foundation for where I’m coming from. This might turn off a huge percentage of users who just want a free method of generating a url for their photos to put on Ebay but I think it just weeds out those who don’t intend on doing much with their subscription in the first place.

Of course, there are probably millions of users who merely dump and run but I think Flickr has done something rather clever to prevent too many non-users: they charge a minor yearly fee for accounts who want to upload more than a certain number of images. It is a community where photographers share their latest conquests and view beautiful works by other artists. It isn’t a graveyard where millions of images are laid to rest never to be seen again. I am a relatively new Flickr convert and a full fledged Flickr evangelist and my number one message to the masses: Flickr isn’t a dumping ground for ‘pics’.

Flicker online