Online Forums: Photography & Social Forums

I recently heard through the forum grapevine, that JPG Magazine is coming back, and will be changing to the RedBubble model (selling prints and merchandise), as well as continuing to publish the printed magazine.  I had neglected my portfolio and participation there, since the crash in January.

Hence, I have spent the last two or three day/nights removing images from my JPG portfolio.  It takes five steps to delete an image …. more than it takes to upload them! Many hours of concentrated effort went into the removal project, and it just doesn’t seem fair.  When I discovered what a tedious and time-consuming task it was going to be, I told myself that I would do that job in reasonable increments.  But of course, I could not do it that way.  Instead, I tore through there like a backhoe, obliterating whatever did not meet my NEW standards.  It was cathartic to look back and see how much my work has progressed in the past few months — and good to clear away the deadfall. 

I begin to get a glimpse of what fires the celebrities’ ego machines — not to draw a comparison;  I am far down the scale from that — but many of my fellow photogs would agree with me; that the feedback on photography/art forums is addictive.  It is very easy to get caught up in seeking the approval of one’s peers, rather than investing the time and energy into other aspects of the work that grow more corn.  I have been guilty of just adding images for the sake of hearing, “Nice picture!” Thus,

I can’t really complain about all the effort required to dismantle what I, myself, have built.  Now, I will begin replacing those old images – selectively. 

I suppose that most of us on the forums recognize intellectually, that much of the feedback we get there has far more to do with personalities than with skill or talent.  Most frequently, comments are reciprocal courtesy — I compliment yours, you compliment mine; we all get a warm fuzzy and tell ourselves that the recognition is deserved.  The first thing I do in the morning, is check which of my photos has been featured on RedBubble, and look for new comments on my work — on two or three different sites.  This seems as important as coffee in the morning …  and just about as productive as that cup. Now and then, there is a rejection, and that is like somebody has spit in the cream pitcher - even though it usually has more to do with subject matter than image quality. Some days, it may take as long as two hours to respond and reciprocate to all of the comments on my work.  I begin to wonder whether this is time well-spent?  What is the end benefit?

Features and kudos do not translate to sales, or recognition in the broader market.  Maybe warm fuzzies are my current drug of choice. As I become more tolerant to its effects, I require MORE stuff to attain the same effect. Now, I desire sales!

Sales, and publication of the work, are the ultimate validation; the currency that says to me that somebody likes that image well enough to spend their energy in order to take it home with them …. that they like it well enough to want to look at it again and again.

Yesterday, I sold a $4 greeting card. RedBubble gets $3.33; I get 66 cents — and I was thrilled with the arrangement.

Now, in order to get more of that VALIDATION high, I will focus on selling, rather than on verbal feedback from the Mutual Admiration Society.  I will post only images that I would proudly hang on my wall (a few exceptions might apply), and will brashly toss aside the bushel.

Things I need to remember, apart from the delightful social repartee on all the forums I participate on:

RedBubble is for sales. This is my principle vendor gallery, and should contain only my very best work.

JPG is for publication/recognition.  At some point, I lost track of the reality of JPG’s best aspect: publication of works. JPG publishes photographs that fall into line with their themes and features. Images that fit the criteria stand some chance of seeing print. Everything that falls outside those parameters is fluff to generate comments and pats on the back that feed my ego, but not my piggy bank.

PhotoForum is like my old alma mater.  I want to support that site, which taught me so much, and opened so many doors for me. I want to retain my relationships there, and most certainly, when I need HONEST feedback about a piece, this is the place to which I will always return. The benefits of participation on PF are entirely intangible - though not invalid.

Following first-of-the-year revamping, my personal website has become a portal to my RedBubble gallery, from where my long-time clients can peruse – and hopefully, purchase - my latest art works.  I came to realize that, like sharing sites, the PhotoJournal contained a “hook” for me;  inthat I often posted mediocre shots of the day, just because I felt obligated to provide a running inventory — for those repeat visitors that often compliment the site, but seldom buy anything.  I will no longer be publishing that.

I never got the point of Flick’r, and will be deleting most of my images on that site. I just don’t want mediocre stuff lying around on the internet.

Facebook is where my friends and colleagues gather to share personal experiences.  I love Facebook — but it does not grow corn for me, and I am at a loss to understand how so many people have so much time to “work  on my virtual farm”?  That’s not a criticism, but I personally do not choose to invest any of my rare  ”free time” in sending virtual chickens to virtual farms with virtual assets.  Chasing REAL wild horses is a lot more fun than that!

Capricorn seems to be dominant, lately.

~ by photorover on 2009.01.12.