The way photos live in 2.0

1930

Flickr is an amazing site.

It is a photo and video hosting website that was one of the first Web 2.0 applications. When I discussed Shutterfly, that was a part of the Web 1.0 generation, as a closed site (meaning photos were reserved for ordering, viewing and manipulating for those who uploaded them, not the whole community).

Flickr is where folks create accounts and post their photographs and videos in public OR private manner. The site runs on a tagging system where users tag their photos with appropriate words for easy searches. People also may choose favorite photos and comment on other photos. It is a community where “micro blogging” and photography cross paths. The site has groups that users create that can range from “corners of my home” to “bicycles and underwear” where folks add to the group pool photos that fit the description (if you happen to have a photo of you biking in your underwear, you have found your home).

It is sometimes wild, but always a great glimpse into the human condition. A user can edit with free software and create photo gifts and make prints online with the cool partners of flickr too.

Small business owners often use flickr as another online portfolio where they can receive validation and comments about their work. The site is so much more than any other web photo sharing or photo repository. It is a massive community that thrives on creativity.

The basic flickr account is free and you just go to flickr.com to sign up. A Pro account costs less than 30.00 a year and provide unlimited hosting and other goodies.

Basically, Flickr is another amazing online community and social networking site that really has a major pulse on the web. It is thriving and lives big in the hearts of bloggers and social networking folks. But don’t let that scare you from exploring the amazing array of millions of images just for fun.

The image I found above was from a search I did for “Ruth Milligan.” Apparently, a modern-day Rugby club posed in the fashion of one from the 30s, and in the group was someone with the name “Ruth” and another with “Milligan.” You’ll be amazed what you can find!